Page 42 - July2021

Profiles of Chicago Lodge 7 members who are the foundation of the Department
Knowledge is power
Dr. Barbara Bunville never imagined getting into law enforcement. Now, the 22-year veteran can’t imagine life without it.
n BY KAREN JENKINS
Dr. Barbara Bunville’s whole life is predicated on a promise.
Throughout her nearly 22-year law enforcement career, Bunville has prom- ised that as long as someone gives her a chance, she will not only succeed — she’ll excel.
“It’s like, ‘Just give me a chance to do it,’” she expressed. “What I really like about law enforcement is the ability for me to continue to be a lifelong learner. Even in the position I’m in, you have to learn stuff. Everybody’s teachable.”
Bunville, an Englewood native, didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming an of- ficer, nor did she come from a law en- forcement family.
She knew she wanted a career that would allow her to engage in public service. She also wanted to receive as much education as possible, since she had grown up in a family that highly val- ued instruction.
“If you have knowledge, they can’t take that away from you,” she shared about her motivation to earn her bach- elor’s degree in elementary education at Roosevelt University. “[Higher educa- tion] was my go-to. That was my safety net.”
Right out of undergrad, Bunville took a job as a technology teacher at Jones Academy Magnet High School. Because she knew she wanted to excel in higher education, she simultaneously began
42 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2021
Dr. Barbara Bunville began her career with the Chicago Police Department in 1999 and com- pleted two master’s degrees and a doctorate of education while on the job.
pursuing a master’s degree in literacy at Roosevelt University.
A friend at the time had gone the Chicago Police Department route and, on a whim, encouraged Bunville to take the test to go to the academy. After much thought, Bunville promised him that she would apply. She didn’t see the harm, knowing that she wouldn’t pass the physical portion of the exam.
“What was going through my head was, ‘Am I really going to do this?’” re- called Bunville, who was 24 at the time. “I was like, ‘OK, if I pass, I will go all the way through [the academy].’ I’ll give it my best shot. If not, I’m still teaching at this magnet school that I’m teaching at right now.”
In January 1999, Bunville passed the physical part of the exam. By November 1999, she was experiencing the biggest culture shock of her life in an academy classroom, training to become a Chica- go Police Officer.
“In my head, it was a whirlwind, like, ‘Do I really go down this journey?’” she shared. “But since I made this promise, I was like, ‘OK, let me at least give it a try.’”
She trained in the 6th District on midnights. During her first night on the street, she got a call about a man with a gun. At that moment, she didn’t know if she’d be able to continue as a successful officer. She wanted to go back to higher education and finish her master’s de- gree, which she had put on pause to go
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