Bill > HR0260

This resolution congratulates Police Chief Schenita Stewart of the Evanston Police Department for being named the 2025 Police Chief of the Year by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP), while also recognizing her significant career achievements and community impact. The resolution highlights Stewart's groundbreaking career, noting that she is the first Black female police chief in Evanston's history and the first woman to receive the ILACP's Police Chief of the Year award. It details her professional journey, including her 25-year law enforcement career that began in 1999 with the Lincolnwood Police Department, where she was initially the department's only Black police officer, and her subsequent appointment as Evanston's police chief in October 2022. The resolution praises Stewart's leadership, emphasizing her commitment to officer well-being, transparency, community engagement, and her ability to strengthen collaboration and trust between law enforcement and the community. Additionally, the resolution acknowledges her educational background, including degrees in criminology and criminal justice, and her personal connection to Evanston, where she was raised with her twin sister. The document concludes by expressing the Illinois House of Representatives' congratulations and respect, with a provision to present copies of the resolution to Chief Stewart, the Evanston Police Department, and the City of Evanston.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=260&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HR&SessionID=114&GA=104