Latest news with #GetBehindtheVest
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Get Behind the Vest' breakfast looks to raise money for new bulletproof bests for CPD officers
CHICAGO – At St. Ignatius College Prep, pancakes fed the prayers of people looking to help. On Saturday morning, Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward) hosted a 'Get Behind the Vest' breakfast for the first time. Since 2014, these events have cooked up the funds for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's efforts to help Chicago police officers buy new bulletproof vests. 'Chicago police officers have our back, so it's important that we have theirs and we're putting a good bulletproof vest on their backs,' Conway said. Weekend Break: White Sox celebrate families with Kids Opening Day on the South Side While the city gives each officer a bulletproof vest when they come out of the academy, officers are responsible for replacements every five years. 'Officers don't replace their vests like they should upon expiration. They kind of roll the dice and wait to see, and they spend their money on family and the house and everything else,' Maureen Biggane with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation said. Just last year, Officer Edwin Gramajo's life was saved when his vest caught a bullet. 'He was in his squad car. You'll see pictures of where the bullet penetrated the windshield and then struck him in the vest. Thank God he was wearing his vest, saved his life undoubtably and we were able to provide him with a replacement vest after that incident,' Biggane said. So far, the police memorial foundation has replaced 14,000 vests at a cost of about $500 each. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines 'Any protection we can get for our officers, especially when they're facing the types of challenges they're facing out there. We know how many officers we've lost over the last two years and we don't want that to happen again. We want to keep our officers safe when they're out there keeping others safe. Those bullet proof vests do a lot to protect our officers,' CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said. Conway hopes to raise over $100,000 from sponsors and pancake sales. 'In the military, I was in Afghanistan and wore a bulletproof vest. So I want to make sure that our police officers have the protection they need,' Conway said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
30-03-2025
- CBS News
Breakfast at Chicago's Saint Ignatius College Prep raises money for CPD officers' protective vests
A "Get Behind the Vest" pancake breakfast was held on Chicago's Near West Side Sunday to help those who protect and serve to stay protected. The event raises money to buy new bulletproof vests for Chicago Police officers. Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) has been hosting Get Behind the Vest events in the Beverly area. The event Sunday was organized by Ald. Bill Conway (34th) and was held in Tully Hall at Saint Ignatius College Prep, 1076 W. Roosevelt Rd. "They have our backs, so we've got to make sure they have the best on their back as well," said Conway. Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling attended the event as a special guest. "To have an event like this and a turnout like this in support of the officers who are out there keeping the city safe is just a blessing," Snelling said. For $5, those attending the event at Saint Ignatius got their fill of pancakes, sausages, and other breakfast favorites. The money raised will all go to purchasing those new protective vests for Chicago Police officers.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
St. Patrick's parade to honor fallen first responders
The Brief The Archer Avenue St. Patrick's Parade steps off at noon Saturday in Garfield Ridge. This year's honorary grand marshals are fallen Chicago police officers and firefighters. Proceeds will support the Get Behind the Vest program and families of the fallen. CHICAGO - The Archer Avenue St. Patrick's Parade steps off this Saturday. What we know The parade steps off at noon on Saturday, and will travel through Garfield Ridge on Chicago's South Side. Why you should care Organizers say this year's celebration will be especially meaningful, as the honorary grand marshals are fallen Chicago police officers and firefighters, including Officers Enrique Martinez and Areanah Preston, and Firefighter Jermaine Pelt. Proceeds from parade sponsorships and participants will benefit the Get Behind the Vest program and an assistance fund for families of the fallen. The Source
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
'Get Behind the Vest' campaign helps Chicago officers, K9s replace bulletproof vests
CHICAGO - Over time, a police officer's bulletproof vest loses its effectiveness, and in Chicago, replacing it falls to the officer wearing the badge. 19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea has spent the past decade helping defray the costs of new vests for Chicago officers. What we know Chicago police officers are issued a bulletproof vest upon graduation from the academy. Due to normal wear and tear, the vests have a shelf life of about five years. After that, it's up to the officer to come up with the $500 needed to replace it. Once again, they're getting help covering the cost, thanks to the "Get Behind the Vest" campaign. "Police officers are raising a family, they're paying a mortgage, they have other bills they need to pay for – other forms of equipment they need to replace. What the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation identified was the vests weren't being replaced," O'Shea said. Dig deeper Since 2014, O'Shea's pancake breakfasts have raised nearly $700,000 for Chicago police officers. Sunday's turnout impressed CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling. "The thing that I hope the public sees is number one, this is a changing department, but at the same time, the threat that officers face on a daily basis – that hasn't changed," Snelling said. Another strong turnout this year is expected to result in nearly 1,000 vests being issued to Chicago officers. "Tragically, they don't get as much love and respect as they should. They keep our streets safe and they're the first people we call whenever there's an issue. So I'm proud to support this. It's great to see so many people out on a Sunday morning. It makes me feel good to be a Chicagoan," said Sec. of State Alexi Giannoulias. Thanks to "Get Behind the Vest," K9s in the Chicago area are also receiving new vests, which can cost more than $1,000.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's ‘Get Behind the Vest' event raises funds for officer safety gear
CHICAGO – Over 1,000 people headed to St. John Fisher School in West Beverly Sunday morning for an annual fundraiser in support of Chicago's police officers and their safety on the job. The fundraiser 'Get Behind the Vest' featured a pancake breakfast and was hosted by Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th Ward). All the money raised goes to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation's Get Behind the Vest initiative that buys new bulletproof vests for Chicago police officers. Chicago high school students receive training in life-saving emergency skills 'They protect us; we're going to protect them,' O'Shea said. To date, the annual gathering has raised nearly $700,000 to purchase new vests. O'Shea said vests need to be replaced every five years due to normal wear and tear. They cost about $600 each and he explained why replacing them falls on private donations. 'For whatever reason they are not replaced, they should be. That would be part of a collective bargaining agreement between the FOP and the City of Chicago. The fact of the matter is they are not provided. Lucky for us, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is taking this on. I'm just happy our small community can be a small part of it,' O'Shea said. CTA workers' union raises safety concerns after recent incidents The Original Pancake House in Beverly donates the food while Mariano's donates the condiments. Other local businesses have also stepped up to help make the gathering a successful one. 'The general public wants police to be there and they respect the work they do,' CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said. 'The threat a police officer faces, that hasn't changed. It's probably changed for the worst, but police officers get up, do the work, and I want the public to understand they do the work for them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
