Page 41 - August 2018

From left, best friends Carlos Sanchez, Jose Sandoval and Andrew Beluso combine to cook up one of the most illustrious arrays of delicacies at the picnic.
with some good food and cold beverages.
They have come to the picnic all 17 years Rodriguez has
been on the job. And what they are here for might best be ob- served through Durtell’s wife, Randie.
“To have a stress-free day when he’s OK,” she confided. “I’m glad he was able to take off. He’s with his family, spending time with us. Which is not often.”
Officer Margaret Badie, who works in Financial Crimes, has come to the picnic all of her 23 years on the job. She knows that this is one day when members can plan to see longtime colleagues who lose touch because they work afternoons, mid- nights and weekends. But all the burdens of the job seem to be left at the Gaelic Park gates when the day begins, according to Badie.
“It helps you wind down, and just enjoy the day and forget about everything,” she confirmed. “I don’t care if it’s hot, rainy or whatever. We come out.”
The plethora of canopy tents that turn Gaelic Park into a fac- simile of Clearing, Mount Greenwood, Edison Park or one of the other police officer-centric neighborhoods in the city typ- ically hub a group of members. Setting up the canopy is only one step in the FOP Picnic process.
Alfredo Pacheco, who works in the 11th District, actually begins his setup the day before the picnic. Deploying his po- lice-borne attention to detail, Pacheco makes sure he is pre- pared for the whole day, including aligning the charcoals for the grill so as not to burn any food.
He then turns the cooking over to best friend Jose Hernan- dez, who works in 003. Hernandez will work his way through the steaks and burgers toward one of the best ways to top off the day.
Officer Will Garcia, who is assigned to Midway Airport, enjoys one of the great benefits of attending the picnic: spending time with his daughter.
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