An Officer With A Rough Exterior and A Big Heart

Twice a week, you might see 20 women chasing Officer Luciano Valdez Jr. through the streets of Evergreen Park, IL.

But they’re not mad at this cop. He’s leading them to a better life. "Some people think police officers just give out tickets,” Valdez said. “I enjoy motivating the residents to be fit.”

He was inspired to help others by the late Thomas Wortham, a police officer who was shot to death outside his Chicago home after a tour of duty in Iraq.

“I used to work with him,” Valdez said. “I wanted to do something. I wanted to give back to my community.” Valdez served in the Marine Corps before 9/11, and was in evidence-technician school the day of the attacks.

"Some people think police officers just give out tickets, I wanted to give back to my community," Valdez said. "What really started me out doing this is when a fellow police officer Tom Wortham, who was an Iraq war veteran was shot and killed in front of his home. He gave back to his community. I used to work with him, that's where I got my inspiration from." 

Before his murder, Wortham attended a memorial for police officers killed in the line of duty in Washington D.C. On that memorial, there are 72 officers listed that were killed in the line of duty on 9/11. 

"I wanted to do something" says Officer Valdez. I enjoy motivating the residents to be fit. We have a great time out there in the elements, whether sun or rain. Whatever their goals are , I tell them one day at a time and they'll achieve it."

Officer Valdez remembers Sept. 11, 2001 like it was yesterday.

"I was going to evidence tech school. They brought televisions in for us to view the event. Like most Americans, I couldn't believe what was happening. Being a former Marine, when I realized what was going on, I wanted to re-join the Marine Corp." 

The names of 72 police officers who died in the line of duty on 9/11 are on a police memorial in Washington, D.C., a sacrifice Valdez will always remember.

"Never forget what happened. We don't want history to repeat itself. I know the intensity after it occurred in our village. We did extra security on our water facility and places like that. We're trained constantly. The residents here should know that we are here to do our job, no matter what type of incident occurs. We make sure everyone's safe" Valdez said.

"I'll remember 9/11 this year talking with my friends, where they were and what was going through their minds. We'll go out for a drink to remember all the fallen police officers and the people in general who lost their lives. Never Forget "

This is one of a series of 9-11 portraits assembled by the Patch network for 9/11: The Decade After, a special report for Huffington Post. Find more photos on the Action America Facebook page.