Page 33 - JULY 2016 Newsletter

Retired of cer plays to the crowd
g
to be named Chicago’s funniest cop
p
n BY NICK SWEDBERG
Finding humor in the headlines isn’t hard for Tom McKenna.
The retired Chicago police officer relied on the latest round of moves by Chicago politicians and top depart- ment brass as his inspiration for a set of stand-up com- edy. “Topical stuff, it kind of writes itself, especially in Chicago,” said McKenna.
McKenna dazzled those gathered inside the world-fa- mous Laugh Factory, winning first place in the fourth annual Laugh Patrol event which raises funds for the 100 Club of Chicago. Comedians from CPD, some brav- ing the stage for the first time ever, slung jokes during five-minute sets. Legendary comedian Tom Dreesen re- turned as host.
McKenna’s deadpan de- livery served to emphasize what some might call bor- derline-absurd decisions made regarding the depart- ment’s upper echelons. No digging through the details is required; McKenna – who performed with his brother at last year’s Laugh Patrol – prides himself on just tell- ing it like it is, with a slow, deliberate delivery that only made the audience laugh harder.
McKenna rode the wave
of current events for ma-
terial, including the city’s
decision to bring in former
Spokane, Washington, Po-
lice Chief Anne Kirkpatrick
to head the Bureau of Professional Standards. According to McKenna, it didn’t hurt that it’s an outsider coming into the city – something Chicagoans enjoy poking fun at no matter the circumstances.
“We kind of eat them up. We don’t need anyone from Newark or Spokane or anywhere else. We can do it bet- ter than anyone else.” McKenna said. “When I heard (it was) the former chief of Spokane, Washington, plus just that name ‘Spokane’ – stuff like that writes itself.”
Finding the jokes wasn’t the difficult part for McKenna, a founding member of CPD’s Pipes and Drums. He did work on his timing in order to give each punchline the right zip. McKenna first jumped on stage for the charity
comedy fundraiser last year. This year, he loaded up on topi- cal humor compared to a storytelling ap- proach in 2015. The decision paid off.
McKenna said it felt great to win the competition, for which he received tickets to the Laugh Factory, gift certifi- cates and a Fitbit fit- ness watch – a total prize package valued
at $5,000. Still, there was another, wider-spread reward. “People ask about humor and police and laughing at certain things,” he said. “I always say that humor (offers)
an emotional escape.”
Police officers deal with tragedy so frequently, a reality
that can take its toll, McKenna said.
“If we weren’t laughing about it, we’d be crying,” he
said.
McKenna said he enjoyed all the other sets from his
fellow officers. He met Joe Ahern, president of the 100 Club of Chicago, during a Pipes and Drums competi- tion, and was encouraged to enter the competition.
“It’s all for a good cause,” McKenna said. d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2016 33
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