Page 31 - February 2016

A message from a friend of the police
ous year at a time when the murder rate in Chicago climbs off the charts. The reporter wonders, how can that be?
“That’s goodpolicing,”Angelo,Sr.continues.“That’sgood police officers that have come prepared for a war.”
For the record, the statements of unity come in volume for this interview. The discussion turns to how the headlines and the public sentiment are fracturing the police, and this provides an opportunity to provide a further glimpse into a day in the life of the FOP President lately.
“My phone rings every day with support from depart- ments all over the country,” Angelo, Sr. reveals. “People try to talk about the thin blue line. The thin blue line is the line of professionals who took an oath to be the line of safety between the criminal element and the law-abiding citizens. We’re that line, and when officers from other agencies see that someone is trying to be an impediment or trying to cast a doubt in the line or beat it up, they come together.”
Coming together will always be the virtue for the police, the way for members to prevail in this time, and that’s where Mr. President wants to end this. The reporter wonders why the President isn’t angrier, why the members aren’t more ticked off about the ongoing attacks. He responds that there is real anger, but expressing it would only play right into the hands of the elected officials, the media, the public and the haters.
Besides, there is no strength in anger. They key, he believes, is to keep on policing, to keep on moving forward, to keep on looking ahead.
“We’re going to get through this,” President Angelo emphasizes. “The City will survive. The Police Department will survive. What’s it going to look like when it’s done? I don’t
have a crystal ball. But instead of stirring the pot, we need to bring the stakeholders together who are involved in the day- to-day operations and get some conversation going to talk about resolution.”
Now, that seems to be the way to get your voice heard. d
Blueleaf Lending wishes all Lodge 7 members and their families a very happy and healthy New Year
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ FEBRUARY 2016 31 4