Page 24 - October 2015

Tactical Jokers
Copmedians take to the stage for Third Annual Laugh Patrol, a night filled with performances that highlight how important it is for officers to take a joke
■ BY DAN CAMPANA
■ PHOTOS BY JAMES PINTO
Jeff Pacocha took the stage with a mod- est, yet uneasy demeanor. He waved and, with the voice of a pilot, announced the upcoming delivery of a zinger to the Laugh Factory crowd.
Arms bent at 90-degree angles, Pacocha rotated from left to right in a motion that evoked his staccato voice as he uttered three words in a deadpanned version of a certain city leader whose name he need not mention.
“Crime...Is...Down.”
The audience reacted with knowing laughter that, as if anyone doubted, there would be no punches pulled during the Third-Annual Laugh Patrol comedy event staged by the 100 Club of Chicago at the Laugh Factor. Police officers young and old, retired and active, took turns sharing stories and lobbing one-liners at an audience filled with those who wear the badge or actively support law enforcement.
What they got was fun, pure and simple. And much of it was pretty funny, too. From raunchy to corny, personal to observational, these cops-turned-stand ups put themselves in the spotlight to sup- port not only the 100 Club’s efforts to help the families of Cook and Lake County police officers and firefighters lost in the line of duty, but to give, for one night, every- one a chance to sit back with a drink, take in a deep breath and exhale a laugh to shed the stress and strain of the job.
“These guys see the absolute extremes in life. This gives them a chance to let their hair down with an audience that is support- ing of them, and they can have some fun,” 100 Club CEO Joe Ahern said. “There’s a real humanity in every one of these guys. They all have families at home. They work very hard. They put their lives on the line. This is a chance to be themselves and just tell
some crazy stories. I think the whole crowd just enjoys them being human.”
The mix of energy and vulnerability was very real for the comedian cops. These are guys typically seen as steely figures of authority, yet give them a microphone and the stage and the butterflies appear. Some forgot their lines, one wagged the mic around so much his voice missed it a few times and each looked as if they needed a second to find their confidence.
“It’s really nerve-wracking,” Pacocha, a 10-year veteran based in Rogers Park, explained. “As my wife can attest, I go through about two weeks of loss of sleep and anxiety (preparing). It’s not because I
think the crowd is going to be critical – I know they’re not – but I put a lot of pressure on myself.”
Pete Kokonis, who retired six years ago after nearly four decades on the job, exem- plified the balance between anxiety and excitement as his voice rose for punchlines, but wavered slightly at times when stringing along the story set up.
“I was nervous as hell, but I didn’t give a s---. I had a great time.”
Everyone did. By the night’s end, smiles as wide as the room celebrated the per- formers and the cause.
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COVER STORY
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