Six-year-old Madison Pruitt, who has cancer, wanted to become a cop.
So on Wednesday afternoon, interim Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson walked two blocks from the Gresham District police station to Madison’s home in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood to make her dream come true.
Marching behind Johnson were about 75 cops, including two on horseback.
“I heard your lifelong dream was to be a Chicago Police officer,” Johnson told the little girl, who was bundled up and sitting in a wheelchair as the two met on the front porch of her home where she is receiving hospice care. […]
Each officer made their way up to the front porch to see Madison, including one of the mounted patrolman — still on his horse. Another officer had his police canine — a black lab — by his side.
Madison’s grandmother, Pamlor Nelson, smiled and cried as she looked on.
“I am overjoyed with the Chicago Police Department,” are words not often spoken in Auburn Gresham. The CPD has a long way to go before they’re trusted by many people in this city. But it looks like Johnson is off to a good start.
Thanks for posting Rich, that made a really crappy day so far, where I’m getting pounded, totally worth it. Shout out to the FOP sisters and brothers who put that together. It’s actually a lot of work to pull that kind of thing off. I was a hospice chaplain and organized stuff like this but nothing so big. This was a big lift and I want people to know the titanic effort involved in pulling it off. But wow, is it worth it. I don’t think folks get many moments in life like this.
People are good. An overwhelming number of people in this world are good people. Unfortunately it does not always make the news. And guess what, most of the police officers in Chicago, in this State, in this Country and in this World are good people doing good work. We just don’t always here about it. Thanks for the share.
Stirs the soul to see great deeds!! Congrats to those officers. Make your profession proud.
Now, FOP, everyday…every single day, you must do the same. Humility and gentleness and patience will earn the trust of your community back. Please.
More like this please. There are profound problems in CPS, and it’ll take a lot of genuine moments and positive actions like this to re-build trust in the neighborhoods.
But this was very moving and very well done. It’s a good start down what looks to be a very long road.
I too saw it on the news and lost the battle of tears then….and now. Great job CPD. Nice to see a positive story come out of one of these neighborhoods.
Rich, this story restores my faith in humanity & the Chicago Police Dept. We need good news like this everyday to offset all of the bad news. Rich, thank you for finding and sharing this heartfelt moment.
Mr. Johnson certainly seems like a nice guy, who is well liked by many who know him, and is clearly acting in good faith. However, I heard him speaking on the radio and answering questions about his agenda and ideas, and from that I daresay he seems over his head. I did not hear any ideas that would solve the problems in the department, other than the oft-stated “listening”
- Aldyth - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:38 am:
Well done, officers. Well done, indeed.
- jerry 101 - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:38 am:
I’m fighting back tears over here. So sweet.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:39 am:
===I’m fighting back tears===
I lost that battle.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:44 am:
Whoa, that’s powerful.
Speechless, but moved, beyond words.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:47 am:
Good on the coppers.
- Concerned - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:48 am:
More like this, please.
- illini - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:48 am:
More stories like this please. It helps to restore my confidence that there are decent and caring individuals in our state.
My hopes and prayers are with Madison and her family. And Rich, I lost that battle as well.
- FAIRNESS AND FAIRNESS ONLY - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:49 am:
Tears. God bless Madison, and the CPD for going out of their way to make her day.
Thank you for sharing the article.
- Gordon Willis - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:50 am:
Amen!
- JoanP - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:54 am:
“I am overjoyed with the Chicago Police Department,” are words not often spoken in Auburn Gresham. The CPD has a long way to go before they’re trusted by many people in this city. But it looks like Johnson is off to a good start.
Now excuse me while I get my Kleenex.
- Slick Willy - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 11:59 am:
Damn onion cutting ninjas…
- Honeybear - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
Thanks for posting Rich, that made a really crappy day so far, where I’m getting pounded, totally worth it. Shout out to the FOP sisters and brothers who put that together. It’s actually a lot of work to pull that kind of thing off. I was a hospice chaplain and organized stuff like this but nothing so big. This was a big lift and I want people to know the titanic effort involved in pulling it off. But wow, is it worth it. I don’t think folks get many moments in life like this.
- Archiesmom - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:10 pm:
===I’m fighting back tears===
===I lost that battle.===
Me, too.
- Ghost - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
Great story, restores my faith in humanity
- Elliot Ness - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
People are good. An overwhelming number of people in this world are good people. Unfortunately it does not always make the news. And guess what, most of the police officers in Chicago, in this State, in this Country and in this World are good people doing good work. We just don’t always here about it. Thanks for the share.
- Northernwatersports - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:14 pm:
Stirs the soul to see great deeds!! Congrats to those officers. Make your profession proud.
Now, FOP, everyday…every single day, you must do the same. Humility and gentleness and patience will earn the trust of your community back. Please.
- Belle - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
Her little voice saying she wants “to protect people”…WOW…heartbreaking.
- cdog - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
hospice. wow.
My her soul be welcomed by the good souls that have gone before her, and her little body have much deserved rest and peace.
CPD wins the day.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:25 pm:
More like this please. There are profound problems in CPS, and it’ll take a lot of genuine moments and positive actions like this to re-build trust in the neighborhoods.
But this was very moving and very well done. It’s a good start down what looks to be a very long road.
- Wensicia - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
If this is what we have to look forward to, perhaps Emanuel made the correct choice for police superintendent. A shining moment for CPD!
- Still Workin' - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:46 pm:
Saw this on the news last night. Cried like a baby then and now again. Even in sadness I have hope for this world
- blue dog dem - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:50 pm:
I am proud today of Chicago police.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 12:55 pm:
Great story and brought a tear to my eye. Police deserve more credit these day’s. Humble work and thankless often.
- Big Joe - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
I too saw it on the news and lost the battle of tears then….and now. Great job CPD. Nice to see a positive story come out of one of these neighborhoods.
- Former Hoosier - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:11 pm:
6 years old and in hospice…that puts things into perspective. Great job CPD! 75 officers and the interim Supt.- that’s impressive.
- Silent Majority - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
CPD get one right ……
- Amalia - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:17 pm:
God bless Officer Madison Pruitt!
- jerry 101 - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 1:31 pm:
Rich, I didn’t watch the video. Seems like I would have lost that fight if I did.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:24 pm:
Her first arrest..my heart.
- Mama - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
Rich, this story restores my faith in humanity & the Chicago Police Dept. We need good news like this everyday to offset all of the bad news. Rich, thank you for finding and sharing this heartfelt moment.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 2:36 pm:
Man my allergies are bad today.
Bless her sweet little soul.
- Molly Maguire - Thursday, Apr 7, 16 @ 4:19 pm:
Mr. Johnson certainly seems like a nice guy, who is well liked by many who know him, and is clearly acting in good faith. However, I heard him speaking on the radio and answering questions about his agenda and ideas, and from that I daresay he seems over his head. I did not hear any ideas that would solve the problems in the department, other than the oft-stated “listening”