In time of tragedy, Chicago's top cop keeps promise to Aurora man

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson took time during this tragic week to keep a promise to an Aurora man with special needs.

The city's top cop traveled to the suburbs Wednesday to meet John Heying Jr., a 38-year-old man with autism who writes letters to police and fire departments across the country.

Johnson visited Heying and his parents at their Aurora home a day after the fatal shooting of Cmdr. Paul Bauer.

"It was a nice thing for him to do at such a sad time," said Carole Heying, John's mother.

Carole Heying said her son always dreamed of becoming a police officer or a firefighter.

So while he doesn't type, John sends handwritten notes to agencies, which often write back. Through the years, he's received dozens of T-shirts and photos, and he now has a collection of roughly 150 police patches.

But John didn't write to Johnson last year just to get another patch.

Instead, he reached out to the superintendent because he learned Johnson was on a waiting list for a kidney transplant. He sent another note after Johnson received a new kidney donated from his son.

Johnson responded to the first message by sending a thank-you note. After the second letter, he wanted to meet John.

Their first planned visit had to be canceled at the last minute. When it was rescheduled for Wednesday, the Heyings were told Johnson would be there unless something horrible happened.

Then Bauer was shot to death Tuesday outside the Thompson Center.

Carole Heying told her son that night Johnson wasn't coming. "He understood," she said.

But Wednesday morning, she got a call from Johnson's office telling her he would be there because he didn't want to disappoint her son again.

"I can't believe he would take time out of his day to visit a young man he doesn't even know," Carole Heying said. "When my son saw him, he was so happy. He hugged him. It was a moment that touched our hearts."

Johnson spent about 15 minutes at the Heyings' home. He talked to the family, posed for pictures and let John sit in his car.

The superintendent also left some goodies, including an autographed photograph, a coffee mug, a baseball cap and a patch.

"It was outstanding," John said. "I loved the sirens. They were loud."