Serving Chicago

As a Patrolman, Pete was responsible for safeguarding the city's Little Village and North Lawndale communities. As a Field Training Officer, he taught and mentored less-experienced officers in Chicago's "most violent" police beat.

He was named the Most Outstanding Recruit at the Chicago Police Academy. His work was recognized for decreasing crime near vacant housing. At the same time, Pete served as a liaison to Chicago's largest community-policing program involving youth and sports, while also contributing to the city's Crisis Intervention Team.

Currently, Pete serves as a Detective on Chicago's Westside.

After being named the Best Soldier at Basic Combat Training, Pete was assigned as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

While working in the Army's Chaplain Corps, he was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. After transitioning to the United States Army Reserve, Pete served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade.

As a member of the Illinois Army National Guard, he completed Officer Candidate School. He then led a detachment of Soldiers, in the Middle East, while deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Today, Pete serves as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve.

Pete understands the importance of educating young people. This understanding motivated him to become an AmeriCorps educator with the Inner-City Teaching Corps. He also served as a youth football coach at the Chicago Park District's O'Hallaren Park and volunteered as a basketball coach at The Faith Community of St. Sabina.

He would later work on behalf of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. In this capacity, he was a Community Resource Coordinator for the North River Commission and raised millions of dollars to support teacher training and after school activities. Additionally, he coordinated the campaigns for dozens of neighbors to serve as Local School Council representatives.

Pete served as an extern in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He also taught basic legal principles in Chicago Public Schools as a "Street Law" volunteer.

Pete enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a beneficiary of the Illinois Veteran Grant, specializing in community development and nonprofit leadership.

Pete enrolled at Northwestern University as a beneficiary of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. His graduate thesis was titled: "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. He is also a proud product of Chicago Public Schools and Lane Tech High School.