Page 48 - March 2022

Real Women Wear Badges
Queen for the Day
22nd District Officer Kelley Leyden earns the honor of representing Chicago’s essential workers in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
On Jan. 28, Officer Kelley Leyden’s phone lit up with a text that would change everything.
“Omg guys, we are amongst royalty,” read the most recent text in a group chat filled with fellow 22nd District patrol of- ficers who work alongside Leyden.
What followed was a link to an ABC7 Chicago video that reported Leyden’s newest title beyond Chicago Police Of- ficer. Rather than her usual badge and patrol vest, the video showed Leyden adorned with a green satin cloak, a matching sash and a bedazzled crown after being officially named the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen of Court.
The video explained what Leyden had been up to when she wasn’t patrolling the streets of South Side Chicago. Only her partner, Officer Jason Ganta, knew that the 27-year-old was one of 80 within the Chicago Irish community competing for the noble title. The honor felt even sweeter for Leyden with the parade re- turning this March after a two-year hia- tus due to the pandemic.
“March has always been a big deal in my household,” shared Leyden, whose mother was born in Ireland and whose father is a first-generation Irish Amer- ican. This year marked the fourth time that Leyden had written essays and com- pleted several rounds of interviews to compete for the title of St. Patrick’s Day Parade queen.
“I was speechless when my name was called,” Leyden stressed while shar- ing her goal of making it to the Queen’s Court, which consists of the Queen and the top four runners-up. “I just did not think it would ever be me. I was totally content and happy with being part of the court. It’s a huge accomplishment!”
The royal title seemed only fitting for Leyden, as this year’s parade takes the theme of honoring Chicago’s essential
48 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2022
22nd District Officer Kelley Leyden was named Queen of Court for the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Plumbers Hall in West Town.
workers. Even prior to her three-year ca- reer in law enforcement, Leyden worked to save lives as a radiologic tech at Advo- cate Christ Medical Center — an experi- ence that connected her to first respond- ers.
“Throughout my time there, I got to know a lot of different officers from all over the state,” Leyden recalled. “I was working with a lot of trauma victims, whether that be gunshot victims, stab- bings or major accidents. I thought to myself ... maybe I can use my skills on the outside to try and prevent what I’m seeing on the inside of the hospital.”
Leyden took the police entrance exam and was accepted to start at the police academy in October 2018. Even Leyden herself never expected that she would become a law enforcement officer, but
since she joined the thin blue line, she has never turned back.
“No one would probably ever believe that I would end up being a police offi- cer, let alone for the Chicago Police De- partment,” Leyden admitted. “But I have no regrets. It has helped shape me into the person I am today.”
Now crowned the parade queen, Ley- den hopes to represent her fellow sisters in blue while making a statement about women’s ability to be feminine and strong at the same time. After frequent- ly being told that she doesn’t look like a cop, Leyden hopes to break down some of the barriers between police personas and who they really are.
“It couldn’t be a better time for police to be represented [in this way],” she in- sisted. “I am the first cop to have gotten the crown. I hope it shows that a cop doesn’t necessarily have to look a certain way or look masculine. Yes, we can have a feminine side, and it’s nice for the com- munity to see the police as just normal people beyond the vest.”
Leyden knows that the role of Queen of Court is a yearlong commitment that will require her to attend many events and fundraisers representing her Irish heri- tage. But that was all part of walking the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade route on Saturday, March 12, with her proud par- ents and brother cheering her on. Ley- den also anticipated the excitement of her worlds colliding on March 13 during the South Side St. Patrick’s Day Irish Pa- rade, where her family in blue cheered her on every step of the way through the familiar streets of the 22nd District.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experi- ence that’ll never happen again,” Leyden stressed. “It means the world to repre- sent my Irish heritage, women and law enforcement. I plan on just soaking it all in.”