Good Luck Officer
New Year's resolutions don't involve losing weight or stopping smoking for Chicago Police Officer Nial Funchion. The 41-year-old's goal for 2008 is to swim around Lake Michigan this summer -- about 1,000 miles in all.
A veteran long-distance swimmer (he has done the English Channel and paddled between Evanston and Hammond), Funchion's prep work has included starting each day last summer with a three-mile trek out to the pumping stations and back. He'd leave each morning at 4 a.m., eat an energy bar at the crib, then swim back in time for 7 a.m. roll call.
- Funchion plans to start June 1, heading south from North Avenue Beach in an insulated wet suit. He'll swim three hours in the morning and two in the afternoon on six out of every seven days. He hopes to be back by mid-September.
He's even got a website up. Good luck from all of us here. We'll try to let people know about his efforts as able.
Labels: good news
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
55 Comments:
good luck nial!
Great story & a great inspiration!
He's a very nice guy. I remember him from 009, But being the police was only a check for him. He never ever was the proactive Police. He dosn't have clout either though just the balls and the savy to carve his own nitch in the department and the world.I.E. Got in the Marine Unit. Good Look you little swimmer ear buddy "I can't hear the radio because I've got H20 in it", brother.
This kid never made a felony pinch in his career, but I guess he can swim good. I'll bet that I'm a lot more buoyant than he is.
Wow! I'm very impressed.
And here I thought I was kicking ass by learning how to box and slowly working my way into kick boxing.
The man is incredible.
I wish him a lot of luck.
Good Luck to Him.
Why not put him in the Marine Unit?
If the boat breaks down he can tow it back with a rope in his teeth.
Stay safe, and dry.
The swim will be the entire circumferance of Lake Michigan. I believe it's 2200 miles or so and is roughly the equivalent of swimming from New York City to Mexico City(distance wise). This boy is crazzzzy, but if anyone can do it- he can. Good Luck Nial- Maybe this will put a positive spin on the CPD. (www.connecttothejourney.com) for more info
Sorry, make that 1640 miles. Should have read the specifics of the swim better. Silly me, I'm silly I tell you, silly. Hey maybe 2200 kilometers? Silly me....Glad I'm anonymous...
Maybe the stuttering prick can use one of those "cycle" canoes next to him as he's swimming.
If Jody's a marathoner/bodybuilder
this kid should move up the ladder
quick; yea; good luck......
lies all lies i know the truth we actually have a superhero on the department he is in fact aquaman
indeed
go nial go nial go nial
good luck my man
Good luck to you
I remember him from 009 as well. The midnite wagon, good guy. I remember when he tried getting into the marine unit initially. He was told he wasn't qualified (no clout). A man that swam the English channel wasn't qualified to be in the CPD marine unit.
Ultimately the ninnys in charge realized the irony (with some prodding) and he ended up getting into the Marine unit.
This kid never made a felony pinch in his career, but I guess he can swim good. I'll bet that I'm a lot more buoyant than he is.
1/08/2008 04:43:00 AM
How do you know he never made a felony pinch you fat fuck?
Oh, I know why, because you're the old jagoff detective that showed up when he made a robbery pinch and told him he didn't have anything to make it a battery and a theft.
Go gum your lunch.
Who cares if he was a worker or a dog! Try swimming like he does...and in dirty Lake Michigan water to boot!
When a fellow diver drown in a training accident several years back he made a promise to do all he could to prevent that from happening again so he enrolled in EMT school at Christ. Lets all try to be positive about this. This is something that will not give our department a black eye. God forbid we support someone on this job.
Ret. Det. Bulge said...
This kid never made a felony pinch in his career, but I guess he can swim good. I'll bet that I'm a lot more buoyant than he is.
1/08/2008 04:43:00 AM
AND...
Who cares...? You know what he never did in his time on this job? He never brought SHAME to all of US on this job. Hell, he is the best swimmer in this department, bar none, and he had to fight tooth and nail to get in the Marine Unit. All the while, some clout baby gets there with a phone call. Pathetic.
Congrats to you Office....I KNOW you will do this.
Thanks for the good press Nial!
ONLY WORKED WITH HIM ONCE IN THE 009TH DIST. GREAT SWIMMER, YEAH. HOWERVER THE GUY DOESNT DRINK POP OR EAT PIZZA ,SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH THAT, ITS JUST NOT AMERICAN OR SOMETHING. OH YEAH I GOT STUCK WITH THE BILL FOR THE PIZZA AND POP. THANKS NIALS AND GOOD LUCK. IF AND WHEN YOU PASS BY MICHIGAN CITY,IN. WILL BE SERVING PIZZA, HOPE YOUR HUNGRY.
GOOD LUCK!!
Can we train for personal stuff on company time? gotta look that one up . Good luck nial.
He can spot seat belt infraction from the lake on LSD.
He can be like a Navy SEAL,but with a radar gun.
I have a summer home in michigan in south haven. I'll set a plate for dinner when you swim by! Let me know,.
Swim 1000 miles?? I really hope this guy is on the marine unit but I'm sure according to the command staff he still isn't qualified for it though.
Congrats and kudos!!
