Page 8 - October 2018 FOP Magazine

First Vice President’s Report
Lori Lightfoot must not become head of corporation counsel
Across the nation, an anti-establishment movement has begun. I recently noticed on Face- book an effort to register high school students to vote in our upcoming elections. This is Chicago, where backdoor deals are made, and Lori Light- foot is pushing to become the next head of cor- poration counsel.
This is something that we as police officers cannot allow to happen. At a recent event, when speaking about a shooting in which a police officer defended himself after being attacked with a baseball bat, Lori Lightfoot
said, “The police have to stop shooting into crowds!”
In addition, I, along with several other members, have at- tended police board hearings for officers over which Lightfoot
presided — she always voted against the officer!
Police officers today have a much more difficult job than in the past. In 1990, when I was a young recruit, at the beginning of every tour I would sign out two radios for my partner and
me. Today, officers sign out a radio and body camera. When they walk to their vehicles, officers log into a car computer and camera system. Policing throughout the nation has changed because of many developments, including new technology and closer scrutiny of all police officers.
Police officers will be affected if someone like Lightfoot be- comes the head of corporation counsel. I vote in every elec- tion. The right to vote and have our voices heard is becoming increasingly necessary.
As police officers, we must work together as a voting block to ensure that the candidates campaigning for office are pro- police and vote accordingly. We cannot sit back and not vote!
Witness statements
Witness statements are not to be taken lightly. Approxi- mately 30 percent of witness statements become accused statements. When given a witness statement from a supervi- sor, it is important to immediately contact legal defense at the FOP to secure counsel. d
PAT MURRAY
8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ OCTOBER 2018