Dixon Police Officer Mark Dallas was honored today by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner for bringing a safe end to a school shooting two weeks ago.
On May 16, a young man brought a rifle to Dixon High School graduation practice and fired several shots at the gymnasium. Resource Officer Dallas responded and fired back, wounding the shooter in the shoulder.
Gov. Rauner said Dallas’s actions prevented loss of life, and declared May 30 "Mark Dallas Day." Dallas said he was humbled by the honor and called for the training of more resource officers.
“Today I come before you not as a police officer who loves his job but as a dad who loves his kids,” Dallas said. “I ask that you support the placement and training of school resource officers throughout the state. You will save our children’s lives by doing so.”
Dallas said school shootings should not become a regular occurrence.
“It’s not a norm,” he said. “It’s a norm that we must change. Surely, we can all agree with one powerful voice that our schools must be sanctuaries, not targets.”
Dallas credited his training for helping to prevent any loss of life. Rauner was accompanied by State Sen. Tim Bivins and Rep. Tom Demmer at the ceremony.
Dixon High School student Matthew Milby has been charged in the shooting and is awaiting a preliminary hearing June 7.