Page 27 - April2021_Magazine

Chicago Lodge 7 Officer Awards
Police Officer Omar Garcia, Star #19738
Police Officer Miguel Garcia, Star #9805
Police Officer Pakorn Santisuk, Star #7083
Police Officer Jasmin Jakupovic, Star #18572
Nominated by Police Officer Carlo Rubino, Star #3307
On July 28, 2020, at the location of 813 W. Windsor Ave., the officers responded to a robbery that had just occurred. Upon arriv- al, the officers met with victim No. 1, who related that while she and victim No. 2 were in the process of unloading a furniture item from the back seat of her car, three offenders approached her, displayed a handgun and demanded her car keys and car.
Victim No. 1 refused, and the of- fenders forcefully took the victim’s keys from her hand. The offenders began to grab and pull at victim No. 2, who was still in the back seat of the car with the furniture. The offenders were unable to remove victim No. 2 from the vehicle and instead of a continued struggle, two offenders entered the ve- hicle and drove off with victim No. 2 still in back.
With no more room in the hijacked vehicle, the third offender fled the scene on foot. The offenders drove recklessly, swerving wildly with the rear door open, and attempted to push victim No. 2 from the moving vehicle. The offenders’ erratic driving caused them to crash into two parked cars. As the offenders started to exit the vehicle, victim No. 2 grabbed at the offenders’ gun and attempted to disarm them, to no avail.
The offenders fled the crash scene on foot. The officers responded to the scene of the car crash and observed two offenders nearby matching the description. The officers chased the offenders on foot through yards and
parking lots, but the offenders were quickly apprehended by the re- sponding units. A Glock 17 Smyrna, GA semi-automatic with modified 22-caliber conversion upper 4.49 barrel and a 22-millimeter extended magazine were recovered and inven- toried. A show-up was done on scene, and both victims positively identified the offenders. The detectives arrived on scene and both offenders were charged accordingly.
Officers, due to your quick actions and keen investigative skills, two fel- ons were removed from the streets of Chicago for a couple of hours!
It is with great appreciation that Chicago Lodge #7 presents these of- ficers with the Distinguished Service Award.
Police Officer Fredy Sotelo, Star #15400
Police Officer Nestor Ortiz, Star #13128
Police Officer Lisbeth Zamora-Mitre, Star #3687
Police Officer Adan Barazza, Star #2747
Police Officer Hector Briseno, Star #5260
Police Officer Jonathan Garduno Leon, Star #8084
Sergeant Jerome Hoffman, Star #1713
Nominated by Sergeant Michael Kapior, Star #1372
On June 25, 2020, at the location of 7447 S. Kedzie Ave., the officers viewed a distraught, suicidal woman clinging to the light pole on the Kedzie Avenue bridge. The victim was also observed with long, bleeding slash marks on the inside of her arms, causing her grip to be unsure.
The officers immediately called for more assist units and EMS. The officers utilized de-escalation techniques and cri- sis intervention strategies to console the would-be jumper and develop a rapport with her to keep her talking. The of- ficers closed the distance just in time, gaining control of the victim’s flailing, bloody body and saving her from plummet- ing 40 feet to her death.
The victim confided in the officers and reported a criminal sexual assault by her drug-addict boyfriend. This traumatic experience, which had caused the victim to feel dirty and violated, was the driving force behind her suicide attempt. The victim was transported to the hospital, where she was treated for her medical injuries and mental health issues.
It is with great appreciation that Chicago Lodge #7 pres- ents the Life Saving Award to these officers.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2021 27
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