Page 36 - FOP June 2019 Magazine

Gail Vargas, an officer with Mass Transit, attends the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service with her daughter Tiffany, an officer in 022.
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in 018 who served as Bauer’s secretary for several years. Because Bauer was so much of a family-first guy, Craig wanted to make his first visit to Police Week in 15 years to be here for his former boss’ family. It was a difficult day, but one that reinforced the perspective Chicago Po- lice Officers maintained as they stood on line.
“You know, you just keep moving for- ward because you have to,” Craig added. Eddie Pacheco, who has been on for
23 years and works in 012, knows that need all too well. On Aug. 21, 1998, he lost good friend Officer Michael Ceriale, who was shot and killed on a narcotics surveillance.
With the 20-year anniversary of that having just passed and the tragedies of the past year, Pacheco was motivated to make his first trip to Police Week. He was taken aback by the experience.
“Powerful, emotional and humbling trying to remember the fallen, especially when you know someone who has been lost,” he described. “The way the fami- lies embrace you even though they don’t know you is more humbling than any- thing.”
The Chicago contingent featured a faction that could have been called the
36 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2019