Page 46 - May2021

CPMF award finds unique way to honor undercover officers
n BY DAN CAMPANA
While the officers’ names remain hidden to pro- tect their undercover assignments, their actions during a March operation could not go overlooked by Chicago Police Memorial Foundation officials.
Taking a unique approach to its monthly award, CPMF “named” a Narcotics Division officer and sergeant the April Officers of the Month for brav- ery and tactical handling of a dangerous armed of- fender during a situation that escalated quickly on the city’s West Side.
On March 9, the pair were part of a team working
an ongoing drug investigation on South Spring-
field Avenue, determining where to conduct surveillance of one of the subjects targeted for a controlled narcotics purchase.
They recognized the offender to be a convicted felon with multiple firearms charges in his history, including aggravated battery to a police officer and murder. The man, who was on electronic home monitoring at the time for a pending unlawful use of a weapon by a felon case, had been identified — but not apprehended — a month earlier as part of a heroin distribution investigation involving the Gangster Disciples street gang.
While looking for a strategic place to observe the offenders and remain out of their view, the officer spotted one of the men in front of a home on South Komensky near 13th Street. With
additional team members arriving on the scene, the sergeant and officer approached the offend- er, who immediately became confrontational by raising his voice and refusing to cooperate with instructions.
Moments later, the man attempted to run to- ward the home’s front door, prompting a struggle with the officers, who tried to prevent him from entering the residence. The officer continued to give verbal orders to the man, but he resisted, pulled a handgun from his waistband and point- ed it at the sergeant.
The officer radioed a 10-1 call and continued to instruct the offender to drop his weapon and surrender. Eventually, the ser- geant was able to knock the gun away from the man, but two women then emerged from the home and attempted to help him. A woman described as his sister swatted at the sergeant, while the second woman swung a broomstick at both officers as the offender tried to retrieve the gun. An unknown man be- lieved to be recording the incident on video began yelling for someone to pick up the loaded .45-caliber Glock before police could, officials said.
Additional officers arrived and secured the offender, who was taken to the 10th District without further problems. A re- port filed by federal agents who spoke with the man included statements that included: “Hey, you could have shot me when I pulled that gun, right?” and “Sarge, I want to thank you for not shooting me.”
The man faces drug and weapons charges, as well as a viola- tion of his electronic home monitoring.
In the spirit of the award, CPMF officials said they would be remiss if they didn’t recognize the officer and sergeant for their actions even without naming them.
“Our awardees demonstrated extreme patience and control. The fact that they had knowledge of the target’s violent histo- ry, that he produced a firearm and, still, throughout the course of this potential life-and-death struggle, refrained from using deadly force. [The fact they] continuously gave clear verbal di- rections, attempted to control the target’s hand and arms, gain control [of him] and take possession of the firearm shows their high level of professionalism, use of training regarding de-es- calation, and dedication to the preservation of life,” said CPMF Director of Operations Joe Salemme. “When a police officer uses deadly force, it is highly scrutinized by the media, multi- ple local and federal agencies, CPD supervisors and the Civil- ian Office of Police Accountability, as well it should. What is ex- ceedingly more common are the number of incidents where a Chicago Police Officer doesn’t resort to deadly force — like this distressing incident — even though the officer would have been legally justified in doing so. It’s those incidents that get little, if any, positive coverage.
“It is an honor to name these officers our Officers of the Month,” Salemme said.
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