Page 24 - May2021

Portraits by Peter Bucks
Tributes to officers from the CPD Officer, Lodge 7 member and renowned artist
‘Be smart, be careful’
n BY KAREN JENKINS
David Solski remembers it all.
Looking back on his nearly 25-year career, which culmi- nated on April 12, Solski can easily remember every detail from those early years begin- ning in 1996 — no, even fur- ther back than that.
He remembers the lights on the Ford Galaxie that flashed blue and red in his bewildered, 5-year-old eyes. He remembers his neighbor zipping in front of his Back of the Yards home and offering him a ride in the squad car. He remembers wanting to grow up to be that kind of law enforcement officer, the one who is constantly in the com- munity and helping others.
“I always kind of looked up to the man, he’s a good guy who influenced me,” Solski recalled of his neighbor, re- tired Chicago Police Officer George Heisler. “He used to work at night and we lived in the district he worked, and his dad actually lived down- stairs from us and he was al- ways over there.”
Solski would see Heisler come into the house in uni- form, and he was amazed every time at how important Heisler looked. The young man knew he was meant to follow in his neighbor’s footsteps and become an of- ficer.
He took the test in 1981 and passed, but he didn’t hear any- thing back from the Department. To fill the time, he went to work in the shipping industry as a freight dock worker.
During his time at the freight dock, Solski couldn’t shake the vision of Heisler in uniform. He just knew he was also supposed to don that badge one day. Then, one by one, his co-workers be- gan leaving the freight dock to join the Department.
After the fourth co-worker left, Solski decided to take the test again.
“I was like, ‘I’ll give it another try,’” he shared. “I took the test and passed it. Then I got called.”
Every expectation of being a law enforcement officer was ex-
ceeded while Solski was go- ing through the academy and training in the 22nd District.
He moved to the 5th Dis- trict and worked on a satura- tion team for three months. He then participated in a mission team for another three months. From there, he worked on a gangs team with area-wide gang enforcement. After a hugely successful ten- ure in the 5th District, Solski moved to the 3rd District in 2013.
“[The move was] a little bit of a change,” he explained. “I actually went there because of their commander. I had great respect from the com- mander there at the time. I also had a working-type re- lationship with him when he was in the 5th District.”
With Solski now in retire- ment from his illustrious law enforcement career, he’s looking forward to spending more time with his grand- children, ages 7, 4 and 1. De- spite his leaving, he knows he’ll continue to take them to the FOP breakfasts and
lunches with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
On Solski’s last day — which also happened to be his 63rd birthday — he stayed in uniform for a couple of extra hours after returning home. He waited for his grandchildren to come home from school. They got a photo with him in uniform, and then he changed for the
final time.
Just maybe, one of those children will remember their grand-
father in uniform and want to grow up to become that kind of law enforcement officer. Maybe they’ll also want to don the badge and be in the community, constantly helping others. Sol- ski knows that he did his 5-year-old self proud.
“Be smart, be careful, always be aware of your surroundings,” Solski advised new and future Chicago Police Officers. “I hate to see it go — I’ll miss my co-workers the most. I worked with a lot of very good people, met a lot of good people. Some of them I was in the academy with, I’m still friends with them today. I have a special bond with those people.”
24 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2021
DAVID A.
SOLSKI
Star #19650 3rd District