Page 38 - November 2017 Magazine

If it had been one of those days when Ernie or Ryno or KB hit one out on Waveland Avenue, then the job would have required a response Officers Rob Zieman and Shawn Andrews had never known before. The two members of the Organized Crime unit were as- signed to a post directly beyond the left-field bleach- ers, the spot where fans have stood for more than 50 years trying catch a ball literally hit out of the park.
“Try and mitigate,” Zieman described as the re- sponse scenario planned if a group of fans got into some pushing and shoving going for one of those home run balls.
Added Andrews: “Contain the situation as calmly as possible without any incident.”
Even with briefings to remind about crowd-control tactics and being confident in their training, the offi- cers on the Home Run Detail weren’t quite sure how to be fully prepared for this assignment.
“It’s something different than what we’re used to,” Zieman noted. “Different people. Different atmo- sphere. Different everything, really. So we just have to play it by ear.”
Andrews, a lifelong Cubs fan who grew up in Hum- boldt Park and wears his allegiance on his sleeve – shoulder, actually – thought there might be some clues that would lead them to expect some action.
O cers Shawn Andrews (left) and Rob Zieman were posted beyond the left eld bleachers, where part of the job was responding to any inci- dents related to fans chasing home run balls hit on to Waveland Avenue.
“I’m pretty sure we will be able to hear it being right outside there,” he said while pointing to the bleachers. Clearly, going on the fly took on a whole new meaning for the officers on the Home Run Detail. d
The Home Run Detail
The one with the Cubbie lue ngernails
In a sea of blue – Chicago Police blue and Cubs blue, that is – out- side Murphy’s at Clark and Shef- field, Officer Vanessa De La Huerta stood out from the crowd.
With a quick flash of her hands in front of her you could see why: The unmistakable color of her fin- gernails.
“I’m here to serve and protect,
have fun and cheer on for my city, my team,” shared De La Huerta, who works third watch in the Third District. “I thought about it and said what better way to repre- sent than to paint my nails blue for my favorite team.”
With the Fox Television set to her right and one of Wrigleyville’s most recognizable bars to her left, De La Huerta wasn’t shy to admit, “We got the fun spot” af- ter not being assigned to the ballpark earlier during the Cubs playoff run. She laughed in agreement at the thought of being called up for the “big show.”
“This is part of history. This is the Cubs. It’s a World Series. To think I’ve only had two years on the job and I get to be part of this is awesome,” she exclaimed.
A diehard fan, her reaction to learning only two days earlier about the Wrigley assignment was classic Cubs fan:
“Holy cow,” she said with a laugh. d
38 CHICAGO LODGE
7 ■ NOVEMBER 2016