Page 24 - February 2018 FOP Newsletter

Portraits by Peter Bucks
Tributes to officers from the CPD Officer, Lodge 7 member and renowned artist
The sweeter side of being a Chicago Police Officer
n BY AMBER RAMUNDO
Hard work runs in Wanda Wlosek’s blood. From ear- ly childhood, growing up on a small farm in Poland, Wlosek’s morning routine usually consisted of chop- ping wood for the stove, milking cows and tending to other animals before riding horseback to school. There was no running water in her household, and the bath- room was limited to an out- house in the yard.
Her unconventional up- bringing as the youngest of eight is probably why Wlosek says she’s learned to be com- fortable in not-so-comfort- able settings and situations. Instead, she focused on car- ing for others, often volun- teering at an orphanage in town and spending many nights putting her alcoholic father to bed when he’d hit the bottle too hard.
It’s no wonder that Wlosek had no problem passing all of the law enforcement ex- ams, even though she nev- er planned to be a cop after moving to Chicago when she was 25 years old.
“I never chose to be the police,” she clarifies. “It’s more that this career chose me.”
WANDA WLOSEK Star# #7752
to start at the police acade- my, she remembers.
“My upbringing was very physical and tough, but that’s what has made me stron- ger here,” Wlosek stresses. “I never complain about hard work.”
A career in law enforce- ment not only fulfilled Wlosek’s purpose to help others, it also forced her to get to know the City in a way she never would have been able to. Each job assignment, from District 004, to 002, 005, 016 and all the way to the 010 where she’s worked for seven years, has put Wlosek back in the shoes of a tourist, explor- ing the area and its culture for the first time.
“My husband used to be the one telling me areas where I should and shouldn’t go,” she explains. “With this job, I’ve gotten to explore the City, from north to south.”
Wlosek has always consid- ered herself strong, but when it comes to assessing her ability on a job dominated by males, she never pretends to be something she’s not.
“Don’t try to be like a guy, because you’re not,” Wlosek advises other female officers. “As females, we can’t compete with 6’4” male police officers.”
The language barrier and shock factor of city life in a
foreign county didn’t stop Wlosek from quickly establish-
ing a life for herself in the U.S. Her hard work continued as she managed her brother’s bakery for two years. After marrying a Chicago native, having children and spending eight years at home to raise the household, Wlosek decided it was time to go back to work. Her mind was set on becoming a teacher and, at 36, she enrolled in early child development courses at Richard J. Daley College.
When Wlosek says that law enforcement chose her, she refers to the moment when she feels that fate led her to cross paths with two Chicago PD officers after one of her classes at Daley College. The officers were recruiting students to join the ranks of the CPD, and Wlosek filled out an application without a sec- ond thought. Why couldn’t she be the police? Caring for others was her instinct, and strength was always one of her assets, both mentally and physically. It didn’t take long for her to get the call
24 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ FEBRUARY 2018
Instead of relying on physical strength, Wlosek’s ap- proach to the job is to be the “sweet” officer who shows everyone respect. In her experience, words really do speak louder than actions. So, she spends time getting to know the less fortunate living on the street, or kids trying to make ends meet
while growing up in a rough area.
“I see lots of young kids on the street who have to survive just
like I do, but we are on different sides of the law,” Wlosek notes. “I try to help them and respect them.”
Her kindness has assigned her the name “Momma” on the streets of 010, as she often unpacks a well-stocked lunch box to share with the homeless and teenagers who rarely get to taste the sweetness of fresh fruits. These types of interactions are what has led Wlosek to love being the CPD, as she continues to take on the job the best way she knows how.
“We can’t all be like those large male officers, but we can al- ways be a sweet officer,” she says. “That’s my advice.” d