Page 11 - September Issue

The 10-hour day
RECORDING SECRETARY’S REPORT
There has been a meeting or three between the FOP and the department about the 10-Hour Day pilot program. To put every last rumor to rest, the department cannot expand the pilot program without the consent of the Lodge. The MOU letter signed by the department that reinforces this fact has been posted on the FOP website. The Lodge continues to work with the depart-
ment to fix problems associated with the present pilot program in the 5th District. The rumor that the department is going to
put everyone on the 10-hour day is just that - a rumor.
The war on the police
The media keeps fanning the flames of the war on the police. Every time a police officer shoots an armed offender, the media calls the armed offender a victim. The armed person is the offender and the person who is having the gun pointed at them is the victim. When a vehicle is put in reverse and the driver attempts to run over an officer, the officer is the victim of an attempted murder. The offender is the driver and can only have one intention: to kill the officer. When the officer shoots at the driver to as a means to stop the vehicle from striking him, the media reports the driver was shot in the back.
The facts typically do not correspond with the media reports. As was the case in an incident the media reported, the offender was not shot in the back, but he was actually shot under the arm. Even with a recovered weapon, Felony Review refused to approve charges. One occupant was out on bond for a different U.U.W. The deputy needed to step in and over-ride Felony Review to get the charges approved. One would think that there was enough work done to ensure another bad guy stayed in jail where he belonged, but the fact is that the case was Nollied by the ASA, and the offender’s bond was not even revoked. Another fact is that this offender is back on our streets.
We all watch the news reports about the groups that have declared war on the police, urging people to “kill the pigs.” These groups are advocating violence against law enforcement, and the media just keeps reinforcing their message. The crowds that protest the police will call 9-1-1 when they become a victim, and the police will still respond. The news media will never show the YouTube and Facebook videos of armed thugs walking the streets of Chicago, flashing gang signs, waving guns acting like the fools that they are. If we can find these videos, so can members of the media; yet they just choose to refuse to report the truth.
Every tour and every day, our officers face the odds of getting hurt or being killed protecting the people of Chicago. All of this negative and anti-police reporting increases the odds that another officer will get hurt or killed. It is time for the media to start report the facts. The facts are that the gang- bangers are armed and dangerous. They scour the streets looking to gun down rival gang members and, in the process, regularly shoot
innocent people. While they roam the streets armed with illegal weapons, they regularly cross paths with a legitimate person and immediately spring into action to rob that person at gun point. Sometimes, they shoot their victims in the process; sometimes they pistol-whip them. These are dangerous predators and the media should portray them for what they are.
In spite of all of this negativity, crime is down because our officers still go out and do their job day in and day out. Thank God, that is the real story.
Retiree news e Remember, if you are planning on retiring in 2016 to take M
o form by Oct. 1. As of Sept. 1, only 50 people have submitted PAR e forms. The number of people needed by Oct. 1 is 100. Please con- fl tinue to monitor the FOP website for updates on these numbers, fl
and, if for some reason, we don’t reach the goal, you will be given the opportunity to withdraw your PAR form. fl
The retiree health insurance lawsuit (Underwood) is still going, wh
advantage of the free insurance, you must submit your PAR
and there is no update as of yet. If we get any news before next month’s issue, we will post it on the FOP website. d
D e p a w c a C n
o in
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■
SEPTEMBER 2015
11
GREG BELLA