[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E703-E704]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND WORK OF OFFICER STEVEN ZOURKAS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 2005

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
Steven Zourkas, devoted husband, father, brother, friend and dedicated 
public servant. Mr. Zourkas' commitment to the safety of residents 
defined his four-year tenure of outstanding public service as a police 
officer with the Village of Niles. He also served as an evidence 
technician with the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force.
  Mr. Zourkas graduated from Niles North High School. A former 
paramedic, Mr. Zourkas joined the Niles Police Department four years 
ago and rose to become one of the department's top auto accident 
investigators. The Niles Village Board recently honored Zourkas at 
their March 22, 2005, meeting for helping to solve a burglary.
  Friends and colleagues said they will remember Mr. Zourkas for his 
tremendous personality and utmost dedication to his job. Mr. Zourkas 
died after losing control of his police car to avoid hitting a 
pedestrian. Mr. Zourkas saved a man's life but in the process lost his 
own. Mr. Zourkas is believed to be the first Niles police officer to 
die in the line of duty.

  Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor, gratitude and 
remembrance of Mr. Steven Zourkas. As a police officer, Mr. Zourkas 
dedicated his professional life to the safety of his officers and the 
security and safety of the entire Village of Niles. I extend my deepest 
condolences to his beloved wife, Ivy; his beloved sons, Andrew and 
John; his beloved parents, Anthony and Elaine Zourkas; his beloved 
brothers, Anthony and George; and also to his extended family and many 
friends. His courage and kindness will live on forever within the 
hearts and memories of his family, friends, and the public he so 
faithfully served.
  I commend my Colleagues' attention to the article remembering Mr. 
Zourkas, which was published in the Niles Journal on April 13, 2005.

                [From the Niles Journal, Apr. 13. 2005]

``He'll Be Sorely Missed''--Niles Police Remember First Officer To Die 
                            in Line of Duty

                         (By Michael Sebastian)

       During a damp and cool Tuesday morning more than 250 squad 
     cars from various Illinois police departments followed a 
     somber procession through Niles to Elmwood Cemetery in River 
     Grove where the first Village of Niles police officer to die 
     in the line of duty was laid to rest.
       Niles police Officer Steven Zourkas, 33, was killed early 
     last Friday (Apr. 8) while traveling in his squad car west 
     along Golf Road. Zourkas was heading to a disturbance call 
     that was reportedly between a cab driver and passenger at 
     Omega Restaurant, 9100 W. Golf Rd., when he lost control of 
     his squad car and crossed over into the east bound lanes of 
     traffic on Golf Road. The car slid to a violent halt in the 
     Highland Towers condominium parking lot after it turned over 
     on its passenger side and struck two parked cars. The 
     accident, which occurred in the 8800 block of Golf Road, 
     snarled traffic last Friday morning for hours. Emergency 
     workers crowded the scene as radio and television news 
     helicopters hovered above.
       Officials said Officer Zourkas died at the scene from 
     injuries associated with the accident. He was 33 years old 
     and a member of the Niles Police Dept. for the past four 
     years. He is survived by his wife and a five month old son. 
     Officials would only say Zourkas was from a ``far northwest 
     suburb.''
       As accident investigators from the Cook County Sheriff's 
     office continue to piece the morning's events together, 
     reports have indicated that Zourkas swerved his squad car to 
     avoid a pedestrian who was stepping off the curb on Golf Road 
     as the officer approached. Although this could not be 
     confirmed with police by press time, Niles Mayor Nicholas 
     Blase said this pedestrian came to the Niles Police Dept. 
     last week to tell officials he was the man that stepped 
     from the curb.
       Niles police Sgt. James Elenz noted last week that Zourkas 
     was among the department's top auto accident investigators.
       Flags have flown at half staff in Niles since the tragic 
     accident occurred last Friday. Black and purple cloth is 
     draped over the entrance to the Niles Police Station, at 
     Touhy and Milwaukee Avenues, in honor of Zourkas. Niles 
     police personnel are also wearing black armbands in memory of 
     their fallen member.
       Friday's accident marks the first time in Village of Niles 
     history that a police officer died in the line of duty. 
     Village Manager Mary Kay Morrissey said social workers and 
     grief counselors have been available to help those mourning 
     Zourkas' death. Members of the second and third shifts have 
     shuffled their schedules so the officers who worked with 
     Zourkas during the first shift, which lasts into the 
     morning's wee hours, can begin coping with the loss. 
     According to Blase, a female officer at the department is 
     continuing to help Zourkas' wife as she mourns the loss of 
     her husband.
       ``He was one of those very well liked policeman--
     exceptionally so,'' Mayor Blase said.
       Members of the police department are describing Zourkas as 
     man with a tremendous personality who was very dedicated to 
     his job.
       ``Everyone liked him,'' Blase said about Zourkas. ``He was 
     a very able guy and because of that the tragedy intensifies.
       ``So many people are grieving.
       ``He'll be sorely missed.''
       The funeral held Tuesday was an appropriate send-off for 
     Zourkas, said Niles fire Deputy Chief Barry Mueller, who, 
     along with numerous others from the village, attended the 
     ceremonies. Two fire engines from Elmwood Park crossed their 
     ladders at the entrance of the cemetery in River Grove. A 
     large American flag was draped from the ladders. Later, about 
     25 bagpipers played, Mueller said.
       Village Manager Mary Kay Morrissey said being part of the 
     enormous line of mourners driving from the funeral mass to 
     the cemetery was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. 
     Squad cars with their lights activated stretched as far as 
     most in the procession line could see. Blase estimated that 
     at least one hundred Illinois police departments, probably 
     more, were represented during the funeral. Some downstate 
     communities sent representatives to the ceremony, he said.
       Streets in each community the funeral procession passed 
     were blocked by various police departments, officials said. 
     Even ramps leading to and from I-90 were blocked to make way 
     for the mourners.
       Morrissey praised the Niles Police Dept. for organizing the 
     funeral during this difficult time. ``There's certain 
     protocol you follow when someone is killed in action,'' 
     Morrissey explained. ``I'm very proud of the way the police 
     came together.''
       Visitation took place at Colonial Wojciechowski Funeral 
     Home, 8025 W. Golf Rd., on Monday (Apr. 11). Tuesday the line 
     of mourners proceeded from the funeral home to St. Isaac 
     Jogues Church at 8149 Golf Road for a funeral mass. Various 
     lanes of traffic on Golf Road were blocked-off Tuesday from 
     about Washington Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue, according to 
     Morrissey. Streets leading into Golf Road were also closed, 
     officials said.
       The funeral procession traveled from St. Isaac Jogues south 
     along Milwaukee Avenue to Touhy Avenue so Zourkas could once 
     more pass the Niles Police Dept. The car then drove along 
     Touhy Avenue to Cumberland then south to Belmont Avenue and 
     the cemetery.

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