Page 45 - January 2020 FOP Magazine

The Mister Rogers of the 25th District
n BY KAREN STAHL
“Hello, boys and girls!” Officer Ber- tram Cranfield exclaimed brightly, with a peppy inflection similar to a “Sesame Street” Muppet. “Are you ready for Santa to come today?”
Amid a sea of cheers from the children assembled, Cranfield began singing “Ru- dolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” encour- aging a sing-along. It’s a Christmas mir- acle that Cranfield has been recreating? for the past 16 years.
It’s not difficult for someone with such a big heart to want to spend the holidays spreading joy. When the 25th District CAPS office approached Cranfield 16 years ago and asked him to sing Christ- mas carols for kids at the station, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. He knew how important it was for those kids to see po- lice officers in a joyful light — and he’s the perfect guy for it, because he’s the furthest thing from bashful.
“It’s more a giving back to the commu- nity,” he affirmed. “I grew up poor and without a father and a home, and I know with the inner police officer in me deal- ing with these kids, no matter what their background or what’s going on, I’ll never forget where I came from.”
Cranfield began policing in 1996. He has been making memories in his com- munity ever since. From the officers he’s
worked with to the kids he’s sung for, the one thing that’s clear is that Cranfield has never met a stranger. He’s the Mister Rogers of the 25th District.
Even though he’s retiring, Cranfield has already told the CAPS office he’s coming back next year to sing for the
children. He adores it and doesn’t want to spend a holiday without his commu- nity.
“I’ve enjoyed it so much,” he said. “Everybody I touch in the community remembers me, because I interact with everybody. That’s what I do.”
22nd District officers support shoe giveaway
In collaboration with the Unity Part- nership and Super Heroic shoes, 22nd District officers helped bring the gift of sneakers to students at Fort Dearborn Elementary School in December. Of- ficers presented shoes to the children and then assisted with putting them on to ensure a good fit.
Unity Partnership has worked in re- cent years to build police-community relationships. Super Heroic shoes aims to empower and build confidence in children through, among many ways, its “Hero for a Day” shoe giveaway pro- gram.
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