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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING POLICE OFFICER BRUCE COLLINS AND SERGEANT DANKA MILESIC OF THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY, DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR THEIR BRAVERY, COMPASSION, AND DEVOTION TO THE CITIZENS OF COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Police Officer Bruce Collins and Sergeant Danka Milesic serve the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Department of Law Enforcement, with professionalism, dedication, and a commitment to protecting the lives and well-being of the citizens of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, on May 4, 2026, Officer Collins responded to Thatcher Woods regarding a young woman experiencing a mental health crisis and actively contemplating suicide while standing on a bridge; and
WHEREAS, upon arriving on the scene, Officer Collins quickly located the young woman and, recognizing the immediate danger and seriousness of the situation, remained calm and relied upon his training, experience, and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) principles to establish communication with her; and
WHEREAS, through patience, empathy, compassion, and exceptional interpersonal skills, Officer Collins successfully de-escalated the situation, gained the young woman’s trust, and convinced her to move away from danger and to a place of safety, where she was escorted to waiting paramedics for medical evaluation; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Danka Milesic subsequently arrived at the scene and, at the young woman’s request, remained with her and provided additional compassion, reassurance, and emotional support while emergency personnel prepared her for transport to the hospital; and
WHEREAS, during her conversation with Sergeant Milesic, the young woman disclosed that she had been the victim of a criminal sexual assault approximately one and a half years earlier and continued to struggle with the emotional trauma associated with that incident, and Sergeant Milesic provided comfort and support during an extremely vulnerable moment in her life; and
WHEREAS, Officer Collins and Sergeant Milesic later responded to the hospital, where they met with the young woman and her mother, and the attending physician advised the officers that the young woman had spoken very positively about her interaction with them and specifically recognized the impact their calm, compassionate, and supportive approach had during her mental health crisis; and
WHEREAS, Officer Collins’s professionalism, composure under pressure, crisis intervention skills, and ability to establish trust directly contributed to saving the life of a young woman who was actively contemplating suicide, and his actions exemplify the highest ideals of law enforcement and reflect great credit upon himself and the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Department of Law Enforcement; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Milesic’s compassion, professionalism, and commitment to the young woman’s emotional well-being provided critical support during the aftermath of this life-threatening incident and demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to serving individuals experiencing a crisis; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize and commend Police Officer Bruce Collins for his bravery, compassion, decisive actions, and unwavering commitment to the preservation of human life, and congratulates him upon receiving the Life Saving Award for his actions on May 4, 2026; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes Police Sergeant Danka Milesic for her compassion, professionalism, and invaluable assistance during this critical incident and commends her for the care and support she provided to the young woman and her family; and.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to both Police Officer Bruce Collins and Sergeant Danka Milesic as an expression of the appreciation and esteem of the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners for their exceptional service, courage, compassion, and dedication to protecting the citizens of Cook County.
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