Page 22 - December 2021

Portraits by Peter Bucks
Tributes to officers from the CPD Officer, Lodge 7 member and renowned artist
‘I learned what resiliency is’
n BY ROSEMARY AN
Chicago Police Officer Linda Davis loves a good challenge.
When she attended the police academy in her early 30s, Davis quickly realized how physically demanding a law enforcement career would be. From keeping up with 21-year-old recruits to run- ning more stairs than she could count, she was driven to complete the arduous tasks and make it to graduation.
“I was determined, because I knew I was learning something new,” Davis recalled. “So it was something I really wanted to mas- ter.”
Coming out of the academy, Davis, hired in October 1999, ad- justed to working outdoors on patrol as opposed to her previous corporate office jobs. She also had to transition from a civilian’s men- tality to that of a law enforcement officer.
“I was nervous about going out on the street,” she admitted. “Because you still think like a ci- vilian.”
By a stroke of luck, Davis combined her previous
work experience with her training at the academy to
land a position as a crossing guard supervisor. She had
no knowledge of what her duties were or how to execute
them, but it was another challenge she was determined to com- plete.
“No one in the office knew what to do,” she remembered. “I called around to other districts, sat with them on my time off and learned how to do the job.”
As if that wasn’t enough to prove her dedication to the badge, Davis went on to work at headquarters for informational systems. She and a colleague were the first two African American officers in the department to learn about a license plate reader and do pro- totypes throughout Chicago.
“Everyone was freaking out, and it became a big deal,” Davis shared. “To me, I’m just a police officer. However, people in the neighborhood were like, ‘Oh my God, two Black women.’”
Davis, 56, also served at the 13th District, where she was de- tailed to the detached service unit and stationed near then-Sena- tor Barack Obama’s house. She partnered with his Secret Service team in securing his residence. She met the Obamas and even saw Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee.
Then Davis spent two weeks in Alabama for field force opera- tions training and learned about crowd control during civil unrest
22 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ DECEMBER 2021
or protests. She also entered the terrorism unit to learn about gas masks and law enforcement pro- tection measures.
Her law enforcement experi- ence landed Davis back to where she started — at the police acade- my, but this time, as an instructor. She trained recruits and officers on the job for 10 years, and while it was rewarding, she said it was not an easy task.
“You’re emotionally invested because they have personal is- sues you deal with, and it takes a lot out of you,” she confided. “And if anything should happen, like a police shooting, you’re devastat- ed, because more than likely you have touched their life.”
Still, Davis focused on her driv- ing force for teaching the young recruits, which was to prepare them to be the best versions of law enforcement officers that they could be.
“I loved giving back to young minds,” she remarked. “I felt it was important that I was a part of producing a good product out on
the street.”
Davis managed to excel in multiple facets of law en-
forcement during her 23 years on the job, all while rais-
ing three children at home. She saw firsthand how dif- ficult it is to juggle the job with personal responsibilities and find time to take a mental breather.
“A lot of officers, including myself, are very angry, anxious and often still recovering from 2020,” she stated. “They haven’t had time to grieve. They haven’t had time to even fantasize, just dream and think, and that’s important.”
That’s why when Unit 124 created a wellness program, Davis jumped at the opportunity to teach officers about resiliency. The first three hours of the program are dedicated to how officers can push forward when they feel emotionally or physically drained. She can’t think of a better way to serve than to help officers on the job.
“I learned what resiliency really is and the mindset of it,” Da- vis shared. “I really enjoy teaching that part, because it’s a passion and I really feel it when I’m giving it to other officers.”
Davis said the wellness program works because officers are hearing from other officers, rather than civilians. The program provides a haven for colleagues, who can truly identify with each other’s struggles, to share. To think. And to dream.
“By the end, they’re laughing,” Davis observed. “It’s just really good to see a transformation.”
LINDA DAVIS
Star #12171 Unit 124