Star Retired

The last duty for the star of Officer Alex Valadez:

• For Thomas Vargas and Alex Valadez, friendship came easily after meeting at the Chicago police academy in 2005. They shared similar backgrounds, music tastes and senses of humor.

  Reunited later at the Englewood District, they found they also had similar street sense -- and such a strong resemblance that they were known as "the twins."

  Later, as partners, they found their lives reflecting each other in even deeper ways. Both were going to be fathers -- Valadez for the first time and Vargas for the second. From then on, conversations were sprinkled with how they would raise their children together.

Five-week-old Alex Jr. attended the ceremony today. While he will never have a living recollection of his father, he ought never lack a memory of his father's extended family. RIP Alex.