Page 35 - February 2020 FOP Magazine

The cops-for-kids charge is also about raising spirits. Iza relates what this looks like from the annual “Hooked on Fish- ing” event the 17th District hosts at a park district lagoon ev- ery year around Father’s Day. They stock the pond, and it’s catch-and-release. At the last one, she recalls the excitement of one young fisherman. “He probably caught 10 fish, but ev- ery time it was like the first time,” she testifies.
The heart of the activity, though, seems to be about making the community a better place. Anybody who questions the so- cial justice at the core of Chicago Police Officers should know about the peer juries that exist throughout the districts. A kid who commits a small misdemeanor and is a first-time offend- er sits amongst a group of peers, sometimes members of the police explorers. They offer judgment as the peer jury. If the offenders sign off on that judgment, they get a walking card and no charge is held against them.
“They don’t have to go through the juvenile courts,” ex- plains Officer Dave Vazquez, who facilitates peer juries in 010.
“We are trying to deter first-time offenders from being part of the system.”
The 10th District also runs Peace Warriors with North Lawndale College Prep. Students combine with officers to host smoke outs during which they set up grills in high-crime areas or where a shooting might have recently occurred and invite kids to grab a burger and hang out for a few hours. “We
try to sway kids who the verge of going into gangs or down the wrong path,” Vazquez adds. “We witness re- lationships flourish- ing right there before us.”
Chicago Police Of- ficers deserve to be complimented for making these activ- ities teaching mo- ments. Nash gush- es over the spring cleaning officers lead kids through in 006, during which they patrol the neighborhood picking up gar- bage.
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