Page 45 - January 2018

th istrict of cers honored for actions in shooto t
n BY DAN CAMPANA
A man accused of shooting his pregnant girlfriend quickly took aim at another target: a pair of Chicago Police officers sit- ting in a marked squad late one night in November 2016.
Thomas Surma and his partner were working an overtime violence reduction mission in the 11th District. They encoun- tered the man near Kenton and Madison streets on the City’s West Side, as he fled the violent domestic incident.
The suspect opened fire on the officers, grazing Surma’s head. Undaunted, Surma hit the radio to call for more officers to aid in the search. The man was eventually located in a dimly lit gang- way of an apartment complex not far from the original shooting scene.
Joining Surma were Officers Sean Najm, Miles Furlet, Monica Calixto and Curtis Wallace. The man had taken cover in a por- tion of the gangway, where he could hide behind a brick wall. He ignored orders by the officers to drop his weapon and sur- render, which prompted the officers to take tactical positions nearby.
Then, the man began shooting again in both directions at the officers. His reckless gunfire forced the officers to scramble for cover and protection. They returned fire and eventually wound- ed the man fatally to end the exchange that put the officers and others in harm’s way.
For their life-or-death actions in subduing the suspect, Sur- ma, Najm, Furlet, Calixto and Wallace received the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Officer of the Month Award for
Operation Santa brings Christmas to Gold Star families
Santa and Mrs. Claus — and many of their Chicago Police Of- ficer friends — made a weekend’s worth of special visits on Dec. 9 and 10 as part of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Operation Santa. The faces of Gold Star family members paint- ed pictures well worth thousands of words as they reacted with smiles of joy and appreciation during the two-day event.
In its 11th year, Operation Santa once again brought Christ- mas cheer to the loved ones of officers who have died or been seriously injured in the line of duty. After a grand pickup of gifts from Macy’s on State Street, Santa and his large entourage deliv- ered presents and spent quality time with the spouses, children and other relatives of officers who paid the ultimate profession- al sacrifice.
Among those receiving visits were the families of Officers Alan Haymaker, Paul Nauden, Nathaniel Taylor and Cedric Brumley. “Operation Santa is our effort to show the children of the fall-
en and injured how much we care about them and to remind them they are always a part of the Chicago police family,” said CPMF Executive Director Phil Cline. d
December 2017.
“At a time of record crime in the City, these men and women
exemplify the actions of many officers who, when faced with danger, run toward it to stop the violence, bring criminals to justice and remove dangerous weapons from the street,” said CPMF Executive Director Phil Cline. “We believe these officers represent the blue line, separating good from evil.”
In the year-plus since the incident, Wallace and Surma have been promoted to sergeant. Wallace now works in the 2nd District, while Surma awaits his assignment while completing necessary promotional classes. Furlet took a move to the Gang Enforcement North unit. Najm and Calixto continue to work in the 011. d
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