Page 13 - January 2016

Getting caught in the blame game
The anti-police movement has prompted an assault on our fair city and it’s never, ever, ever, going to be the same again. Members of the media have led the onslaught against our union. Why, you ask? Simply because they believe we are to blame for the delay in a videotape being released to the public, a videotape which resulted in baseless charges being leveled against our member.
Guess what you sordid misfits of sham journalism: We have nothing to do with the process of releasing videos to the public or the process of charging an officer. Maybe you should switch your focus from reporting phony
information to reporting about the individuals and entities that are actually responsible. I am sickened at the way the media has por- trayed our membership now that this incident has made national news. Lest we not forget that the “victim” in this incident – this “altar boy” as the media would lead you to believe – was not only armed with a knife but also high on PCP. Surely knowing this information brings to mind a far different image than the angelic graduation photo the media is circulating. It is unfortunate that the media has no interest in reporting the whole story to the public.
Political propaganda
My disdain for politicians continues to grow as they continuously (and thoughtlessly) spew their anti-police rhetoric. There are those indi- viduals who hate the police simply because we enforce the law, and they believe they are above the law, but what is the reasoning for politicians? Because politicians know that stirring up drama will help them gain public attention, and public attention leads to votes.
Let’s use my alderman, Ameya Pawar of the 47th Ward as an example. Pawar came out and publicly stated that the FOP had a role in releasing the video. In lieu of this accusation, our contract is being released to the public in an effort to be more transparent. Pawar was quoted as saying, “It doesn’t make sense to allow our collective-bargaining agreements to include language that puts the city in a position of having to suppress these videos.” Pawar further stated, “We have to have a dialogue with the FOP so that these videos can be made public. In order to force some of these changes, we have to look at the contract. I think the FOP has to be part of the solution.”
I would like to respond by saying that we welcome a dialogue Alder- man Pawar, but get your facts straight first. Exactly which collective-bar- gaining agreements or contracts have you been referencing? If you read ours, you would realize that we have no part in the process of retaining video footage or releasing it to the public. This is just another gross example of how wrong information is being publicized. Since you are so appalled about the situation alderman, I urge you to give us a jingle and find out some facts. You might be less appalled.
In other political news, Alderman Burnett told a news reporter, “If you ask any black officer, they will tell you that some cops are racist, some hate people, some hate Latinos, gay people.... To claim that there is a terrible racism problem within the Chicago Police Department that is being swept under the rug only reflects poorly on you alderman. If racism within the Department is such a widespread problem and every- one has been ignoring it, why haven’t you, as an elected alderman, addressed this concern before? Seems like a convenient time to jump on the anti-police bandwagon.
Speaking of prejudice, in the same article that Alderman Burnett talks as if he is crusading against racism, he mentions that even the ‘Korean guy who runs the cleaners he frequents and hardly speaks English told him, “Something’s got to change.” Really, alderman, the Korean guy who runs a dry cleaner and hardly speaks English? Talk about prejudice.
State’s attorney follies
ThemorningofNov.25,Iturnedonalocalnewsstationtohearof an incident that had occurred the prior night during a march protesting police policies. During this segment, the anchor was interviewing Alder- man Sawyer, who stated that he applauded the protesters for their action the night before and called the offender that was arrested a “hero.” Alderman Sawyer went on to say that his daughter informed him that this “hero” was kidnapped by the police and rushed into an unmarked car. First of all, anyone who condones violence and believes that someone who assaults a police officer should be considered a hero, is, in my opinion, a radical hack. Later Sawyer mentioned that there
needs to be a change in union rules. Here’s a suggestion alderman: When you get off your road show of anti-police pomposity, why don’t you enlighten yourself (and your constituents) and actually
read our contract.
With my blood boiling, I went into work and did some research on
the events that Sawyer had rambled about earlier during the morning news. Well big shock. It didn’t quite happen the way he would want you to believe. On the evening of Nov. 24 at 100 E. Roosevelt, a uniformed CPD Officer was the victim of an aggravated battery to a Peace officer. This incident occurred during a protest over police service and was cap- tured on video. The Police Officer involved in the incident was able to positively identify the offender, who was subsequently arrested. Detec- tives assigned to the case conducted both line-ups and interviews. The offender was once again positively identified and the detectives notified the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Felony Review Unit. After reviewing the facts of this incident, the Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to the Felony Review Unit approved felony charges against this offender for aggravated battery to a Peace officer, a Class 2 felony. The offender was processed and appeared at Central Bond Court, where the case was incredulously dropped without explanation. To say I was dumbfounded would be an understatement. In my 21 years on this job, I have never heard of charges being dropped at Central Bond Court. The probable cause regarding this incident was determined nine hours prior, when the Assistant State’s Attorney approved felony charges on this violent offender. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office bowed to political pressure and allowed this ruthless criminal, someone who battered a uniformed Chicago Police Officer, to simply walk free. Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez placed every Chicago Police Officer in harm’s way by allowing this piece of garbage freedom. Shame on her and shame on all of the elected officials that thought this was OK. The State’s Attorney’s office didn’t even have the decency to contact the involved officer with the news that his case was nolle prosequi; instead he was notified by Lodge President Dean Angelo, Sr. and was staggered by the news. An Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) complaint was filed by the Lodge on behalf of the officer. Alvarez and Assistant State’s Attorney Margaret Wood were named in the complaint for investigation due to the negligence to their office.
Brothers and Sisters, get ready for a long, thankless ride. It has become glaringly obvious that the only people who will have “our backs” are us and our families. The practice of proactive policing is no more, and the lack thereof will be something we talk about years from now. The grandstanding that has occurred during the last weeks of 2015 with elected officials and so-called community leaders has sickened me and weakened my faith in this city. The old timers used to say go home in one piece and do not jeopardize your life for people that do not care about their own. Wiser words could not have been spoken or ring more true in this current climate.
Have a Happy New Year and good riddance to the police-hating year of2015.Let’shopeitgetsbetter! d
FIELD REPRESENTATIVE REPORT
THOMAS MCDONAGH
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2016 13