Page 21 - FOP JUNE Newsletter

P traits by Peter Bucks
Tributes to officers from the CPD Officer, Lodge 7 member and renowned artist
Henry A. Nowak Star # 9632
From waking hours to manic min- utes, many Chicago police officers spend their lives stalking the streets of the city, uncovering hidden corners and alleyways, crossing one familiar intersection after another. Patterns of pedestrian traffic and public trans- portation become a language second nature to them.
Though they memorize the infra- structure after only a few months on the job, few officers become inti- mately acquainted with other aspects of Chicago because they simply don’t have time to spare.
After serving more than three de- cades for the Department, retired Transit Officer Henry A. Nowak final- ly has begun to enjoy the city. Both he and his wife Alice were born and raised in Chicago, but they only real- ly got to know their hometown after Nowak’s retirement on Feb. 15, 2004.
In addition to growing better ac-
quainted with Chicago, Nowak and his wife have taken time to trav- el, spending their days and nights road-tripping through Iowa and Wisconsin with friends, and flying to Mexico for well-deserved getaways.
Though grateful for his newfound freedom to discover and explore, Nowak’s fondness for the force is in- grained in his mind and pulsing in his blood. He joined the CPD, following not in his father’s, but his mother’s footsteps.
A 39-year veteran crossing guard in the fourth district, Apollonia “Sally” Nowak handed down a legacy of ser- vice to her son Henry, who, in turn, handed down his legacy to his own son, Jared – an officer who continues to serve in the seventh district. On the day of his retirement, Nowak trans- ferred his star over to Jared, who has served the city of Chicago for more than a decade.
Nowak still feels tremendous grat- itude toward the members of the Transit Unit. “They do an outstand- ing job,” he says. “They make the city proud.” d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2016 21