Page 17 - FOP March 2017 Newsletter

FIELD REPRESENTATIVES REPORT
Justice served for the fallen
Another arbitration win for members
ATthethreeisenodbodfy2m01o4re, athwearCeiotfythmeacdrime ethaendveicoi-
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day and night, officers expose themselves to harm and idence Technicians (ETs) when they perform
danger that others would flee from. Despite this, offi- the duties of Forensic Investigators (FIs). The
cers continue to confront and battle the evils of our action took place without consulting Chicago
that these two good men met
the arbitrator. Several ETs and FIs gave pertinent testimo-
city. It is heartbreaking for me to say that sometimes it Lodge 7. Obviously, even if the City had dis-
evil. The fight between good
ny for the Lodge in arguing our case. After a long day of
can cost an officer his life. However, the battle does cussed the matter in advance, the FOP
and evil is neverending. Judge
taAksenI t,hainkdbhacokwovtherethLeotdegs-e would proceed. Fast forward to
MARLON
MARLON
HARVEY
HARVEY
Flisk and Soderberg, I realize
“For fools rush in where
tFimebornuyarnyd2e0vi1d6e.nTcehperLesoedngt-ewaspreparedtofighttheCity’s
ed in both trials of Officers
action before an arbitrator. On Feb. 11, 2016, FOP Attor-
ALEXANDER POPE
ney Catherine Chapman and I presented the case before
Angels fear to tread.”
not end there. The perpetrators of such a heinous would have demanded this action be
presenting evidence and testimonies, the arbitrator Joyce said it best when he
crime must be apprehended, charged, brought withdrawn. It was clear that the City’s
decided that an additional day would be needed to announced his decision
complete the hearing. On Feb. 23, 2016, the Lodge against Bryant Brewer
to justice before trial and, if all goes well, sen-
failure to involve FOP showed that tenced. Then, and only then, is the battle for
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ybywaacsknaobwleledtogincognthcelude the case before the arbitra-
the City knew it would face a challenge from the the fallen officer complete.
v
T REPORT
The Department notified ETs that effective Jan. 1, 2015, cer Thor Soderberg was ambushed, attacked and murdered by
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hnios elsocnapgerdubetaoltlhoewimedm. eEdTisatbeeregsapnontosecoaflSletrhgeaFnOt JPastoniKnafcoyrnm-
sokfi athned OsiftfuicaetrioKnim. bIeirnlysTtrhuocrtpe. dThtehfeacEt Tthsaat botuht osfuficbemrsitwtienreg
receiving gunfire as they engaged Brewer did not stop them. Brewer grievances and keeping records on returned Out of Grade
was struck and felled by Kacynski’s return fire. Brewer survived his slips. Due to the numerous amounts of ETs submitting
wounds and was arrested and charged.
grievances and returned Out of Grade slips, the decision
After receiving the arbitrator’s decision, Chapman and Members of the Lodge and the brothers and sisters of the Chicago
The outstanding work of detectives, forensic investigators, expert was made to create a class action grievance on behalf of
I addressed Unit 277 to establish a plan in assisting offi- Police Department give a heartfelt thank you to Judge Timothy Joyce
witness and officer testimony resulted in a good case for trial that
acnedrsCwooitkhCcoaulnctuylSatainteg’s lAotstot rhnoeyusrsB.riOancSexatognaian,dI Pwaat sMacbGlueirteo
fworitanjeobsswfeirllsdthonaen.d the tremendous work of our FOP attor-
neys. (I was also assigned, along with FOP Attorney Pat Lastly, be prepared to attend the trial of the latest offender,
MFiaorrceutstFol,oytod,mpruersdenretrtohfeChTiacattgooPoGlicrieeOvfafincecreTthhoamtatshWeoLrtohdamge
IsVuibnsMeqayu2e0n1t0ly.TwriaolnissinettMobaercghin2p0o1ss6ib.)lyWasheanrleyvaesrOacnt.d14w.Shuepr--
port our police family in finishing the fight for Officer Wortham with ever we can, we will fight to represent officers.
all affected ETs. On Feb. 11, 2015, the Lodge submitted a
began July 27 and lasted seven days. On Aug. 4, presiding Judge Tim-
grievance to cover all ETs. Subsequently, on Feb. 24, 2015,
othy Joyce returned with a guilty verdict in the murder of Officer
Lodge 7 attorneys filed an Unfair Labor Practice to cover
Soderberg. Finally, on Sept. 23, Judge Joyce sentenced Brewer to life
allpossiblelegalrecourseforcorrectingtheCity’sactions. in prison.
Initially, this sudden change in overtime practice caused In November 2010 Officer Michael Flisk was also ambushed,
confusion among the ETs. FOP Attorney Brian Hlavin and attacked and brutally murdered by Timothy Herring. Herring was
your presence. Check the FOP website for updated information on As always, stay safe out there. d
I addressed officers in Unit 277 to inform them of actions subsequently apprehended and charged. Trial concluded in May
date, courtroom and time. As always, continue to back each other up out there and stay safe.
with a guilty verdict. In June, Judge Margaret Brosnahan, sentenced Herring to Life with no parole.
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Lodge, and therefore acted on its own to imple- During the past few months both family members and
T
hatordr.work, dedication
and sacrifice that
Thanks to the hard work and thoroughness of
Chicago Police Officers
Chapman, along with the testimony from ETs and FIs,
ment the change anyway. ChicagoPoliceOfficershavedonejustthis. InJulyof2010,Offi-
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perform every day. Judge
the Lodge was successful in sustaining the grievance. All
Joyce described this dedica-
affected ETs will be made whole for being denied Out of
tion with a quote by writer
Grade pay for FI assignments. We are still in the process of and poet Alexander Pope: “For
working with affected ETs in determining lost wages due fools rush in where Angels fear
to the City’s actions. to tread.”
KEITH CARTER
To First Responders past and present, I'm request- ing that you join me in forming a team of walkers for the 2015 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society “Light the Night” Walk in support of blood cancer patients.
This 5K walk is scheduled for Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m. in Grant Park. We'll have the support of the Motorola Solutions Foundation, which is donating $10,000 to the cause, and is providing a tent with refreshments. No donation is required to walk, but if you choose to donate you can either visit the Leukemia and Lym- phoma Society website
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk
Oct. 24 • 4:30 p.m. • Grant Park
Motorola Solutions Foundation is sponsoring a First Responder team to participate in the walk. Family members and friends of Lodge 7 members are also welcome to participate.
For information, contact Anna.Baniak@LLS.org or 312-568-7717 or pjesse@hotmail.com or 618-530-6770.
protecting those who help protect us and reached out to Patrick Jessee, a Chicago paramedic who is a survivor of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma blood cancer. He contacted the Lodge so that we might have a fantastic turnout of both police officer and firefighters to walk and support our own. In my 29 years on the job, I've met many thousands of police officers and I look forward to walking with you on Oct. 24.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 I OCTOBER 2015 19 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2017 17
Walk with me to battle blood cancer
http://pages.lightthenight.org/il/ChicagoL15/chifirstresponders, or donate in person to me at the FOP Lodge before or on the day of the event.
As we all know, anyone at any time can get cancer, and First Responders have a 50 percent greater chance than the general pub- lic to get blood cancer. Motorola Solutions Foundation believes in