HR1581LRB096 24717 KXB 44733 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Bourbonnais Chief 
4of Police Joseph Beard on his retirement, December 31, 2010; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Chief Joseph "Joe" Beard was hired as Chief of 
7Police in 1979 and has served under five mayors; his 
8accomplishments over 31 years include watching Bourbonnais 
9grow from a population of 8,000 to over 18,000, keeping the 
10Department updated with the latest technology, overseeing the 
11construction of a new police facility, and obtaining his CPA 
12license; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Chief Beard has been associated with the Rotary 
14Club, the Hundred Club, the Eastern Illinois Administrators 
15Association, the Tri-River Police Training Region Board, and 
16the Victim Assistance Center;
Chief Beard was instrumental in 
17working with the Chicago Bears and Olivet Nazarene University 
18to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of visitors to 
19Bourbonnais; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Chief Beard played a key role in the 1999 Amtrak 
21Crash in Bourbonnais; Chief Beard, along with Sheriff Tim 
22Bukowski and Fire Chief Michael Harshbarger, established a 
 
 
HR1581- 2 -LRB096 24717 KXB 44733 r

1unified command post that remained in operation for over 24 
2hours; and
  
 
  
3    WHEREAS, Joseph Beard is married to Sheila; he is the proud 
4father of Christopher, Sam, Allison, Adam, and the late Nathan; 
5therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
8congratulate Chief Beard on his retirement and wish him the 
9best in his future endeavors; and be it further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
11presented to Chief Joseph Beard as a symbol of our respect and 
12esteem.