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Heroism in gun battle earns officers CMPF award
n BY DAN CAMPANA
Generally speaking, most Chicago Police Officers have responded to a call of shots fired more times than they can remember in their ca- reers.
For those working in the 25th District on July 30, few will forget when that call came from just outside dis- trict headquarters. A carjack- ing suspect carjacking sus- pect opened fire on officers while being moved through the sally port following his arrest.
When the situation finally
calmed, three officers were
wounded and taken to area
hospitals. In September, the
Chicago Police Memorial
Foundation honored those officers and three others for their bravery by presenting them with the September Officer of the Month award. The recipients included officers Jason Cloherty,
James Kurth, James Rowe, Michael O’Grady, Timothy Vasiliadis and Veronica Negron.
It all started when officers located an unoccupied Porsche, which had been reported stolen, parked on North Avenue. Offi- cers learned the car was taken during an earlier carjacking and were working on paperwork when a man got into the vehicle and attempted to drive off.
A struggle ensued as officers tried to take the man into cus- tody. He was handcuffed and searched before being placed into the back of a police SUV with a cage in the back seat for his transport to the 25th District headquarters. As Cloherty drove the man to the 25th District, the man maneuvered himself in such a way as to get his hands to the front of his body. Investi- gators later learned the man had a 9mm handgun hidden in his groin area.
When the SUV arrived at the 25th District headquarters, Clo- herty opened the vehicle’s door and the man began shooting, hitting Cloherty immediately. Cloherty knew he had been hit by a bullet just under the chin, but he credited “survival instincts” for keeping him going as the dangerous situation unfolded.
The call of officers being shot filled radio traffic immediately, causing others at the 25th District to spring into action. A gun battle ensued in the sally port area, leaving Rowe shot in his hip and Kurth struck in his vest.
Kurth noted that he had just received his protective vest from the CPMF-supported “Get Behind the Vest” program.
“I was very blessed to receive one of the newer vests. That was the first day that I was actually wearing that vest, and I do be- lieve that it did save my life,” Kurth told reporters at the ceremo- ny. “It did its job, and I’m very grateful.”
The suspect was taken to Stroger Hospital after being struck multiple times in the exchange of gunfire. He remains in custo- dy. Officials lauded the officers for their heroic work.
“This is an excellent example of how Chicago Police Officers run toward gunshots and danger,” CPMF Executive Director Phil Cline said at the early September ceremony. “We are proud to honor these six officers with our September Officer of the Month award.”
52 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ OCTOBER 2020