[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8895-8896]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING TOP COPS AWARDEES DETECTIVE BRIAN FENNELLY & DETECTIVE ROBERT 
                               ZIELINSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2006

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to 
congratulate and honor two outstanding police officers, detectives 
Brian Fennelly and Robert Zielinski for the recognition they received 
last week by the National Association of Police Officers (NAPO).
  On May 12, 2006 Detectives Fennelly and Zielinski, officers with the 
Morton Grove Police Department, were awarded NAPO's ``Top Cops'' award 
for their heroic service in the line of duty. On January 21, 2005, with 
the assistance of Chicago Police Sergeant Richard J. Plotke (also 
awarded a Top Cops honor) the officers tracked down two suspects who 
had forcefully entered a home in Morton Grove and held hostage, robbed 
and brutalized the woman residing at that property.
  While attempting to serve a warrant at the suspects' apartment, all 
three officers came under heavy gunfire. Despite the violent onslaught, 
and injuries sustained during the suspects' violent attack, the three 
officers relied

[[Page 8896]]

on their skills and training to successfully disarm and render the 
assailants harmless.
  By successfully tracking down those dangerous criminals, putting 
themselves in the line of fire and ultimately disarming the assailants, 
Detectives Brian Fennelly and Robert Zielinski (and Sergeant Plotke) 
prevented the serious threat posed to their fellow law enforcement 
professionals and to the entire community. Their heroic demonstration 
of bravery, team work and public service certainly makes them Top Cops 
in my book and in the eyes of their peers.
  On behalf of the entire 9th Congressional District and along with 
Morton Grove's Police Chief, Paul Tasch, Jr. and Mayor, Richard Krier, 
I want to commend and thank our Top Cops Detective Brian Fennelly and 
Detective Robert Zielinski for their heroic service to our community. I 
urge all members of the House to recognize their outstanding service 
and the service of all public safety and law enforcement personnel 
throughout the country.

                          ____________________