COMMENDS-DET. MICHAEL GRIFFIN

104th Regular Session Introduced by Neil Anderson

Commends Detective Michael Griffin and the Moline Police Department for decades of dedication in the Trudy Appleby case, noting progress toward justice.

Referred to Assignments

Summary — SR 397: Commends Detective Michael Griffin

Status: Referred to Assignments
Introduced: April 10, 2025
Classification: Senate resolution (commendatory)
Primary sponsors: RaShaun Kemp; Kenya Wicks; Sally Harrell; Elena Parent; Derek Mallow; Donzella James; Randal Mangham; Nan Orrock; Tonya Anderson; Gail Davenport; Jason Esteves; Michael “Doc” Rhett; Neil Anderson

Purpose and intent

SR 397 is a non‑binding Senate resolution that publicly recognizes and commends Detective Michael Griffin of the Moline Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit for his persistent investigative work on the 1996 disappearance of 11‑year‑old Trudy Appleby. The resolution praises Det. Griffin and the Moline Police Department for their long‑term commitment to pursuing justice in the case and acknowledges a recent prosecutorial development (a Henry County grand jury indictment alleging first‑degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death, dated August 13, 2025).

Key provisions

Official recognition and commendation of Detective Michael Griffin and the Moline Police Department Criminal Investigations unit for their dedication and persistence in the Trudy Appleby investigation.

Acknowledgement of community efforts (vigils, billboards, anniversaries) that kept the case in public view over decades.

Notes the grand jury indictment in Henry County (charges: three counts of first‑degree murder and one count of concealment of a homicidal death) as a milestone toward answers and justice.

Directs that a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to Detective Griffin as an expression of esteem and respect.

Who is affected

Detective Michael Griffin (primary honoree) and colleagues in the Moline Police Department Criminal Investigations unit (recipient of formal recognition).

Family, friends, and community members of Trudy Appleby — the resolution affirms their long‑standing advocacy and the progress toward legal accountability.

The resolution is ceremonial and has no binding legal or budgetary effect on agencies or individuals.

Procedural / timeline notes

Document activity (as provided) includes: Senate hopper March 13, 2025; Senate read and adopted March 18, 2025; received by Secretary of the Senate April 10, 2025; read & adopted and vote recorded April 14, 2025; reported enrolled April 14, 2025; later filed with Secretary and referred to Assignments on October 14, 2025. (Several entries suggest multiple procedural steps or clerical entries; the resolution is commendatory rather than statutory.)

Additional note on source text

The provided version text also contains unrelated language recognizing Dr. Kevin James (president of Morris Brown College). That language appears to be from a different commendatory resolution and is not part of the SR 397 material focused on Detective Michael Griffin. The operative content summarized above pertains to the resolution honoring Det. Griffin and the Appleby case.