Page 40 - August 2016 Newsletter

the Department stripes and the Blue Lives Matter flag made out of vanilla and chocolate icing.
“We felt this was important,” said 38th Ward Alderman Nick Sposato, who helped sponsor the rally for his con- stituents. “The wives of police officers are scared to death given the climate nowadays.”
Margaret Black is one of those wives. Her husband, Mike, is an officer in the 16th District who has been on the job for 20 years.
Following the events in Dallas, Margaret had been talking to other spouses and family members of officers in 16, who were scared even if their husbands, wives, moth- ers and fathers were not. In fact, some were asking their officers to pass up overtime opportunities or side jobs and come home when their eight-hour tours ended.
“Margaret actually said she was going to get a part-time job,” confided CPD Police Chaplain Bob Montelongo, who presided over the vigil at the rally. “She said, ‘I don’t want him to be out there in harm’s way any longer than he has to be, so I’m taking a second job.’ Isn’t that amazing?”
Despite some of the trepidation, Black apparently thought the best thing for the officers was an event to honor them. She had double the incentive considering the oldest of their four children is about to enter the po- lice academy.
p
ing the academy. I think the police needed this.”
Since the event, Black said more than 1,300 supporters have joined a Facebook group for “wives, family, police of- ficers and friends.” More efforts to raise money for police organizations and rally support for the law enforcement community is likely to come from the group. The prayer
vigil helped, Black said, but more is warranted. Montelongo closed the event with a roll call during which the names of the officers killed in Dallas, Michigan and other locations across the country during the past
month were read. Then, there was a moment of silence. But Chaplain Bob noted that didn’t last long. Residents of the Jefferson Park neighborhood the 16th District serves who were driving by honked their horns when they
saw it was a rally to support the police.
“We do have people out there that respect us and really
care for the police,” he added. “They know the hard work officers do.” d
p- pening to officers. “My oldest son is so excited to be start-
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CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ AUGUST 2016 39