Page 198 - 01E_CL7_JAN19.indd

bration of those who epitomized the district’s family way. And to shake off 2018 and make 2019 a statement of “Keep on coming” because the City needs this district to continue its work in the diverse Pullman community, where crime is definitely on the decline.
“We’re talking about how we’re going to have a calendar-burn- ing ceremony and get rid of 2018,” Officer Eric Wright stated as he stood among a group outside the Gary visitation. “We got some other things we are going to plan to do to see what de- mons we can exercise over that building. It’s been a hard year, but the City needs us.”
The hard year for a district that serves the far South Side community that includes an eclectic mix of African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and Asian-Americans was jolted when a 36-year-old officer fatally shot himself in the parking lot on July 9. Two days later, the 47-year-old Williams was sitting next to the lock-up keeper at approximately 4 a.m. when “she just closed her eyes,” Officer Matilda Quiroga recalled about one of the many BFFs she has made in 22 years on the job in 005.
Williams, who left behind a husband and two sons, had come on in her 30s, similar to Marmolejo, who started at age 34, and Gary, who joined at 29. That seemed to convey another char- acteristic of this district: officers who belie their age with a go- get-’em enthusiasm that isn’t intimidated by youth or jaded by experience.
“People are beeping their horns and waving us down. They have been coming up to us and saying, ‘Thank you for your service.’
It helps.”
Officer Mark Mayer on the response 5th District officers have been getting from the community
“We know what we have to do. We like what we do,” said Of- ficer Scott Carter, who has been on in 005 for 13 years. “We will get up tomorrow and take care of business for the City of Chica- go. That’s the bottom line.”
On Sept. 12, a 54-year-old officer took her own life, also in the parking lot outside the 5th District station. As they did then and after losing Marmolejo and Gary, the sisters and brothers of 005 rallied because in doing so, they get a sense of pride and appre- ciation that doesn’t always come for officers across the City.
“We’re looking forward every day and thinking every day will get better because we’re getting a lot of compliments through- out the days,” shared Officer Mark Mayer, who has been in 005 for five years and rode in a beat car with Marmolejo for several weeks. “We’ve been getting them the past couple of years. Peo- ple are beeping their horns and waving us down. They have been coming up to us and saying, ‘Thank you for your service.’ It helps.”
The thickness of the thin blue line running through 005 held officers together as they mustered at the Gary visitation, prepar- ing to go in and console his wife, Kelly. Many of them had never met her, but they all knew her. The 5th District family includes officers’ spouses, children, moms and dads, like it does in so many parts of the Department. And it has fostered a lean-on- each-other mentality that was acute on this night.
Samanthia Smith, an FTO in 005, has felt the power of the district since she moved there from 008 13 years ago. She has thought about moving on a couple of times since then, but the
camaraderie keeps her at home.
“It’s hard for me to leave because this is my family,” Smith
added. “I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else.”
As Matt Lewis, a sergeant in 005 for the past six years, ob- served the hugs and well-wishes exchanged among his col- leagues at the visitation, he commented that the bond has made all the year’s tragedies hit extra hard. He praised the rank- and-file officers for keeping their lines of communication open and for talking to their supervisors when needed to get through
the tough times.
And he was fortified by the response at the visitations, the fu-
nerals and what has taken place in 005 since the night Marmo- lejo and Gary were lost.
“I want it to be understood that the 5th District is still a great district to become the police in,” Lewis commented. “A lot of young officers learn how to be the police here, and they are able to take that throughout their careers. That legacy will stay strong.”
It was 005 strong that made Officer Jason Arellano want to be with his family at the Gary visitation. Arellano served in 005 for six years, before leaving three years ago to join the vice patrol section.
At first, he had trouble expressing the impact of that strength. But, then, he recalled his experiences in 005 and a smile quickly appeared on his face.
“In 005, there were good times, bad times, good memories and scary memories, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world be- cause you are around the best group of officers you would ever want to be around,” Arellano explained. “They’re great officers to learn from. The 5th District is a very busy district, but you have some of the greatest police officers in this City who have worked in that district.”
When they heard about what happened to Gary and Marmo- lejo, the 5th District family immediately gathered at East 111th Street. According to Wright, they sat and ate and started sharing stories.
And they found the strength to continue to serve. A few days after the funerals, that manifested in working with the district’s youth explorers’ program to provide coats, toiletries and other necessities for the homeless in the community.
On Dec. 31, the community gave back to 005 by providing a lunch for the third watch. There were two seats at this meal re- served for Officers Gary and Marmolejo, as there will be in the roll call room from now on. For they remain strong in 005.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2019 41
o e s -
r
- , e ” o - - -