Page 44 - May 2018 FOP Magazine

Chicago officer honored at Unsung Heroes soccer tournament
n BY NICK SWEDBERG
In a tribute to a fallen hero, members of the Chicago Police Department soccer team wore jerseys with slain Commander Paul Bauer’s star number during a tournament in early May. The players’ black-and-grey jerseys were adorned with the number “29” in honor of Bauer.
Players from the Chicago Police Soccer Club and the Chica- go Fire Department participated in the Unsung Heroes Soccer Tournament, which originated in St. Louis, where the nonprofit is based. Organizers aim to bring together first responders in a friendly competition to raise money for charity. The mission is to provide “support through fundraising for those in the public safety profession who have been injured serving the communi- ty,” according to the Unsung Heroes website.
Gino Pacetti, co-captain of the Chicago Police Soccer Club, said teams from the department have played the tournament before, but this is the first time that Chicago has hosted it.
“We didn’t participate in it last year,” said Pacetti. “In 2014, it was in Springfield, and we won it.”
More than $1,000 was raised for the 100 Club of Chicago, Pacetti said. Police officers also had raised money before the tournament by selling No. 29 shirts.
“All of the profits from that will be going to the Bauer family,” said Pacetti, who is with the 9th District and has 10 years on the job.
The police soccer club fielded three teams, along with teams from the Chicago Fire Department and others who traveled from Kansas City and Virginia to compete. CPD’s Red Team de- feated the department’s White Team in the final match by a 3-1 score.
The winning team of the two-day tournament received a trophy, but Pacetti acknowledged that the real winners are the charities who receive the funds raised by the participating teams.
The tournament used to be held outdoors, with teams field- ing 11 players each. In Chicago, it was held at the Chicago In- door Sports arena, where matches were 7-on-7.
“Everyone [was] looking to have some exercise and have fun, but no one want[ed] to get hurt or take it too seriously,” Pacetti said. d
44 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2018