[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2984]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING RETIRING WESTERN SPRINGS CHIEF OF POLICE PAMELA CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 16, 2017

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Western Springs 
Chief of Police Pamela Church, who is retiring after 33 years of 
service in law enforcement.
  Chief Church started out as physical education teacher in the Decatur 
School District. After seven years in education, she decided to switch 
careers and become a police officer in 1983. She started as a patrol 
officer for the Downers Grove Police Department where she developed an 
award-winning community oriented policing program. Chief Church spent 
more than 20 years serving and protecting the Downers Grove community 
and rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief.
  In November 2005, Chief Church was hired as Chief of Police for the 
Western Springs Police Department. Upon becoming Chief, she became one 
of seven female police chiefs in the State of Illinois. Chief Church 
honorably protected the Western Springs community for over a decade.
  In addition, Chief Church has been recognized by a variety of 
organizations for her exemplary efforts as Police Chief. In 2010, 
Church became the 50th president and first female president of the West 
Suburban Chiefs of Police Association, an honorable testament to her 
work outside of Western Springs and her dedication to law enforcement. 
She was also given the Illinois State Bar Association Law Enforcement 
Award in 2009, among countless other awards honoring her commitment to 
her community. Thanks to her work as Chief, she has made Western 
Springs a better and safer community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Chief of 
Police Pamela Church for all she has done in her years of service to 
her community and to congratulate her on her retirement. Her 
contributions have made an important impact in Western Springs and she 
will surely be missed.

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