Death Classification: Line of Duty
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 21 years, 9 months, 25 Days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: Office of Constitutional Policing & Reform: Unit 376 - Alternate Response Section (ARS)
District of Incident (Present Day): Berwyn, IL
Cause of Death: Illness - COVID-19
Age at Time of Death: 53
Timeline
Date of Birth: 11/2/1968
Date of Appointment: 7/5/1994
Date of Incident: 12/23/2021
End of Watch: 12/23/2021
Date of Interment:
Interment Details
Cemetery: With Family
Grave Location: With Family
Interment Disposition: Cremated
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Ceremony Pending
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Ceremony Pending
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Ceremony Pending
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Ceremony Pending
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: Did Not Serve
Incident & Biographic Details
Police Officer Jose “Joey” Ma Huerta, Star #13611, aged 50 years, was a 21 year, 9 month, 25 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the Unit 193 – Gang Investigation Division (GID) and detailed to Unit 376 – Alternate Response Section (ARS).
On November 19, 2021, Officer Huerta was on duty and fell ill, but continued to work his shift. On November 24, 2021, Officer Svec was placed on the “Medical Roll” for flu-like symptoms after he began experiencing minor symptoms of COVID-19 after testing positive for COVID-19. On November 29, 2021, with his symptoms worsening, he went to MacNeal Hospital located at 3249 South Oak Park Avenue, Berwyn, IL and was admitted for bilateral covid pneumonia and remained there until his death on December 23, 2021.
Officer Huerta worked in an office environment with civilian and sworn personnel and throughout his shifts, he would have to interact with his coworkers exposing himself to many who may have been infected with COVID-19. As a result, the Chicago Police Department has classified Officer Huerta’s death as Line of Duty. Officer Huerta was the sixth Chicago Police Officer to die in the line of duty from COVID-19.
Police Officer Jose “Joey” Ma Huerta, born July 24, 1971, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on February 23, 2000, attended the Jackson Street Police Academy, and was issued Star #14506. On March 7, 2006, he was issued Police Officer Star #13611, after reporting his previous star lost. He earned 2 Annual Bureau Awards of Recognition, 2 Special Commendations, 1 Police Officer of the Month Award, 9 Department Commendations, 1 Problem Solving Award, 1 Honorable Mention Ribbon Award, 1 Joint Operations Award, 1 Traffic Stop of the Month Award, 3 Attendance Recognition Awards, The 2019 Crime Reduction Award, The 2009 Crime Reduction Award, The 2004 Crime Reduction Award, The NATO Summit Service Award, 1 Presidential Election Deployment Award, 86 Honorable Mentions, 1 Recognition / Outside Governmental Agency Award, 3 Complimentary Letters, 1 Emblem of Recognition for Fitness, and 1 Superintendent’s Honorable Mention Certificate during his career.
Officer Huerta was waked at Hallowell & James Funeral Home located at 1025 West 55th Street, Countryside, IL. His funeral mass was held at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church located at 8000 Linder Avenue, Burbank, IL.
Officer Svec was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth; children: Ariel and Joseph; mother, Mary and siblings: Benjamin (Veronica), Melissa, Paul (Maribel) and Rose Mary (John) Nocita. He was preceded in death by his father, Jose Ma.