What does it take to go from a high school athlete to leading an emergency response team across one of the biggest counties in the country?
For Richard O’Brien ’90, those four years at Mount Carmel shaped who he is today.
“I had a great high school experience,” he says. “I made lifelong friends that I’m still close with today.”
At MC, it was more than just a school for him but also a place where he found people who supported him and pushed him. He played football under the legendary head coach Frank Lenti and was a part of the 1988 and 1989 state championship teams.
“It was a lot of hard work,” O’Brien says. “But it was very rewarding. Everyone around me, my friends, teachers, coaches, they were positive and supportive.”
That kind of support stayed with him. It helped him build discipline and learn how to handle pressure. Those lessons did not end after high school. He carried them into his career and never forgot them.
Today, Mr. O’Brien is a commander with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department. He works with the SWAT team, bomb unit, and helicopter task force, high-pressure jobs that require lots of focus, but behind all these jobs is a tough man in Mr. O’Brien.
“The foundation was laid right there in high school,” he says. “Between my parents and Mount Carmel, that’s what helped me get where I am today.”
His work is not only about responding to emergencies. He also spends time helping schools prepare for them. He runs drills, teaches staff what to do, and helps build safety plans. Over the years, he has even gone back to MC to do this.
“I run safe school initiatives and trainings,” he says. “I’ve done drills at Mount Carmel several times.”
Mr. O’Brien was able to have a true full circle moment while being able to give back to the school that taught him so much. He was also recently a part of the Special Olympics Torch Run that took place at MC.
His path to his career was not something he planned. After high school and in college, Mr. O’Brien was still figuring things out. The idea of law enforcement came later in life and ended up being his choice.
“I always enjoyed being part of a team,” he says. “Even after sports, I wanted something that had that same feeling.”
He found that same feeling in law enforcement.
“It’s not a game, but it’s still a team atmosphere,” he says. “You rely on each other. There are challenges, but also moments where you feel proud of what you’ve done.”
That teamwork is a big part of his daily life. He works with people who depend on each other. Everyone has a role.
Every day can bring something new. Some moments are intense, and some decisions are not easy, but Mr. O’Brien stays focused on the reason he chose this path.
“There’s a lot that comes with it,” he says. “But the rewarding part is being able to help people and make a difference.”
For students at MC who are thinking of getting into a career like this, the advice is simple from Mr. O’Brien.
“Stay disciplined,” he says. “Take care of your body. Educate yourself as much as you can, keep doing well in school.”
He also talked about taking chances and putting yourself in a position to grow and how not to limit yourself and give everything a chance.
“Test for different departments,” he says. “Put yourself out there.”
Mr. O’Brien also made it clear that his path was shaped by lots of people. “I can credit a lot of people,” he says. “My parents, my coaches, my teachers. Everyone played a part.”
The same support is shown in his family. He has four kids, three of them who had great experiences at MC, with all of them winning a state championship while at the school. His daughter also won a state championship while cheering at Mother McAuley.
“They all had great experiences,” he says. “That meant a lot to me.”
As he looks ahead, his focus is starting to shift.
“I just want to spend more time with my kids,” he says. “Enjoy life. Travel. Be with family.”
Mr. O’Brien is a true man of Carmel, and with such a hard job, he is the best fit for it. He is a true hard worker and inspiration to many young Caravan men.
