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Portraits by Peter Bucks
Tributes to officers from the CPD Officer, Lodge 7 member and renowned artist
Hometown hero
■BYAMBERRAMUNDO
Ever since Allen Murawski was
assigned to the 4th District in 1989, he has dedicated a career of service to protecting his own neighborhood.
The former Cook County Sher- iff’s Department corrections offi- cer was hired by the Chicago Po- lice Department on Nov. 8, 1988. The transition from working as a corrections officer to a law en- forcement officer in his home- town was natural for Murawski, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago.
“I felt like I could make a dif- ference bettering the community I lived in,” Murawski says. “I’ve been able to work closely with the people and try to assist them with their problems.”
Murawski has become a friend-
ly neighbor and trusted officer
in the District, as he has worked
with the community to restore
the security and well-being of the
neighborhood that he remembers
from his own childhood. While
working Beat 424 in 004 for more
than 12 years, Murawski valued the opportunity to receive direct input from residents at the department’s monthly beat community meetings, allowing the community to gather with the officers who work to keep the streets safe.
ALLEN
MURAWSKI
Star #6468
Decades of working on the streets in 004 has provided Mu- rawski with a sense of community wisdom that takes time for new- comers on the job to develop. But the veteran officer embraced the opportunity to share his knowl- edge with newly hired officers when, at one point, he was asked to work as an active field train- ing officer during a stint when the District was short on training staff.
“A number of officers who are new to the job have to pick up tips from us old-timers to develop particular skills,” he notes. “I usu- ally like to instruct them on safety factors and how to return home the same way you go to work that day.”
Murawski’s fearlessness in chasing down danger while also ensuring his own safety was nev- er more apparent than when the officer responded to the scene where a rock was thrown through a resident’s window. Murawski was in the middle of writing up a
property report when the sound of gunshots erupted in the direction of a nearby alleyway. The officer and his partner immediately got in their patrol car to speed toward the ac-
“There were a lot of issues that individuals didn’t want to call in to the police — they would rather talk to us in person,” Murawski explains. “They were able to give us a lot of valuable information that was useful to us, especially while cleaning up problems that had to do with gang activity.”
Knowing that he has made a difference in his community is what has kept Murawski going for more than 30 years on the job. The 4th District native felt a sense of accomplishment in the 1990s, when he helped shut down a liquor store that was serving to minors and causing concern for residents.
“We put them out of business, and it became nice and quiet, as it was years ago,” Murawski remembered. “People in the community applauded us for it.”
Murawski often found that the strong relationship between 004 officers and members of the community put the department at an advantage while solving crimes — especially before surveillance existed on every street corner.
When a nun was attacked in a St. Jude parish while a suspect was attempting to steal items to sell for drug money, Murawski and oth- er officers were able to use testimony from witnesses on the street to identify the attacker.
“It was very beneficial to work with the community to bring clo- sure to that,” Murawski says. “They were very appreciative.”
22 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2019
tion.
“It was just one of those nights where we happened to be in the
right place at the right time,” Murawski details. “When we pulled through the alley, we found the victim lying on the ground and the offender with a gun in his hand.”
Thankfully, the officers were able to successfully apprehend the suspect and put an end to the danger he could have caused that night in 004.
“You feel like you accomplished something, and you did your job to the best of your ability,” Murawski shares. “It’s almost like a high. And then you go back the next day and do it all over again.”
The pride of serving his community one day at a time has yet to wear off for Murawski. Over the course of his career, he has received in excess of 100 honorable mentions from the Chicago Police De- partment. He also received the Arnold Mireles Special Partnership Award for his role as a community leader. Murawski credits his team of supervisors and officers in 004 for making his career his passion for so many years. But it’s his sense of community and commitment to making his neighborhood the safest it can be that have kept him going and continue to inspire him every day.
“I know I’ve made a difference out there and it’s a great sense of accomplishment,” Murawski says. “But there’s still a lot of things out there to do, and I’m still trying to help the community. That’s why I keep going.”