EPCHS Grad To Be Congressman Dan Lipinski's Guest At SOTU Address

CHICAGO—An Evergreen Park High School graduate who is currently a Chicago police officer will be the special guest of Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) for Tuesday’s State of the Union Address. CPD Officer Gino Garcia overcame tragic circumstances to become an advocate for victims of domestic violence.

Garcia was only 6 when his mother, Brenda Sexton, also a Chicago police officer, was killed by her boyfriend. Sexton’s killer was convicted in 2003 and is now serving a 60-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Garcia followed his mother’s lead and became a police officer in 2016. He now works with WINGS, a Chicago-based organization that provides a pathway to independence and violence-free lives for domestic abuse victims, and other domestic violence networks to help victims.

Lipinski said he chose Garcia to be his special guest at President Trump’s State of the Union Address because of the young police officer’s inspiring story and to lend his support to important legislation such as the Violence Against Women Act. The act expired on Dec. 21, 2018 as a result of the federal government shutdown.

“Domestic violence is a horrific crime and unfortunately still far too prevalent in our society. The latest numbers indicate 1 out of 3 women and 1 out of 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by a partner,” Lipinski said in a news release. “Officer Garcia knows firsthand the horrors of domestic violence and has used that experience to follow in his mother’s footsteps to become a police officer and advocate for domestic violence victims.”

Garcia said he’s hopeful his visit will be an opportunity to spread awareness about WINGS and other domestic violence services that provide shelter, counseling, job training and other services to victims. He visits shelters frequently to talk to residents and let them know they have help.

“I’ve always felt the need to follow the example my mother set and be a positive role model for the community,” said Garcia, who works for a South Side police district.

“My call to serve is based on my strong belief in community policing and helping prevent domestic violence and other heinous crimes,” Garcia said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be Rep. Lipinski’s guest and do my part to enact positive change.”

Lipinski is a supporter of the Violence Against Women Act, which expands the juridical tools to combat violence against women, as well as other legislation that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. His legislation to help combat the problem of sexual assault in the military was included as an amendment to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act and was signed into law.

The bill, the SANE Deployment Act, requires each branch of the military to improve the training for and expand the number of professionally trained sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) to assist in investigations and provide specialized medical treatment and care to victims.

The president's State of the Union Address will start at 8 p.m. CST Tuesday, Feb. 5.