Scottsdale, AZ —I’m sad to report on the death of 18 year Chicago police veteran and accomplished actor Dennis Farina .  He died suddenly this morning in Scottsdale from a blood clot in his lung. Farina enjoyed life as a burglary detective at the old Area Six headquarters at Damen and Grace Avenues.  He along with others in his unit handled the follow-up investigations to countless high-dollar burglaries on the Windy City’s North side.   I first met Farina when I was asked to cover for another cop at an off duty job working security for Goldbaltt’s Department Store located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.  Like most cops we both had a second gig to make a few bucks. Farina attended St. Michael’s High School on North Sedgwick Street as I did until my mother could not pay the tuition.  I was quickly exiled to public school. Around 1979 legendary film director Michael Mann was putting together his film Thief , starring James Caan .  Man...