Page 8 - January 2020 FOP Magazine

pending or recent changes in state law impacting sition.
minder of how to proceed when a log number is initiated.
The legal defense of our members is a 24/7 operation. When-
police discipline, use of force and officers’ bills of Maybe it was an admission by him that he felt
There is no such thing as a “witness statement.” The main fo-
ever I meet a police officer, I give him my business card, which
First Vice President’s Report
First Vice President’s Report
Legal defense of our members is 24/7 Time to vote
Ass20I 2s0abt eigninms, yit oisffaictiem, eantoswreeflreinctgolneghaolwdimefe- nse
paonrdtagnetniteirsatlocparlolst,ecatbaollaorfdoumremebmebrewrsatlhkreoduignh. He
legal defense.
looked at me and said, “We have to start voting in
Across this country, there continue to be devel- the best interests of the working copper.” We? I’ve
InspRecotdoriGguenezeranl adnJdamotehserHgeonvnerignamnehnet loprgoaunrizoaftfiocnerss. .
The legal defense of our members is a 24/7 operation. When-
In 2019, there were on average approximately 140 legal assis-
ever I meet a police officer, I give him my business card, which
tance requests per month to defend our officers at the Civilian
includes my cellphone number. I truly believe that the repre-
Office of Police Accountability (COPA), Internal Affairs, the In-
sentation of our officers begins early and is the constant re- spector General and other government organizations.
PAT
PAT MURRAY MURRAY
opments in the areas of public safety relations, been voting that way since I was elected to my po-
rights.
he may not have voted the right way. Any import-cus of COPA is to make officers accountable — and that means
More officers are being terminated for minor includes my cellphone number. I truly believe that the repre-
ant votes that were taken will, or should be, scruti- money out of your pocket.
transgressions. The trend now is to dredge up old sentation of our officers begins early and is the constant re-
A new year has started, and dark clouds are on the horizon. cases from years ago. This affects all officers, active and retired. minder of how to proceed when a log number is initiated.
nized by the voting members.
A Chicago Lodge 7 election will take place in March and many Future FOP boards will have to address many issues, including
It really does not matter how much of a raise or what benefits
current members, including myself, may not be reelected. Un- the consent decree, upcoming elections and garnering support,
the next contract brings if you’re always worried about taking
fortunately, in my opinion, far too many have not voted in the as well as changing the anti-police narrative.
police action and being terminated.
besTthientmeroessttismopforutarnmt epmartboerfsd.efending our officers is during
cus of COPA is to make officers accountable — and that means
A new year has started, and dark clouds are on the horizon theI bineiltiieavlestahgaetothf eanleignavledsteigfeantisoen.oTfhoautrismwehmebrergsreiastthleegaml ostmustadapttothischange.Themainfocusoflegaldefenseisto
irmeproesretanntattaiosnp,ecfiteoldf oreuprruesneinotnattiovedsaya.nAdcrotshsertshisucohuanstrJya,cmk oreproteTchtethnexritgFhOtsPobf oalalrodffwiciellrshawvheotosearvdedarensdshmaavenyseisrvseudest,hiencluding Halloran, John Farrell, Bobby Rodriguez and James Hennigan city othf eChciocnasgeon. t decree, upcoming elections and garnering suppor
lenges.
of advancements in technology. The main focus of legal defense
Be safe.
is to protect the rights of our officers and give them proper rep-
resentation.
I know there are going to be difficult challenges coming, and
the officers who are elected must be ready to meet these chal- lenges.
and more officers are being terminated for minor transgres-
Ikannodwcthaenregainreggtohienngatorrbaetivdeiffoicfuhlotwchpalolelincgeeosfcfiocmerisnga,raenvdiewed. In2019,therewereanaverageofapproximately140legalas- theoffiLcegrsalwdheofeanreselaecrtoesdsmthuistcboeurnetardyyistochmaenegtinthgemseacihnalyl-because
help our officers.
sions. It really does not matter how much of a raise or whatever
benefits the next contract brings if you’re always worried about
sistance requests per month to defend our officers at the Civil- taking police action and being terminated.
ian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), Internal Affairs, the When I was elected first vice president, my position was to
defend members of our union. The most important part of de- fending our officers is during the initial stage of an investiga- tion. That is where great legal representation, field represen- tatives and others such as Jack Halloran, John Farrell, Bobby
There is no such thing as a “witness statement.” The main fo-
money out of your pocket.
The legal defense of officers will continue to change, and we
8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2020
. t