The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois is honoring a local officer, Mark Dallas of Dixon, as the Law Enforcement Hero at the organization’s 17th Annual Heroes Breakfast. The event will be held on Wednesday, May 1 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. For more information please call 312.729.6178 or go to website: redcross.org/heroes.
When a gunman opened fire at Dixon High School, Officer Dallas quickly confronted and apprehended the gunman, potentially saving countless young lives. The perpetrator had been just a few feet away from the gym entrance, where nearly 200 senior students were attending graduation practice. Officer Dallas was alerted of the danger when the gunman fired a shot at the school’s physical education teacher. Within seconds of hearing the shots, Officer Dallas apprehended the shooter and ended the situation, keeping everyone safe. Those he saved included his son, who was one of the graduating seniors in the gym.
“It’s an honor for the American Red Cross to recognize the contributions of individuals like officer Dallas, who without hesitation put himself in the line of fire, protecting the lives of students,” said Celena Roldan, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois.
Additional honorees were selected in 11 community service categories. Heroes were chosen by an independent committee of leaders in the business and civic community. For the complete list of 2019 Heroes, visit redcross.org/heroes.
The 2019 Heroes Breakfast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors including: Walgreens, ITW, Kirkland & Ellis, Northern Trust and United Airlines.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties, including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.