Page 12 - November 2021
P. 12

 Chicago Lodge 7 Officer Awards
     Police Officer Joel Gordils,
Star #8451
Nominated by Sergeant Joseph Bokuniewicz, Star #1494
On Nov. 23, 2020, at the lo- cation of 231 W. 95th Street, officers ob- served a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The officers curbed the vehicle and approached the driver for a field interview. The driver be- gan acting ner- vous, shifting in his seat as if he might be trying
to conceal a possible weapon or contraband.
The driver was given a lawful order to exit his vehicle and
he refused to comply, putting the vehicle in reverse. Officer Gordils instinctively reached into the vehicle to place it back into park, but the driver accelerated with Officer Gordils trapped in the door of the vehicle. The offender sped east- bound on 95th Street, crossing all lanes of traffic, and even- tually crashed head-on into a cement support column at the 95th Street CTA Red Line station.
Officer Gordils’ body was thrown into a cement wall, caus-
ing numerous life-threatening injuries: three skull fractures, two torn ligaments in his right shoulder, damage to three vertebrae, a broken jaw and injury to his right knee. The of- ficer required emergency surgery to relieve a brain hemor- rhage, leaving him with four titanium plates in his head.
The offender, who was placed into custody on scene and charged with attempted first-degree murder, admitted that he sped away with the officer in the door because he did not want to be arrested for a suspended driver’s license. The of- fender’s speed was later determined to be 41 mph at the time of impact.
It is with great appreciation that Chicago FOP Lodge #7 presents Officer Gordils with the Award of Valor.
       Police Officer Jeremy Barnes, Star #13912 Police Officer Wayne Ozima, Star #6579 Police Officer Jonathan Morlock, Star #15358 Detective James Paoletti, Star #20000 Nominated by Police Officer Jonathan Morlock, Unit 189 Rep
On Aug. 15, 2015, while on routine patrol in the area of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and 79th Street, the officers attempt- ed to curb a stolen vehicle. The officers conducted their own balancing test and surrounded the offender’s vehicle to pre- vent any harm to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The officers approached the offender’s vehicle, at which time the driver put the vehicle in reverse and struck the squad car, which was still occupied by an officer.
The offender then drove forward toward another officer. The officer, fearing for his life, fired two shots, striking the offender in the chest. The officers quickly disarmed the front-seat passen- ger, who was armed with a Colt handgun. Both offenders were placed into custody and charged with aggravated assault to a po- lice officer and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. This award was presented to ensure officers received the recognition they deserve after pending lawsuits and the COPA investigation were finally closed.
It is with great appreciation that Chicago FOP Lodge #7 pres- ents the Award of Valor to the officers involved.
12 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2021
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