Page 47 - FOP Magazine August 2020

9th District officers celebrate their students
Wearing the cap and gown, walking across the stage, shaking hands with proud authority and hearing, “Congrat- ulations, you did it.” These ceremonious moments were all things that two high school graduates knew that they would not get the chance to have this year, after working especially hard to make it this far. No one knew this more than 9th Dis- trict Community Policing Officer Sabrina King, who had watched these students overcome academic struggles to com- plete senior year by ages 19 and 20.
“[One student] came to me and said, ‘Officer King, I finally did it and guess what? I can’t even walk across the stage.’” King recounted a conversation she had with one of the many students who con- siders her a mentor. “He said he felt like just giving up everything and didn’t feel like going to college.”
After serving the 9th District commu- nity for 21 years, King knew there were so many students like these high school grads, who deserved to be patted on the back and recognized for their hard work. It was then that King decided that the 9th District officers and community sup- porters would work together to organize the Hold onto Your Dreams Graduation Ceremony to celebrate the accomplish- ments of youth.
“All of that touched me, and I thought, you know what? Even if I have to rent a stage, these kids are going to walk across
the stage and get a certificate,” King in- sisted.
On July 10th, the stage was set at Chi- cago Indoor Sports, a facility on Ashland Avenue. Many 9th District officers, in- cluding Commander Don Jerome and officers Jim McAndrew, Jason Sollis and Penny Szeto, gathered in front of a sea of caps and gowns. King looked out at the crowd proudly, knowing that the 33 students of all ages, ethnicities and back- grounds were to be recognized for their strength and perseverance.
“Some kids did exceptionally well, others struggled through their life,” King explained. “The point was to give them the opportunity to do something that they really wanted to do but weren’t able to because of COVID-19.”
The ceremony kicked off with a color guard presentation, the National An- them and even guest speaker Gospel
Sister Pamela Morris from WVON Radio. When the time came, King and other uni- formed officers stood on stage and shook the hands of each student as they re- ceived an official certificate of excellence alongside their parent or guardian. Some had lost loved ones from COVID-19, some never thought they’d graduate high school, others, like Jadiyah Davis, were straight A students. Though each student was recognized for different reasons, the purpose of the Hold onto Your Dreams Graduation Ceremony was the same for all: to continue doing their best, knowing that the Chicago Police Department offi- cers are always there for them.
“We purposefully put on our uniforms so that the students could feel comfort- able,” King shared. “The most important part was getting to shake their hands and put smiles on their faces.”
Remembering fallen brothers
Chicago Police officers took a moment of respectful pause in July to pay tribute to the anniversaries of their brothers who lost their lives serving the city. At the 18th District, a ceremony was held to commemorate 50 years since Officer Anthony Rizzato and Sergeant James Severin were fatally shot by gang members as the pair patrolled near Seward Park on July 17, 1970.
Department members welcomed back recruits to the Chi- cago Police Education and Training Academy on July 7, which coincided with the death of Officer Thor Soderberg on the same date in 2010. Soderberg, who was attacked during a robbery at- tempt at the end of his shift in Englewood, spent 11 years with CPD and served as an instructor at the academy.
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