Hair razing experience
Through the years Wauconda police officer Karl Gompertz has sported a variety of hair styles, including an afro in the early 1970s.
On Saturday, however, he shaved his head, not for style, but to show support for the youngest member of the force and to fight childhood cancer.
Gompertz was among 74 men and two women -- including fellow officers, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, and Mayor Salvatore Saccomanno -- who shaved their heads at Wauconda High School. The extreme haircuts showed support for officer Eric Schultz, who has bone cancer, and raised money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money for childhood cancer research.
"The last time my hair was cut this short was when I was a little boy. My dad used to shave my head. I would do it again to show support for a great new officer who unfortunately contracted bone cancer," Gompertz said.
Schultz, 23, lost his hair during chemotherapy to control osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer diagnosed in November. This type of cancer occurs in people ages 10 through 25, said the Wauconda native, who now lives in McHenry.
Doctors told him he would need surgery to remove a tumor in his right heel. He was given the option to have only his heel removed, which would leave him handicapped without guaranteeing the removal of all of the cancer. He wouldn't have been able to go back to his job.
Instead, he chose to have his foot amputated above the ankle on Feb. 14, which completely removed the tumor, he said.
"I'll have four to five months of chemo, and then I'll be fitted for the prosthetic limb which will take about three to six months to learn how to use. I should be back to work sometime this summer," he said.
Sheriff Curran, who is attending the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy at the College of DuPage in Glen eLlyn, brought along 14 classmates.
"It (shaved head) feels strange and my kids were razzing me," the sheriff said. "When I learned this was to support Eric Schultz, however, I felt like I needed to help."
Four people, including two Wauconda dispatchers and officer's wife Kim Jacobson, had 10 inches or more hair cut off and donated to Locks of Love.
"I like it much better, and it's for a good cause," said Jacobson, who had 13 inches of her hair cut.
A fund has been set up to help cover Schultz's medical costs. Donations may be sent to the Eric Schultz Benefit Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, 486 W. Liberty St., Wauconda 60084.