HJ0017 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0017 LRB103 30045 MST 56466 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals who have served our country and State and, in doing so, have made the ultimate sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Donald "Nick" Weist was born to Kevin Weist and Robin Monson in Platteville, Wisconsin on July 28, 1987; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Weist married the love of his life, Jessica Weist, on January 11, 2012; he was a devoted husband and father to Jessica and his two children, Ava, age 12, and Emery, age 9; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Weist wanted to be a police officer since he was very little; he graduated from Western Illinois University in 2009 with a degree in law enforcement and justice administration; following an internship with the Rock Island Police Department, he worked as a security guard for Trinity Hospital in the Quad Cities; in 2012, he was hired by the Mercer County Sheriff's Department as a 911 dispatcher and then as a correctional officer; and

WHEREAS, On June 26, 2015, Deputy Weist was sworn into the Aledo Police Department, and after graduating from the Illinois Police Training Institute in September 2015, he began his career on the road; he was also a volunteer for the Viola Fire Department; in 2018, he began working as a sheriff's deputy for Knox County, where he was working at the time of his death; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Weist's first priority was his family; he loved anything outdoors, and he especially enjoyed mountain biking and fishing with his children; he also enjoyed deer hunting, cooking, and playing video games; as a son, he cared deeply for his "Mama Bear" and his father, Kevin, whom he called "Papooh"; he was passionate about everything he did; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Weist organized the explorer's program at Aledo High School for kids interested in law enforcement and was the head of college recruiting for the Knox County Sheriff's Department; he was the union president and a Taser instructor and served as a leader in a number of different organizations within the sheriff's department; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Deputy Weist raised funds for and participated in the Shop with a Cop program; his dedication to the sheriff's department was unrelenting; he was respectful to all people, selfless, and always took care of others before himself; he continuously searched for ways to improve the department; he was a good husband and father and an amazing officer; he never highlighted a problem without offering a solution; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Weist gave his life in the line of duty while in pursuit of an armed subject; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Weist was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Peggy Mueller, and his paternal grandmother, Mary Lou Weist; and

WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Deputy Weist was survived by his wife, Jessica; his children, Ava and Emery; his parents, Robin (Bill) Monson and Kevin Weist; his sister, Lindsay Weist; his paternal grandfather, Donald Weist; his maternal grandfathers, Donald Mueller and Jim (Carol) Nicholas Jr.; his stepsiblings Jason (Cathleen) Monson, Bill (Christina) Monson, Ryan (Annie) Monson, Renee (Cory) Funk, and Megan Monson; his in-laws, Cheryl and Lawrence Milder; his sisters, Kendra (Michael) Elledge and Jennifer (Joe) Kindon; and his brother, Benjy Milder (Tiffany Bogardo); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois Route 150 from Galesburg Main Street to the intersection of U.S. Route 150 and Illinois Route 17 in Alpha as the "Deputy Sheriff Nick Weist Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect, at suitable locations consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "Deputy Sheriff Nick Weist Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family Deputy Weist and the Secretary of Transportation.