Bill Text: IL HR1459 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares October 20, 2016 as "Laquan McDonald Day" in the State of Illinois.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-11-15 - Referred to Rules Committee [HR1459 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR1459-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On October 20, 2014, the Chicago Police Department
was called to investigate reports that Laquan McDonald was
carrying a knife and breaking into vehicles; video footage of
the encounter shows that McDonald was walking away from Officer
Jason Van Dyke when the first shot was fired; as McDonald lay
on the ground, Officer Van Dyke fired more shots into him; in
total, McDonald was shot 16 times in 14 to 15 seconds; Officer
Van Dyke was on the scene for less than 30 seconds before
opening fire and began shooting approximately six seconds after
exiting his car; the first responding officer stated that he
did not see the need to use force and none of the at least eight
other officers on the scene fired their weapons; and
WHEREAS, On December 29, 2015, Officer Van Dyke pleaded not
guilty to the charge of first-degree murder; this case marks
the first time in 35 years a Chicago police officer has been
charged with first-degree murder for an on-duty fatality; if
convicted, Officer Van Dyke faces a prison sentence of 20 years
to life; and
WHEREAS, Laquan McDonald became a ward of the State at the
age of three after alleged abuse and neglect complaints that
were never proven; his mother, who had also been a ward of the
State due to her caregiver's drug use, was only 15 at the time

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of McDonald's birth; and
WHEREAS, Laquan McDonald's early years were marked with
instability; he was in and out of foster care, twice being
placed in homes outside the family; and
WHEREAS, Laquan McDonald had learning disabilities and was
diagnosed with complex mental health problems, including
post-traumatic stress disorder; the Inspector General stated
that he was never given therapy related to sexual abuse despite
"being a very angry child with definite aggressive tendencies,
and (who) had knowledge of sex beyond his developmental age";
and
WHEREAS, According to the Inspector General's report,
Laquan McDonald's death should serve as a wake-up call to those
in child welfare; investigators cited examples in McDonald's
records in which services to help him and his family fell short
or were offered too late to make a difference; and
WHEREAS, Laquan McDonald's juvenile court records, usually
confidential, were made public to the media; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago Police Department has instituted a new
excessive force policy as a result of an ongoing investigation
by the United States Justice Department that began with the

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shooting of Laquan McDonald; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
declare October 20, 2016 as "Laquan McDonald Day" to bring
attention to this tragic event in the hopes of preventing
similar tragedies in the future; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage this day to be used to study
and discuss why the State could not save Laquan McDonald and
others like him and what might be done to ensure it never
happens again; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to all educational institutions and all police
departments within the State of Illinois, and the Department of
Children and Family Services and the Department of Human
Services.