Page 8 - SEPTEMBE 2018 Newsletter

Each month, all the FOP field representatives write an article for Chicago Lodge 7 Magazine. I al- ways attempt to write articles which pertain to all of our members, whether active or retired.
Did you ever meet someone you immediately disliked, who made the hair on the back of your neck stand up? For me, that was the chief negoti- ator for the Illinois attorney general. He remind- ed me of the villain in the Eddie Murphy movie
“The Golden Child,” the character of Sardo Numspa. He was the person attempting to kill the golden child, and there are similarities.
As this person peered over his glasses, looking down upon the rest of us sitting across the table, I could feel his disdain for us. Any police officer who has ever been involved in civil litigation knows the type.
My questions concerning the consent decree are relatively simple:
1. Why would an outgoing Illinois attorney general and the mayor of the City of Chicago conspire to implement a consent decree?
2. Are there any future benefits for the politicians involved
with the decree?
3. Why would an Illinois attorney general file a decree in a
federal courtroom?
The media spin is that the consent decree grew out of one
police-related shooting and the subsequent federal investiga- tion by the Justice Department during the Obama administra- tion. It became very obvious that the investigation was rushed prior to the next president being sworn in.
If the consent decree’s main objective was to make the job of a police officer more dangerous and difficult, it has succeeded. I voted to intervene against the consent decree because I do not have faith in the fair bargaining by the opposing sides.
We have appealed the decision in Judge Dow’s courtroom and our attorney, Joel D’Alba, is putting together the necessary paperwork to oppose this decree. We will continue to fight for our members.
On a lighter note, Patricia Black-Murphy finally pulled the plug. An Englewood Ranger, Patti will truly be missed. Con- grats on your retirement! d
First Vice President’s Report
I do not ‘consent’
PAT MURRAY
8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2018