Page 41 - August 2017

3rd Place: Ron Rufo
One joke closer to Funniest Cop
If at first you don’t succeed, stand- up, stand-up again. Officer Ron Rufo of the 18th District returned to The Laugh Factory for the fifth time. Af- ter years of standing under the bright lights to make an audience laugh, Rufo’s hard work and veteran status finally paid off in knee-slapping jokes.
“This is my first time that I’ve ever won,” Rufo stated proudly, sharing that his wife Debbie helps him put to- gether comedic material each year. “The first time you try it, you’re very nervous. But you get more confident each year you go up.”
Each year that Rufo walked away from the Funniest Cop event empty-handed, he made sure that he picked up some tips from other officers who placed in the competition. This year, he went with an approach that he noticed has been well received in past by telling true (with a little exaggeration, he admits) stories from his years as a police officer.
“My partner really did put water balloons under the seat of our patrol car,” Rufo confirmed about one of the stories he told on stage about the day his prank-pulling partner placed water balloons under his seat prior to responding to a dispatch. “We laughed that whole day.”
President by day, comedian by night
Chicago Lodge 7 President takes the stage at 5th Annual Funniest Cop event
The crowd was both impressed and surprised when the Chicago Lodge 7 Pres- ident Kevin Graham took the mic during the Funniest Cop Laugh Patrol event.
Graham introduced himself and shared some jokes with the group of law enforce- ment supporters that demonstrated how his life has changed since he became the Chicago Lodge 7 President in April.
“People are recognizing me here and there. I’ve been on television,” Graham shared. “I recently went out to Washing- ton and as I got out of the cab, the cab driver comes around and says, ‘Sir! It’s an honor to have driven you. The people of New Jersey should be proud you are their governor.’”
The outpour of laughter and applause echoed through the theater from Graham’s reference to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Graham’s willingness to step up and share a few jokes at the Funniest Cop event was embraced by the audience and Graham was glad to have the opportunity to participate in an event that has a positive impact on the 100 Club of Chicago.
“It’s one of many things that we have to do to support the 100 Club,” Graham stated. “It’s not just this, I try to support them in everything that they do. It’s so important that when officers fall in the line of duty that the 100 Club is there for their families.”
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