Pete Kalenik

Pete serves as a police officer assigned to Chicago's Ogden (10th) District. As a Field Training Officer, he is responsible for teaching and mentoring the newest members of the Chicago Police Department, while safeguarding the city's Little Village and North Lawndale communities. He earned the Chicago Police Academy's "Outstanding Recruit Award" and has been recognized for his work addressing crime surrounding vacant housing. Pete has also served as a spokesman for Chicago's community-policing program and worked as a patrolman in the "most violent" police beat in the city.

Pete is a Lieutenant in the Illinois Army National Guard. He originally enlisted as an active-duty paratrooper with the Army's Chaplain Corps, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, under the National Call to Service program. Prior to earning his commission, Pete served as a Staff Sergeant and a Civil Affairs Team Leader in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Pete served as a middle school teacher at Visitation Catholic School. In return for only $5 per day in spending money, Pete dedicated himself to creating an inquiry-based science curriculum, which motivated students to attend high school and college. He also served as a youth football coach at the Chicago Park District's O'Hallaren Park and volunteered as an assistant basketball coach at The Faith Community of St. Sabina. While living and working on Chicago's Southside, Pete was a resident of the city's Fuller Park community.

Pete earned a joint degree in law and public policy from Loyola University Chicago. As a student, Pete served as an extern in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He also learned trial advocacy skills from U.S. District Court Judge Virginia M. Kendall.

As a community leader, Pete served as a Street Law mentor, teaching basic legal principles to students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools. Pete was also named to the Dean's List at Loyola University Chicago's School of Law and Loyola University Chicago's Graduate School.

Pete enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a beneficiary of the Illinois Veteran Grant. His graduate thesis was entitled: "Municipal Contracting for Social Impact: Leave No Veteran Behind, Chicago Public Schools, and Safe Passage."

Pete enrolled at Northwestern University as a beneficiary of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. His graduate thesis was entitled: "Holistic School Reform: Understanding the Potential of Chicago's Local School Councils."

Pete enrolled at the University of Chicago as a transfer student from Concordia University Chicago. As an undergraduate, Pete studied abroad in Rome, Italy (2005) and Paris, France (2007). His senior thesis was entitled: "The Congressional Franking Privilege: A History of Incumbent Advantage."

Pete is a proud graduate of Chicago Public Schools. He was a captain on Lane Tech's varsity football team and lettered in baseball.