Police Officer Running In A 5K Spots One Weird Detail And Springs Into Action

After 19 years as a SWAT Sergeant on the Chicago Police Department, Mike Nowacki still would go the extra mile for his job – literally. He represented his fellow officers by legging it through the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K.

In the Chicago chapter of the popular nationwide race, Mike was adding an extra challenge for himself, as if the 9.3 miles wasn’t enough of a feat. As a proud member of the force, he came up with the idea to run the race in full SWAT gear.

Race day arrived. Spectators were bundled up along the barricades in the crisp November air. Runners stretched, a sea of moisture-wicking fabric, and there stood Mike, with the 50 lb weight of a tactical vest hanging around his shoulders.

The idea of pounding the pavement in a crowd of thousands didn’t faze Mike. He had something else on his mind. That morning, his thoughts were with one special person in the crowd who’d given up a Sunday of sleeping in to cheer him on from the sidelines.

That person was his fellow officer Erica Gubala who was on duty for the event. They’d met on the job and had fallen in love. So, as he rounded the more brutal sections of the race, it was Erica’s smiling face that motivated him to keep going.

Several hours later, Mike was in the homestretch. His tactical vest pounded on his chest with every stride, so he matched the rhythm to keep pace. With the finish line in view, he sped up, swallowing the lump in this throat for what he was about to do.

Though as he reached the endpoint, packed with a screaming swarm of supporters who were ringing bells and waving their homemade signs, Mike’s eyes searched the crowd for Erica. Only, she wasn’t standing to welcome him into her arms.

Mike spotted a smaller crowd of people with their backs turned from the goings-on of the race. Among them, he noted with a sigh of relief, was Erica. Immediately his instincts kicked in and he knew something was wrong.

Erica and the others were crouched on the ground yelling something intelligible. The noise of the celebrations made it difficult to make out. Understanding suddenly clicked and Mike beelined for them. They were screaming for a medic.

Once he reached the group, Mike saw that they were tending to a woman unconscious on the asphalt. Everything else fell away and instincts took over. After checking for a pulse and listening for breathing, he jumped straight into CPR.

Someone scrambled to call 911, and Mike continued compressions right there in the street. The spectators caught wind of what was happening: a man in full SWAT gear, sweaty from the race, fully focused on reviving her, wasn’t an image they’d soon forget.

Luckily, EMTs arrived on the scene after a few minutes of Mike’s continued efforts. They took over, placing AED pads on the still unconscious woman’s body. They called to the hovering crowd to stay clear so they could deliver the lifesaving shock to her heart.

Soon after, the woman was transported to Northwestern Hospital. In a Facebook post by the Chicago Police, they explained how the doctors agreed that Mike’s quick intervention made all the difference in her survival.

For the first time, Mike took a well-deserved breath of relief. What a way to end a race! He’d earned that coveted mug of finisher’s hot cocoa. But first, he had to take care of what had occupied his mind during all those miles.

There was Erica, waiting to wrap Mike in a hug, and for a much-needed rehashing of the high-stakes save that just played out. Though, instead of surging into the nitty-gritty of his superhero style response, Mike fixed her with a meaningful stare.

Mike blurted out, “Erica, I don’t know what to say…” and dropped to one knee. The reality of what was happening hit her. All the perfect words he’d planned to say on the run had flown out the window in the chaotic aftermath of the race.

The words didn’t matter. All he needed to do was to ask that age-old question, and Erica was ready with her answer. She said yes. Bystanders who’d watched Mike shift from the savior to the proposer gave a hearty cheer.

Not a 9-mile run, nor a 50 lb burden, or even the adrenaline of a life or death situation rattled this guy. It was asking Erica to marry him that struck Mike right the nerves. Which funnily enough, was the easiest part of his epic day.

Finally free of both his physical and mental weights, Mike and his fiance, Officer Gubala, could enjoy celebratory mugs of cocoa. Ever the serviceman, he told reporters that he was thankful for the serendipitous timing that allowed him to help the woman in need.

All this excitement and Mike wasn’t even on the clock. It goes to show an officer of the law always has to be ready for things to get ugly.