Page 35 - November 2017 Magazine

The view from the other side
Of all the officers from the 11th District Narcotics Sat- uration Team detailed out to the World Series contin- gent, which one stands out?
That would be Officer Kelin Althoff, who went above and beyond the call of duty because he is from Ohio and a lifelong Indians fan. Mustering with other officers from his District at the Chicago Fire Department Station on Waveland Avenue across from the leftfield bleachers, Althoff was focused on keeping the peace for the next 12 hours. And beyond.
“My wife is a Cubs fan so I am happy with whoever wins the Series,” he confided. “It’s been fun. The atmo- sphere here is great.”
To keep tabs on what Althoff called a spirited group of fans – the Wrigleyville reputation as he described it – his detail walked a perimeter throughout the shift. The group was briefed at roll call about what to be looking out for, and the order of the day was “to keep everyone safe, get each other’s backs and be ready for anything,” he added.
11th District O cer Kelin Altho (left), an Ohio native and Indians fan, poses with Cubs fans who wanted to take a picture with Police O cers at the Wrigleyville Firehouse.
“It’s a little different from the west side, and it’s nice to get out of my normal environment and see a different part of the City of Chicago,” he related. “It’s mostly a lot of happy people, happy that the Cubs are in the World Series.”
And even before the Indians killed the buzz built up
with Game 3, Althoff recognized the virtue of being part
of this detail. And the Indians, too, for at least one officer.d
Mingling with the fans at the rehouse
Officer Kyle Burns and a few of his fellow officers gathered together around a couple decked out in Cubs gear outside the famous Engine 78 firehouse on Waveland Avenue.
They smiled as cell phone snapshots were taken. For Burns, it’s a different atmosphere and different community than the four-year veteran typically sees working afternoons in the 11th District.
“Everyone is happy to see us, happy to see the firefighters as well, taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for what we do,” Burns said. “That’s always good to hear.”
Burns appreciated the scene on a few levels, in- cluding as a baseball fan who had never been so close to a World Series.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to be down here to witness this... see some good fans and be part of history,” he said. “I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect. Everyone is taking it as it goes, but we’re well prepared and ready to do a job we have to do.”
With a smile on his face, Burns looked up toward the leftfield foul pole when asked whether he’d be
11th District O cer Kyle Burns (right) with colleagues mustering at the Engine 78 rehouse.
hanging out with the famous ball hawks who have patrolled the street beyond the ballpark for half a century.
“I might have to walk down there a bit and see if I can grab a ball,” he said.d
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NOVEMBER 2016 35