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80491 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 RESOLUTION NO. 8,049 A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, THE HOT SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT, VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION STATIONS AND RADIO STATIONS, DOCTORS HOSPITAL, DR. SUSAN KEATHLEY, DR. TERRY JEFFERSON AND DR. RUFUS THROWER, NELL DEAN MATHIS FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN THE SAFE RETURN OF BABY CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL JONES. WHEREAS, Christopher Michael Jones was born on October 29, 1988 to the parents of Willie and Annette Jones; and WHEREAS, "Baby Christopher" was abducted from his mother's arms on November 1, 1988; and WHEREAS, through the concentrated and tireless efforts of the Little Rock Police Department and with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hot Springs Police Department, Baby Christopher was rescued on November 14, 1988; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to specially recognize and commend Little Rock Police Department officers Lt. Bobby Thomas, Sgt. Eddie Alexander, Detectives Ronnie Smith, Floyd Strayer, Delores Beavers, Mark Stafford, David Ebinger, Glenn King, Larry Winn and Officer Jason Shook and FBI Special Agents Dale Kent, Mike Buford, Mark Jessie, Lynn Willitt, Jill Marangoni, Gary Pultro, Doug Cotterman and Ken Peatross; and 452 2 -3 a. c -iz 4-M 453 1 WHEREAS, Nell Dean Mathis, a security officer with 2 Southwestern Bell Telephone Company spent many long hours 3 attempting to help locate the baby from numerous telephone calls 4 received; and 5 WHEREAS, continuous news coverage by various newspapers, 6 television stations and radio stations, greatly enhanced the 7 efforts made to locate Baby Christopher; and 8 WHEREAS, Doctors Hospital provided a toll free hotline so 9 that concerned citizens could relay information and leads 10 directly to the Little Rock Police Department; and 11 WHEREAS, Baby Christopher's doctors Susan Keathley, Terry 12 Jefferson and Rufus Thrower, assisted with the investigation by 13 providing medical updates on what the baby needed in order to 14 survive during this ordeal; and 15 WHEREAS, several rewards were offered for information 16 leading to the safe return of Baby Christopher by Doctors 17 Hospital, by USA TODAY, by The Television Show, by Arkansas 18 Easter Seals Society, by St. John's Baptist Church, by the 19 Little Rock Children's Clinic, by Protecting Arkansas Children 20 Together, by the Little Rock Police Department Crimestoppers 21 Program and by other anonymous donors; and 22 WHEREAS, the entire community and state supported the 23 these efforts with their hopes and prayers for the safe return 24 of Baby Christopher; and 25 WHEREAS, because of this collective effort Baby 26 Christopher was reunited with parents, family and friends on 27 November 14, 1988 after two weeks of investigation involving 28 the investigation of over 950 leads. 29 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 30 OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS: 31 SECTION 1. The Little Rock Board of Directors, on behalf 32 of the citizens of the City of Little Rock, hereby expresses its 33 deep felt appreciation and gratitude for the tireless dedication 34 35 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Me = = = 4,M and hardwork of everyone involved in assisting in the safe recovery of Baby Christopher Michael Jones to his parents. SECTION 2. This near tragedy has turned into a happy and joyous ending for everyone involved and we as a community wish to express our sincere appreciation for the hardwork and dedication of those loyal employees, public servants and volunteers who day in and day out make our community a better place to live. ADOPTED: November 15, 1988 ATTEST: CLERK JAME CZECH AS TO FORM: CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED: 54