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Fourth District officers welcome young hero to the department
When he arrived at school on Feb. 14, Jorgie Ortiz was awe- struck to discover his class hallway filled with some of his great- est heroes. The 10-year-old became even more overwhelmed when he realized that everyone — the uniformed police offi- cers, firefighters, his teachers and classmates — had gathered at Thorp Elementary School on his behalf.
Even 10th Ward Alderman Susan Sadlowski Gaza came out for the visit, because in addition to being Valentine’s Day, it was the perfect occasion to celebrate Jorgie, a young warrior diag- nosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a progres- sive genetic disorder that leads to the deterioration of muscle fibers and will likely leave Jorgie dependent on a wheelchair within the next few years.
“As of today, you are a member of the department,” Fourth District Captain Terry McMahon announced to the boy, who has always wanted to be a police officer. “A lot of this is over- whelming, but it’s for a special boy like you, and we’re glad to be here to celebrate with you.”
The astonishment set in as McMahon reached out and placed a gold star around Jorgie’s neck, deeming him an honorary of- ficer of the Fourth District and making his dream come true. The officers also suited Jorgie up with plenty of Chicago Police Department swag, including a stuffed bear.
“He loved every single part of it,” Jorgie’s mother later shared with the Fourth District CAPS officers. “It meant everything. I had that little hole in my heart filled up when [the officers] ar-
rived and gave him that surprise.”
Though speechless in the moment, Jorgie’s mother insisted
that he later expressed, “I’m the luckiest boy in the whole wide world.” But the Fourth District officers were the ones who felt fortunate to be able to create a special memory for Jorgie and let him know that they will always be there for him.
“The Fourth District admires Jorgie because he is a fighter and tries to do his best in everything he does,” Fourth District officer Eric Davis explained. “We were honored to make Jorgie’s dream come true. The Fourth District has made a partner for life.”
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2020 45