Page 8 - FOP Magazine March 2019

The ultimate goal of any police officer is to reach 29 years and one day of service in order to retire with a full pension. Some of us, myself included, have that date pushed back to make up for “bad time” that occurred during that period. Reaching a full pension is an accomplishment that far too many of us fail to achieve.
My path to 29 and a day began the day after Christmas in 1989, when 200 strangers filed into the police academy on West Jackson to begin a new
career. We walked in as strangers and came out as friends. Pat Maslanka was my HRI (homeroom instructor). Maslanka was a Marine and Vietnam veteran who whipped us into shape, ready to work the tough streets of Chicago.
Now, my time for retirement approaches. Retirement can be scary because of the uncertainty of what comes next. If you planned carefully, you would hope that you are financially se- cure to do whatever you desire. The years fly by and, before you know it, retirement time has arrived.
On March 22, I will be forcibly retired! I will continue my role as Chicago Lodge 7 First Vice President until the next election. I hope to continue to work on legal defense to provide our offi- cers the legal representation that they deserve. On March 22, I
will be attending the benefit for fellow officers Wrigley and Jack O’Keefe at the FOP Hall. The following day, I may stop by to have a few drinks to celebrate reaching this milestone.
I’d also like to give a special shout-out to my former partners: Mike Grantz, John Healy, Dan Varallo, Bill Monahan, Tony Re- spondi and Colin Catterson, as well as my Englewood brothers, Knight, Rawa, Sherlock, Leon “BBQ” Askew, Krzebiot, Grzyb and Darcy, to name a few.
First Vice President’s Report
29 and a day
PAT MURRAY
8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2019