PETE: Deterring crime is a dynamic and complex proposition. I see the
interaction of a number of different policy decisions on a daily basis while
working on Chicago’s streets, including land use policy, education funding,
and workforce development initiatives.
At the same time, even the most brazen offender is seldom tempted to
commit a crime in the immediate presence of a uniformed police officer.
Are you ever afraid?
PETE: From my understanding, fear is derived from trying to comprehend
the unknown. When it comes to putting my prior experiences in context, with
time spent serving as a solider and then living and teaching on Chicago’s
south side, as long as my partner and I are “safe,” all we are trying to do is
teach people how to act “right.”
So, no, I haven’t been afraid as a police officer. I’ve been fortunate enough
to rely on my training in the Army and my understanding of the city’s
communities as a native Chicagoan and someone who has dedicated more
than five years of my life to empowering young people in some of America’s
toughest neighborhoods to fairly and effectively maintain law and order.
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