Bill Text: IL HR0703 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commends Deputy John Forlenza and Police K9 Dax for their honorable service and dedication to their community, the State as a whole, and the nation.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 37-7)
Status: (Passed) 2024-04-18 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. John M. Cabello [HR0703 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-HR0703-Introduced.html
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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives wish to commend Deputy John Forlenza and | ||||||
| 4 | Police K9 Dax for their honorable service and dedication to | ||||||
| 5 | their community, the State as a whole, and the nation; and
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| 6 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax, a German Shepard, was born on | ||||||
| 7 | March 4, 2014 near Spokane, Washington; and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax's breeder told the TOPS kennel and | ||||||
| 9 | the police K9 training center that he was a special dog to be | ||||||
| 10 | placed with someone who was a good fit; and
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| 11 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax and Lake County Sheriff's Deputy | ||||||
| 12 | John Forlenza were matched as a team on April 20, 2015 and | ||||||
| 13 | graduated from the TOPS kennel police K9 program on June 12, | ||||||
| 14 | 2015; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax seized millions of dollars, | ||||||
| 16 | hundreds of kilos of illegal drugs, dozens of firearms | ||||||
| 17 | discarded by offenders, and dozens of vehicles; and
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| 18 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax has received numerous recognitions | ||||||
| 19 | and awards, including recognition from the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 20 | Representatives in 2016, a Lake County Board Special | ||||||
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| 1 | Recognition in 2019, a Certificate of Recognition from the | ||||||
| 2 | Illinois State Senate in 2022, the ASIS International-Illinois | ||||||
| 3 | North Shore Chapter Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award | ||||||
| 4 | in 2017, a Chicago Crime Commission Paws of Distinction in | ||||||
| 5 | 2017, the K9's of Valor Foundation K9 of the Year in 2018, the | ||||||
| 6 | 100 Club of Chicago Valor Award in 2019, the American Humane | ||||||
| 7 | Hero Dog-Law Enforcement in 2019, the Italian American Police | ||||||
| 8 | Association Officer of the Year in 2019, a Lake County | ||||||
| 9 | Sheriff's Commendation Award in 2022, the Lake County | ||||||
| 10 | Sheriff's Office Sheriff Award for Valor in 2022, an Illinois | ||||||
| 11 | Law Enforcement Medal of Honor in 2023, and the German Shepard | ||||||
| 12 | Dog Club of the Year Hero Dog Award in 2023; and
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| 13 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax competed in several competitions | ||||||
| 14 | with the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) and | ||||||
| 15 | in national and regional trials across the country for | ||||||
| 16 | tracking, article searches, narcotics, suspect searches, and | ||||||
| 17 | protection, winning six USPCA Championships and earning two | ||||||
| 18 | Tracking Exceptional Certificates; and
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| 19 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax is known across the nation due to | ||||||
| 20 | his appearances on numerous local and national news stations, | ||||||
| 21 | including Fox Nation Hero Dogs, Hallmark Channel American | ||||||
| 22 | Humane's Hero Dog, Hallmark Channel Home and Family Show, NBC | ||||||
| 23 | Access Daily, NBC Today Show, A&E Network America's Top Dog | ||||||
| 24 | Competition, and ESPN Dynamic K9 Duos; he was featured in | ||||||
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| 1 | People Magazine and made many appearances at local schools and | ||||||
| 2 | police K9 demonstrations to demonstrate police K9 skills and | ||||||
| 3 | teach the public about the police profession; and
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| 4 | WHEREAS, Police K9 Dax was injured in his neck and spine in | ||||||
| 5 | the line of duty apprehending a repeat felon who was fleeing | ||||||
| 6 | officers, forcing his retirement; and
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| 7 | WHEREAS, Following Police K9 Dax's injury and diagnosis of | ||||||
| 8 | intervertebral disc disease, Deputy John Forlenza submitted | ||||||
| 9 | Police K9 Dax's official retirement request to Lake County | ||||||
| 10 | Sheriff John D. Idleburg, and his retirement was celebrated on | ||||||
| 11 | April 10, 2024; and
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| 12 | WHEREAS, Due to the extent of Police K9 Dax's injuries, | ||||||
| 13 | the difficult decision was made to end his suffering on April | ||||||
| 14 | 12, 2024; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, Deputy John Forlenza and Police K9 Dax were a | ||||||
| 16 | dynamic duo, partners, and best friends, who together saved | ||||||
| 17 | many lives and protected the residents of Lake County; | ||||||
| 18 | therefore, be it
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| 19 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 20 | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 21 | we commend Deputy John Forlenza and Police K9 Dax for their | ||||||
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| 1 | honorable service and dedication to their community, the State | ||||||
| 2 | as a whole, and the nation; and be it further
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