Nial is what the marine unit should reflect. A highly motivated individual whose goals not only improves himself,but also the marine unit. Maybe after Nial swims around Lake Michigan he can go through Hell Week at BUD/S!!!!
But being the police was only a check for him. He never ever was the proactive Police.
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UGHHHHHHH....Come on! I am so sick of people spouting off about "being the real police" or making felony arrests... I don't give a f*ck! I've met some of these idiots who hate taking days off or even 30 minutes for a meal--tools, every last one of them. This guy should be an inspiration to the department.Besides, if there was ever anyone more suited to the Marine Unit, I'd like to meet him!
Yeah!!! Great suck up all that Mercury, Lead, PCB's, Ecoli, and raw sewage. Great swim, and good effort, but it's safer to bike the coast of Lake Michigan. Your balls are going to be brighter than the Bean at Millenium park on a sunny day by the time you hit Wisconsin.
I'LL cheer you on while I’m drinking my Corona in front of my summer Home in Long Beach Indiana.........remembering slightly jealously when I was a fairly good swimmer in High School.
I'm surprised to hear he is on the marine unit. He sounds qualified to me. Heaven forbid we have someone in a unit who is qualified. Clout usually comes first.
What is with SGT Figueroa on midnights in 011? We did not know you were a white shirt!
Anonymous said...
indeed
1/08/2008 08:49:00 AM
Kenny is that you?
Good Luck Nial!
A very nice man. Worked with him years ago in 009. He's polite, honest and pleasant. Definitely not the Chicago Police stereotype.
I swear Sieser already swam around lake Michigan, doing the back stroke! I hope that true, I gave money to to pay for it! Go Sieser Go!
Knew Nial from oo9 and he is really a nice guy... good cop w/his head on straight... Good Luck to you!!!
You would think the department would sponsor him and pay him since all the kudos will reflect that he's a Chicago Police Officer assigned to the Marine Unit. But no, he will be taking about 4 months leave to do this all without pay. Never even checked into the department backing him that I know of. With all the dog ass medical roll abusers out there for 11 plus months at a time- this is one I wouldn't mind. After all he'll be in the water at least a tour of duty every day. Good luck office...
could care a less how far you could swim! Enjoy ya carp!
U go Nial (no offense, but what is up with that spelling?), good 2 c that some1 is in a specialized unit that is actually QUALIFIED 2 b there. Hey, FOP, why not a fundraiser 2 pay this guy some $ while he takes a LOA???
Thanks for the good press Nial!
1/08/2008 10:41:00 AM
EXCELLENT POINT!!! I SECOND THAT!!
Attention 011 District 1st watch.. If you ever have a question or need an experienced opinion. Just ask Sgt Figueroa. The Sgt has the Answer's to all of the departments issues and life's woes.
"U go Nial (no offense, but what is up with that spelling?), good 2 c that some1 is in a specialized unit that is actually QUALIFIED 2 b there. Hey, FOP, why not a fundraiser 2 pay this guy some $ while he takes a LOA???
1/09/2008 12:58:00 AM"
THE FOP NEEDS TO HAVE A FUNDRAISER FOR JOE AIRHART 1ST!!
WENT TO HIS WEBSITE,IT APPEARS THE ONLY FUNCTION OF THIS SWIM IS TO SATISFY FUNCHIONS' EGO??
Congratulations Nial and the very best of luck to you in an awesome feat!!!
Your brothers in blue are proud of you and salute you...Kick some ass out there tuna.
Seiser swam Marquette Park Lagoon wearing water wings.......
You got it wrong . . . . Seiser walked on the water around Lake Michigan, which is why they have the Circle the Lke Route Signs on US 41.
harv is going with nial for support.
Maybe y'all need to become a swim instructor and turn in that tin Joe.
Nial should be an inspiration to us all....go to the website and you will see its not the distance..its the journey. He is looking at an impossible goal and going to reach it one day at a time. In these...the "Dark Ages" of police work he serves as a challange to us all. Things suck now...and if we take his lead and figure out what we need to change..each one of us doing our part one day at a time...where could we be in a few months??? Its not about the distance..its about reaching the end of an impossible journey and looking back to see what you have done. 13000 people working for change???? No one is going to do it for us...so join the journey and step up to the plate...good luck Nial......by the way the journey is going to cost him about $100,000.....how much money has he asked for?????
In the ScumTimes he claims he swims to help alleviate the stresses of work. This guy's in the marine unit. I hate to knock other coppers but wtf kind of stress is he dealing with? There are officers without clout that would give their first born to work there. Give me a break, what a joke.
If Nial wasn't so worried about "THE JOURNEY" and how he could make himself look good,maybe his wife wouldn't have left him.
41 years old and still acting like a child. Get a life..............
He's donating the majority of the money to the Resurrection Center in Woodstock for children.
Hey bubble boy time to grow up!! Swimming isn't everything thought you would have got a clue after your wife left you. Go be a swim coach because we know your not the copps. He's also a medical abuser, was on the medical and still swimming every day.Lets look into that!!
The Department to back Nial on "THE JOURNEY", Give me a break. Never in uniform always needs a hair cut and always late or never shows up to work. Thats a fine example. He's doing this for himself no one else but himself.
Seiser taught Nial everything he knows ! As far as I'm concerned, they are both legends.
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