Page 34 - November 2017 Magazine

Crosstown partners
The Cubs fan...
Judging by this particular assignment, apparently the Department saw a chance to have some fun with this World Series detail.
Positioned across the street from the main gate, pa- trolling near the Cubby Bear at Clark and Addison, Kal Harris worked Game 3 with his partner from Organized Crime, Dan Nunez. Officer Harris is a Cubs fans. Officer Nunez is a Sox fan.
Harris was up for the three consecutive days of 12- hour tours, hoping that he would at least be on site for a celebration as opposed to watching it on television. He had wanted to be on the Wrigleyville detail in the past when he worked at the 19th District, but never got the chance. So this was truly a labor of love.
“I’m a lifetime Cubs fan,” Harris shared. “I’ve been to at least five games a year for the past 30 years.”
But first and foremost, Harris noted they were on the same team to make sure this historic weekend went ac- cording to plan. Organized crime was called in to back up the other uniformed officers. Their orders consisted of pointing out things that were suspicious and report- ing them.
“It’s more so the people see the police around and act accordingly,” Harris explained. “In this climate, every- body wants to party and have a great time. Nobody is looking to start any trouble. Maybe one or two out of a bunch want to do some stuff.”
So keeping eyes out for those people meant not being able to keep an eye on the game. Even a quick peek at the phone to get the score wasn’t in the plan.
“I will just have to listen for the cheers,” Harris said. d
Chicago Police O cer, and Cubs fan, Kal Harris, with his partner, Chicago Police O cer, and Sox fan, Dan Nunez.
...The Sox fan
After 21 years on the job, especially working narcotics, Officer Dan Nunez probably has seen just about every- thing.
What neither he, nor just about anyone else wearing a badge in Chicago, ever experienced is World Series at Wrigley Field or the massive response by the Department. Standing outside the Cubby Bear beside a giant display of Cubs T-shirts and swag would also be unprecedented for this South Side Sox fan.
For Nunez, the weekend detail was about fundamental policing.
“Street smarts and common sense are all you need, that’s what makes good police officers,” Nunez offered. “Keep your eyes open. Be aware. If the crowd’s going one way and people are going the other way, keep your eyes on the people walking away from the crowd.”
Even with the City’s history of handling big sports-re- lated events – “the Bulls, the Hawks ... but not the Cubs,” he points out – Nunez stood mindful of what can happen, which is why he thought the Wrigleyville response was so large and comprehensive.
“You have to remember the Boston problem with the bombing over there. It might be for the neighborhood and for the Cubs but you have to keep in mind your terrorist attacks,” he explained. “That’s another big issue. That’s why there’s more police presence than ever.” d
Off in the distance, still part of the game
TV helicopters buzzed overhead.
Listening intently, you could probably sense some- thing big was happening in the distance even if you couldn’t get a clean visual.
From his spot at Grace and Sheffield, Officer William Gianniotis didn’t mind being posted up away from the epicenter of the baseball world – Wrigley Field before Game 3 of the World Series – even if some of his col- leagues considered it to be a boring gig compared to other locations.
“I’m fine with a little distance. I’ll go wherever they
send me,” Gianniotis said.
Like most officers, the experience was new to Gianni-
otis who has been with the Department for four years and is assigned to Homan Square. He expected to rely on his instincts in what he called a baptism-by-fire-type detail that differs from what he sees working days in his home district.
“It’s definitely a nice little change of pace to see differ- ent parts of the City I don’t normally see,” he comment- ed. “It’s an adjustment.” d
34 CHICAGO LODGE
7 ■ NOVEMBER 2016