WHEREAS, Chief Fred Waller, longtime Chicago police officer and lifelong Chicago resident, retired from the Chicago Police Department on August 15, 2020, after 34 years of service; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by the Honorable David Moore, Alderman ofthe 17th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Born in 1961, Chief Waller grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the Englewood, Roseland, and Pullman communities; after graduating from Luther South High School, he went on to attend Chicago State University before making the decision to serve his City as a member of the Chicago Police Department in 1986; and
WHEREAS, Chief Waller began his career as a beat cop, and eventually rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Patrol, a title that was recently converted to Chief of Operations; throughout his career he has overseen several police districts on the South Side, worked as a Tactical Team lieutenant, and worked gang and narcotics investigations; and
WHEREAS, As head of the Operations Bureau, Chief Waller was in charge of over 7,000 officers, the largest of all the department's patrol operations, and worked hard to show his support and encouragement for rank-and-file officers; and
WHEREAS, Even as a high-ranking member of the department, Chief Waller never forgot his roots as a beat cop, and said he was always on the front lines because he is a "street cop" at heart; and
WHEREAS, Chief Waller made sure to always be a visible and vocal presence during day-to-day police work and high-profile crimes, and has been described as speaking "with the voice of a true Chicagoan"; and
WHEREAS, Chief Waller cherishes the relationships he built over his three decades of service and holds them dear to his heart, including his best friend and patrol partner of 11 years, whom he talks to two or three times a day; and
WHEREAS, Serving the City through police work is ingrained in Chief Waller's family, with his wife also on the force, as well as their oldest son; and
WHEREAS, Hailed as a mentor by many young officers, Chief Waller hopes to continue mentoring young officers and young men in the community in retirement; he says it has been a "badge of honor" to serve the City where he was born and raised; and
WHEREAS, Chief Waller is highly respected in the community for his dedication to the job, and was an exceptional officer.who will be missed by friends and colleagues alike; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this ninth day ofSeptember, 2020, do hereby congratulate Chief Fred Waller on his retirement from the Chicago Police Department, thank him for 34 years of dedicated service, and wish him the best of luck in retirement; and
AVID MOORE Alderman, 17th Ward
BEIT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Chief Fred Waller as a token of our gratitude and respect.