Page 8 - FOP August 2019 Magazine

First Vice President’s Report
Making our case to the police board and city council
PAT MURRAY
On July 18, FOP Second Vice President Marty Pre- ib and I spoke after the Chicago Police Board’s de- cision to fire four of our officers. Was this a surprise to any of us? No. It became very obvious that this police board ⁠— the members of which were selected by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel ⁠— would rule that way.
These officers responded to a call and did their best in unbelievable circumstances. There was no evidence to support a conspiracy to help another
ments of our society. We will continue to fight this.
Bringing it to the city council
On July 24, I attended the city council meeting with Lodge Trustees Mike Underwood and Rick King to address what hap- pened at the Chicago Police Board hearing.
Everyone knows what happened prior to my speaking before the council. I did not hear the comment made by the mayor.
I spoke publicly about the four officers, who combined have worked the streets of Chicago for 70 years. They have earned two department commendations, 177 honorable mentions, nine fit- ness awards and 11 attendance awards. They have one sustained complaint number for one day. Do we want to terminate these police officers, who have worked so hard for us?
The comment on the “hot microphone” was made because of the comments I made about Mayor Lightfoot’s “Better Together Transition” committees while speaking to the city council the pri- or month. These were the committees we were excluded from. I guess it hit a nerve.
Bill Cameron, a news reporter who has covered city hall for de- cades, attempted to cajole the mayor into an apology. Each time, it became more obvious that she did not understand the ques- tion or steadfastly refused to apologize. In order to apologize, you must realize that you have slighted someone.
I have been contacted by numerous people across this city; all of them support the Chicago police. I will continue to fight for the members that I serve to the best of my ability.
Be safe out there, and if you need anything, please call the Lodge.
officer. None of these officers were charged criminally.
In fact, three other officers involved in the same incident were found not guilty. The trial, dubbed the “Code of Silence,” ended with the judge stating that this case should not have been brought
before her.
Almost five years have elapsed since the incident occurred...
five years, one mayor, one superintendent and one state’s attor- ney.
From its inception, this case has been riddled with unfounded accusations and left with a false narrative.
The police board’s job is not to succumb to media pressure or the “radical police haters” but to give each and every officer a “fair” hearing. This is not a political forum but a forum where justice is to be served.
The FOP has made it a top priority for the Chicago Police Board to be dissolved. Police discipline should be determined by arbi- trators, not by politically appointed members who do not serve department members but rather the whims of the radical ele-
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8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ AUGUST 2019