Page 45 - December 2018

Honoring a Hero
the thousands who would stand in line in the cold, rain and snow to pay their respects to the young hero, as well as organizing an event to raise money for the family.
“You have the time from when the family announces the funeral to the day of the funeral to work all of this out,” Caballero stresses.
For BFTF travel coordinators Jeremy Carter and Michelene Al- exa, the priority resided in making sure that the more than 30 BFTF officers who came to Chicago were accommodated from the mo- ment they stepped off their planes until their rides back to the air- port to return home.
“We have to mourn and cater to our department, but these offi- cers are traveling a long way and taking time out of their own lives to come give support,” Carter explains. “When we’ve traveled to some of their cities in the past, they’ve done the same for us. We felt it was only fair as a family to accommodate as much as possible.”
The support system
The Brotherhood has grown tremendously since its first re- sponse, when a group of CPD officers filled four patrol cars to drive to Oakland, California in March 2009, after four officers were fatally shot by a convicted felon. When another shootout took the lives of two more officers in Pittsburgh a month later, Caballero drove to Pennsylvania to personally deliver a check to the families affected.
That’s when he decided to officially establish a special organi- zation of officers who would travel any distance to provide sup- port when a brother or sister in law enforcement was lost in the line of duty. That unit became the Brotherhood for the Fallen and has since established chapters in cities across the nation, including New York, Dallas and Boston.
Bob Kane is one of the 500 CPD officers who decided to go above and beyond their pledge of service by joining the Brotherhood and volunteering free time, days off and vacations to make sure that every fallen officer receives the appropriate support. Kane has dis- covered on multiple occasions that being a part of the Brotherhood has invigorated his sense of purpose on the job.
“While attending my first funeral outside of Chicago, in small- town USA, I saw everyone out on the street corners in the pour- ing rain holding signs without even knowing the officer who was killed,” Kane recalls. “Their dedication and support for law enforce- ment rejuvenated my belief in policing.”
BFTF has traveled to honor officers who made the ultimate sac- rifice at more than 500 funerals in all 50 states, as well as Canada, London and Puerto Rico. In October, members of the Brotherhood trekked 25 miles on the Cactus to Clouds hike in Palm Springs, Cal- ifornia. When the Brotherhood members reached the 10,838-foot summit, they proudly waved the thin blue line flag in honor of all officers killed in the line of duty.
Hometown heroes
On Nov. 26, the Chicago Brotherhood didn’t have to travel any farther than the Chicago FOP Hall to make a tremendous showing of strength, support and family for one of their own. Following the funeral for Samuel Jimenez, and after more than 24 hours spent working the BFTF support trailer at the visitation and funeral sites, the Brotherhood invited the visiting officers to gather for an eve- ning of remembrance and unity for Jimenez and his family.
Brotherhood members worked together to stock the fundraising event by soliciting donations from local businesses and pizzerias for food, drinks and items to be auctioned off throughout the eve- ning. There was no charge to enter the event, but as guests arrived, boxes at the entrance quickly filled with donations for the Jimenez family. Proceeds from T-shirt sales honoring the officer also added to the goal of raising as much money as possible for the cause.
“I saw a steady flow of people packing the FOP Hall throughout the entire time I was there,” Carter drinks. “People were sharing
The Brotherhood for the Fallen truck and trailer set up outside of the visita- tion held Nov. 25.
Brotherhood for the Fallen Officers Oscar Navarro and Rey Serrato along with founder Rick Caballero pause to honor fallen officers on San Jacinto Peak in Palm Springs, California.
memories, networking and making donations to the family of the fallen in several ways.”
The officers gathered at the event all felt connected to Jimenez in one way or another, many without even knowing him. Patients and family members of those who were in Mercy Hospital when the shooting took place also showed up to the event to give condolenc- es and donations to the hero who fearlessly gave his life to stop the suspect from harming anyone else.
BFTF saw the essence of its mission fill the FOP Hall as the of- ficers, loved ones and residents from across Chicago gathered in support of the fallen officer, while sending a powerful message to another law enforcement family that they will never be alone.
“It managed to all come together and everyone was on the same page to make sure their fellow brothers and sisters were OK, mourning and going through this,” Carter attests. “We all wanted to make sure the Jimenez family knew that they have a place in the blue family for life. He mattered and will never be forgotten.”
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