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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives wish to congratulate Chief of Police for the | ||||||
| 4 | City of Zion and Deputy City Administrator Eric Barden on | ||||||
| 5 | being sworn in as the 2026-2027 president of the Illinois | ||||||
| 6 | Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP); and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, The ILACP has served as the voice of professional | ||||||
| 8 | law enforcement in Illinois since 1941, representing more than | ||||||
| 9 | 1,400 members across 450 agencies, and is dedicated to | ||||||
| 10 | promoting professionalism, innovation, and community impact; | ||||||
| 11 | and | ||||||
| 12 | WHEREAS, Chief Barden is a lifelong resident of Zion, | ||||||
| 13 | having graduated from Zion Central Junior High and Zion-Benton | ||||||
| 14 | Township High School, and has spent over two decades serving | ||||||
| 15 | the community he calls home; and | ||||||
| 16 | WHEREAS, Chief Barden joined the Zion Police Department in | ||||||
| 17 | 2002 as a patrol officer and rose through the ranks as a | ||||||
| 18 | detective, sergeant, and lieutenant before being appointed | ||||||
| 19 | chief of police by Mayor William McKinney in 2021; and | ||||||
| 20 | WHEREAS, Chief Barden has served in a variety of roles | ||||||
| 21 | throughout his distinguished career, including in the bike | ||||||
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| 1 | unit and motorcycle unit and as a drug and gang detective, | ||||||
| 2 | while further honing his leadership skills as a graduate of | ||||||
| 3 | Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command; | ||||||
| 4 | and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Chief Barden has extended his leadership beyond | ||||||
| 6 | the City of Zion, serving on the board of directors for the | ||||||
| 7 | Northeast Multi-Regional Training (NEMRT) unit, the Lake | ||||||
| 8 | County Chiefs of Police Association, and the Illinois | ||||||
| 9 | Association of Chiefs of Police; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, Chief Barden further expanded his service to his | ||||||
| 11 | municipality by accepting the appointment of deputy city | ||||||
| 12 | administrator of Zion in 2025, demonstrating a profound | ||||||
| 13 | commitment to the administrative excellence of his community; | ||||||
| 14 | and | ||||||
| 15 | WHEREAS, During Chief Barden's tenure as president, the | ||||||
| 16 | ILACP will focus on the core values of integrity, | ||||||
| 17 | accountability, and community partnership while leading the | ||||||
| 18 | charge in combating crime through technology and fostering | ||||||
| 19 | meaningful relationships between law enforcement and the | ||||||
| 20 | public; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 21 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 22 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
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| 1 | we congratulate Chief Eric Barden on his selection as the | ||||||
| 2 | 2026-2027 president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of | ||||||
| 3 | Police, commend him for his lifelong dedication to the City of | ||||||
| 4 | Zion and the State of Illinois, and wish him continued success | ||||||
| 5 | in his leadership of the State's professional law enforcement | ||||||
| 6 | community; and be it further | ||||||
| 7 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 8 | presented to Chief Barden as an expression of our esteem and | ||||||
| 9 | respect. | ||||||