>> IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START A HOBBY.

CHICAGO TONIGHT, JOANNA HERNANDEZ HEADS TO GARFIELD PARK TO MEET A POLICE OFFICER USING HIS LOVE OF GARDENING.

>> AS AN OUTLET TO RECHARGE HIS MENTAL HEALTH.

>> BACK THEN I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE THIS.

NONE OF THIS WAS HERE AGAIN.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK.

I HAVE FOR PLANT I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP THOSE ALIVE AND THEN UPON KEEPING THOSE ALIVE, THE KIND OF GREW, IF YOU CAN SEE DIRT AT ANOTHER PLANT IS ONE OF DRAMA, SCOOPERS PHILOSOPHIES ARE WALKING TO PA SITUATION BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY PLANS ABOUT WHERE.

>> I WASN'T SUCCESSFUL IN GROWING GRASS.

THESE PLANS DRAIN OUT SO MUCH.

IT WAS JUST KILLING MY GRASS.

SO I DECIDED TO PUT PAVERS BACK HERE, MAKING A SEATING AREA.

WHAT STARTED WITH 4 PLANTERS HAS GROWN INTO MORE THAN 50 PLANT SPECIES IN COOPER'S BACKYARD.

WHEN I WAS A KID, I USED ALL MY GRANDMOTHER IN HER GARDEN.

HER GARDEN BASICALLY VEGETABLE GARDEN.

>> AND BACK THEN IT WAS MORE OF A CHORE AS OPPOSED TO A LOT OVER THE YEARS.

COOPER'S LOVE FOR PLANTS GREW LITERALLY.

HE CALLS IT HIS GRANDMA'S GARDEN IN HONOR OF HER MEMORY.

DEEP IN HERE AS A WINE BARREL.

LITERALLY YOU CAN PLANT THEM IN ANYTHING ALMOST.

THE GARFIELD PARK RESIDENT SAYS GETTING HIS HANDS IN THE DIRT.

>> HELPS HIM COPE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A POLICE OFFICER.

>> YOU CAN COME HOME AND SHARED DURING A FORM.

YOU CAN SAID A DUTY BELT, BUT YOU CAN A JOB RIGHT?

CAN PUT MY BRAIN ON A SHELF AND COME BACK AND PICK IT UP TOMORROW.

SO ALL OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE ENDURED DAY IN AND DAY OUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND IT STAYS WITH OFFICER COOPER HAS BEEN ON THE FORCE FOR 23 YEARS.

>> AND SHARE SOME HAUNTING STORIES 5, 6, YEARS AGO.

MY TEAMMATES AND OUR SON NOW FOR LUNCH.

>> ONE NIGHT IN HYDE PARK AND THE CALL COMES OUT OVER THE RADIO THAT A CHILD BEEN SHOT.

SO, OF COURSE, NATURALLY WE GET UP, WE TAKE OFF AND GO TO THE SCENE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, A 11 YEAR-OLD BOY WAS PLAYING WITH A GUN THAT HE AND HIS COUSIN A FOUL SHOT.

AND AS WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THAT WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF BEING ON THAT ANOTHER CALL COMES OUT OF A PERSON SHOT.

>> LITERALLY FEELS.

LIKE YOU'RE BEING TRANSPORTED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

FROM 10 FOOT.

ELLISON EARS TO SUE POTATO VINES COOPER'S VIBRANT NOISES.

EVEN GOT THE ATTENTION OF 2 FURRY FELINES.

HI YOU KNOW.

AND HE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THE GARDEN.

YEAH.

HE SHOWED UP A YEAR AGO IN SEPTEMBER, SMOKY SHOWED UP BACK IN APRIL.

YOU GIVE THEM THAT LOVE AND CARE.

YES, YOU GIVE THEM LOVE.

YOU TALK HIM.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK >> AND I MEAN, IT'S JUST KIND OF FUN WATCHING THEM DO THEM.

WELL, YOU SEE NOW WILL ALL BE GONE COME WINTER, LITERALLY.

EVERYTHING IS GONE.

EVERYTHING IS GONE.

THE PLANTERS HAVE NOTHING ON THEM.

AND WE OVER.

START FRESH.

EVERY KIND OF LOVE SO EVERY YEAR IS KIND OF DIFFERENT.

AS YOU AND I START OUR PLANT PILGRIM.

RIGHT >> YEAH, RIGHT BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY.

AND THAT'S OUR >> START FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

>> PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

COOPER'S GARDEN WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE BEST RESIDENTIAL GARDENS BY THE CHICAGO EXCELLENCE IN