Page 10 - FOP August 2021

SecondVice President’s Report
So you have another job lined up?
Resignations by members who aren’t fully vest- ed are on the rise like we have never seen before. I wish this weren’t the case, but it’s the reality they created. We can also anticipate the rate of resigna- tions to increase, with no end in sight. Some just can’t take the Department any longer, some can’t take living in the city any longer, some have better opportunities elsewhere.
Many smaller departments have developed “lat- eral transfer” programs, and they have been wel- coming members with open arms. (Not only do those smaller departments save money by not paying academies to train their employees, but they also get experienced officers who are able to handle today’s types of assignments under today’s type of
“policing.”)
Recently, it has come to my attention that an officer was pro-
cessing for another department and reportedly was denied em- ployment because of three open CR numbers at the BIA. As it stands now, BIA is under no contractual obligation to inform officers that they are the subject of investigations prior to being served with allegations, just as detectives are not obligated to notify suspects they are being investigated until there is enough evidence for an arrest. In many instances, CR numbers are un- founded, and if the policies are followed, the member receives the unfounded/exonerated findings.
Every municipality has its own hiring policy, and we have no control over the decisions of other departments. But then there are departments who accept applicants with the belief that one is innocent until proven guilty. These departments hire current officers who have open investigations against them, as the al- legations against the member have not been sustained nor has the officer received their due process. Then there are depart- ments that even hire officers who have had CRs sustained, de- pending on the nature of the allegations.
For members who are submitting applications for other employment or another department, you should contact BIA during business hours and request to know how many CR num- bers you are a subject of. (The Lodge doesn’t have access to BIA data.)
The member should also contact the pension board to in- quire about their specific account and what their options and entitlements might be.
Then, when the member is ready to resign from the Depart- ment, human resources is the unit that processes resignations. Typically, HR prefers two weeks’ notice, but we’ve also seen members who resigned by the end of their tour of duty. Resig- nations are final. Members can refer to the department order titled “Leaves and Resignations” for detailed requirements and forms to submit.
DAN GORMAN
10 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ AUGUST 2021