[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E423-E424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OFFICER AREANAH PRESTON: A BEACON OF 
                                  HOPE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JONATHAN L. JACKSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2023

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the 
heartbreaking tragedy of a young and courageous public servant, Chicago 
Police Officer Areanah Preston, who was senselessly killed near her 
Avalon Park home this past weekend.
  Officer Preston, just 24 years old, had already devoted three years 
to protecting the citizens of Chicago, working tirelessly in West 
Roseland. She was also an exemplary student, on the cusp of graduating 
from Loyola University Chicago with a Master of Jurisprudence. 
Areanah's life was marked by her kindness, intellect, and unwavering 
commitment to service.

[[Page E424]]

  Her mother, Dionne Mhoon, affectionately described Areanah as a 
``firecracker'' and a goal-setter, noting that her daughter wrote down 
everything she wanted to achieve and accomplished all of it.
  Areanah's father, Allen Preston, described her as a ``beautiful 
soul'' who ``always saw the best in people'' and had long wanted to be 
a police officer. He said, ``she was trying to make a change on this 
earth.'' He recalled that she followed ``half' her family into the 
public safety profession.
  Her aunt, Sonia Rawsk, described her niece as a ``wonderful'' person 
with a bright future and ``a definite role model with a career path 
that just didn't stop.'' Loyola University Chicago echoed these 
sentiments, expressing shock and sadness at her tragic passing, and 
remembering her for her kindness, intellect, and commitment to service.
  Areanah's dedication to her community extended beyond her work as a 
police officer. She earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and 
law enforcement administration from Illinois State University, where 
she met professor Charles Bell. He described her as a ``very engaged, 
very vocal student, very respectful of others' opinion, and just very 
passionate about making a difference and showing young people that 
policing is a profession that can make a difference in the community.'' 
He added that she was ``very aware of a lot of the problems, that in 
her opinion, had manifested in the Chicago community.'' Professor Bell 
said that Areanah was still working in patrol but ``was looking forward 
to moving up in the ranks.'' He referred to her as a ``reformer'' who 
saw a problem and was dedicated to making a difference.
  Following a class trip to Holocaust sites in Germany and Poland in 
2019, Areanah stated in an article published on her school's website 
that she was determined to enter the police academy to help build trust 
between underrepresented communities and law enforcement. ``I know a 
big thing for our trip was finding voices for those who didn't have a 
voice,'' Preston said. ``When I got back, I wanted to be an officer. I 
felt like I could be a person to fight for justice.''
  Areanah was a beacon of hope and held all the promise in the world to 
reform public safety. Her determination to make a difference and build 
bridges between our communities and law enforcement was truly 
inspiring. It is a travesty that we have lost someone who had the 
potential to be a catalyst for change in the way we approach public 
safety. We must stand together in condemning unjust acts against public 
servants and work collectively to ensure the safety of those who put 
their lives on the line for us.
  I would like to share the words of Areanah's mother: ``If you guys 
believe in the power of prayer, if you guys believe in God, keep us in 
your prayers. Don't stop praying for us, even when all of this is gone, 
don't stop praying for us.'' She said that at the end of the day, she 
knows her family will be all right, because ``God is good and joy comes 
in the morning.''
  I ask my colleagues in Congress to hear her call, to keep the Preston 
family in our thoughts and prayers, and to work together to ensure that 
the sacrifices made by public servants like Areanah Preston are not in 
vain. Let us honor her life, legacy, and dedication to protecting and 
serving the entire City of Chicago, and strive to build a safer, more 
just society for all.

                          ____________________