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P traits by Peter Bucks
Tributes to officers from the CPD Officer, Lodge 7 member and renowned artist
Tom Gorman Star #3156
When Tom Gorman agreed to have his portrait done by his academy homeroom mate, Peter Bucks, he made a special request.
“I wanted it to look the portrait of Kramer from that ep- isode of Seinfeld, ‘The Kramer,’” Gorman shared. “I actu- ally went and researched the episode so I could have the same pose, the same facial expression. He’s a loathsome brute.”
So judge for yourself if Peter captured it right. Gorman is the one on the left.
He actually wanted Bucks to paint him years ago like the movie poster from Vacation or in a pose like Fabio on the cover of a romance novel. When he was living in a house with three friends just starting out in the Department, he
and his buddies bought a $6 rendering of “The Kramer,” put in a $150 frame and posted it behind their bar. That painting still hangs there.
Gorman made sure to emphasize his sense of humor when providing his portrait backstory. He says the best part of the job is vacation. He jibes that having a portrait painted of him is like putting perfume on a pig.
“Put a picture of ‘The Kramer’ in the frame in there as a comparison,” he asked. “People who know me won’t expect anything less. If people are laughing, they will be laughing with me.”
Everybody seems to know Gorman or some member of his police family. Both of his grandfathers, his dad, two of his uncles and two of his older brothers have served the
Department. His brother, Joe, just retired as commander of the Deering District and his brother, Bill, works in the 22nd District.
Gorman has worked in Fugitive Apprehen- sion since 2012 pursuing criminals wanted on warrants. His job takes him all across the state, and, in typical Gorman fashion, says the best part is, “getting to eat anywhere we want.”
As for becoming a cop, well, it’s apparent he didn’t have much of a choice. But when he got out of the military, he had a decision to make.
“I didn’t think brain surgery was an op- tion,” he quipped. “So I took the test.” d
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