Page 36 - October 2019 FOP

WHO’S ACCOUNTABLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35
“What do you think they did a couple of days later?” he sub- mitted. “Another carjacking.”
As is the case in many cities, a social agenda seems to be prompting such action. It is leading to asking for a low or no bond on these offenders because prosecutors feel that wrong- fully incarcerating young, African American men would ruin their lives.
“Being criminals is ruining their lives,” Graham continued. “The justice system doesn’t mean anything to them. They be- lieve they can do anything they want because there is no pun- ishment.”
National FOP First Vice President Joe Gamaldi also attended the meeting in Washington. As president of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, he has dealt with the failure to prosecute issue as much as anybody. It is not his style to mince words, and he certainly didn’t hesitate to articulate the gravity of the issue to the DOJ.
“For whatever reasons, they have become more concerned with offenders than the victims, and they have created a revolv- ing door of letting dirtbags out,” Gamaldi declared. “We had a very, very productive meeting among some big city union lead- ers. We were able to discuss some strategies to expose what is going on and a roadmap to getting these DAs out of office.”
Graham related that several of the Lodge presidents who attended the meeting came from big cities where prosecutors reportedly benefit from campaign funding from progressive, liberal political fundraising groups like Democracy Alliance and the Center for American Progress. Billionaire George Soros is a contributor to both organizations.
Included among the 11 presidents in attendance was Mike Mancuso, who has been leading Baltimore City Lodge #3 for
more than a year. Baltimore is perhaps the one city that expe- riences as much pain from the lack of prosecution as Chicago. Mancuso initiated the idea for meeting with the DOJ to get the most affected parties in the same room and discuss, face to face, plans that presidents could bring back to their respective cities.
The FOP also appealed to the DOJ about taking on some of the cases that prosecutors have passed on. The meeting seemed to be an important first step toward corrective measures.
“We had a couple of speakers from the Department of Justice, and we were able to speak candidly about what we can do,” Yoes shared. “We shared some really good information to help us un- derstand the actions we need to take.”
Yoes specified that ongoing action will identify the most egre- gious cases and, as an FOP leadership group, stand by the vic- tims of those crimes. That could result in rallies in many of the cities feeling the pain.
Graham hinted that such rallies could take place at Lodge 7 in the near future.
“We definitely want to bring light to the victims in this mess who are not getting justice, the people who are being forgotten about by the prosecutors,” the Lodge 7 president confirmed. “We are watching to see what goes on in the city during the next few months, and if prosecutors are forgetting about them, we will make sure these stories are told.”
As for more drastic measures, well, Graham did not say that the Chicago FOP is already working on messages to post on bill- boards. But wouldn’t a billboard adorned with the words, “Get Foxx on the Run” or “Don’t let the city get out-Foxxed” look good on the Kennedy or the Dan Ryan?
Yoes suggests that another strategy will build on the ideas of face-to-face encounters. He is anxious to put the question to the prosecution about what to tell the victims and work with all
DaValle Jewelers is pleased to offer a 15% discount for first responders
Custom police stars available in silver and 14kt gold
Fine jewelry at exceptional savings
36 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ OCTOBER 2019