Police officers are the backbone of Chicago communities. In neighborhoods like Garfield Ridge and Clearing, some sacrifice their safety day in and day out for residents — without asking for recognition.
The job demands constant vigilance. Officers move from call to call under sustained stress and witness situations most civilians never encounter.
“Mental health continues to be stigmatized among police officers, who are told to be tough, not to share their struggles, and lack resources or tools to process what they’re feeling outside the job,” explained Jason Huff, a member of the 8th District Police Council–CCSPA.
The toll is measurable and severe. According to WTTW Chicago and the Illinois Answers Project, police officers are 60 percent more likely to commit suicide than the general population — a rate that exceeds deaths occurring in the line of duty.
On May 21, the 8th District Police Council partnered with elected officials and local pizzerias to address this crisis head-on. The 2nd Annual Healthy Mind Healthy Life Fundraiser brought the community together with a simple, powerful gesture: dining at six participating pizzerias to support police wellness.
The organizer
Huff led the charge throughout the afternoon and evening, visiting all six locations. A Chicago city worker and 8th District Police Council member, Huff has made supporting police a cornerstone of his community work.
He serves on the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch board and has organized events like the Garfield Ridge Residents vs. 8th District Police Softball Tournament, Paint-A-Pumpkin with a Police Officer, and an Easter Egg Hunt at Normandy Park—all designed to foster connection between officers and families.
“Knowing that our officers are deciding to take their own lives really pulls at me emotionally,” Huff said. “They have families and friends who love them and will support them, but feel they have to end their lives. Officers deserve the best and should know we as residents support them at all times.”
Last year, Huff partnered with Alderman Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) and two local pizzerias — Triano’s on Archer and Angie’s on Pulaski — for the inaugural event. This year, he expanded the effort with Tabares and Alderman Marty Quinn, bringing six pizzerias across Clearing, Garfield Ridge, and West Lawn into the fold.
On Thursday morning, Huff and Tabares kicked off the fundraiser by delivering pizzas to the 8th District Police Department, then encouraged residents to participate by dining at a participating pizzeria that evening.
The beneficiary
Twenty percent of proceeds went to Light the Line, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing police wellness services through a mobile support unit.
“I chose Light the Line because Officer French was not only an 8th District officer — a terrific one at that,” Huff explained. “Since its inception, Light the Line has supported our officers when they needed it most, on and off duty. Ms. French and her organization provide food and drinks for officers on long tours, especially during hot summer months when the heat weighs on someone in full gear. Supporting her efforts means protecting our officers’ well-being and their ability to serve.”
Light the Line’s Executive Director Elizabeth French participated in the fundraiser, stopping at Triano’s Pizza to dine near her daughter’s statue in Wentworth. The statue was unveiled in August 2025, honoring Chicago Police Officer Ella French, who was killed in the line of duty in August 2021.
The restaurants
Frank Battaglia, owner of Stunod’s Pizzeria, feels a personal obligation to support first responders in his neighborhood. Stunod’s fundraises for first responders and their families year-round — in March, they raised money for fallen Chicago Firefighter Mike Altman’s family.
“We live in the same neighborhood, drink at the same bars, and walk our dogs together,” Battaglia said of the officers he supports. He called the fundraising effort “more Chicago than Chicago,” reflecting the city’s ethos of looking out for neighbors, families, and friends.
Sarah Clabots, owner of Ciprani’s, took over the restaurant last year and made community support a priority.
“Mental health support is something we genuinely believe matters, especially for first responders and police officers who deal with an incredible amount of stress every day,” she said. “Restaurants like ours are built around community, and we felt this was a meaningful way to give back locally.”
Jimmy Pieprzyca, owner of Danny’s, echoed the sentiment.
“The men and women of the 8th District put themselves on the line for our neighborhood every day, and that comes with a heavy mental toll. Partnering with Light the Line is our way of saying thank you and ensuring these officers have the mental health resources they deserve.”
Janja Taylor, who opened Karolinka Club with her husband Brian near Midway Airport in 2025, reported that approximately one-third of their patrons mentioned the fundraiser.
“As a neighborhood restaurant in a community with a strong law enforcement presence, supporting the mental health and well-being of police officers directly impacts many of our guests, families, friends, and employees,” Taylor said. “Strong community support helps reinforce that their mental health matters just as much as their physical safety.”