Page 36 - December 2018

Honoring a Hero
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their bags and getting out of the city. He stepped up and told your dad that you had a child on the way. You know what that’s called? Courage.”

Beyond his family, what might have defined Jimenez best was his presence within, and his impact on, the Department’s Second District. There has been an influx of new officers into 002 during the past year, making it an entity full of energy and passion for the job.
As more than 50 officers from 002 mustered at the visitation early in the evening of Nov. 25, that energy was palpable. Sure, there were some tears running, but mostly it was a celebration of the fun they have serving their community with a smile. And the hub of that service, they all confirmed, was Samuel Jimenez.
“His big smile – the way he smiled made everybody let go,” reflected Erica Melado, who was in the academy class just before Sam and came to 002 about the same time. “He was the kind of guy everybody liked to be around all the time. He would always cheer you up. That’s how he always was. No mat- ter what it was, he just jumped right into it. If it was a bunch of high school kids one time, he’d run right into it. He was just always there. He was a leader.”
He stood out because of his size and his smile. His 002 sis-
36 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2018