Page 19 - September Issue

Protect – and preserve - life
STATE FOP REPORT
All lives are valuable, whether young or old, men or women, regardless of race, faith or economic status. Each member of every community in the nation is entitled to the “Unalienable Rights” listed in the Dec- laration of Independence: “Life, Liberty and the Pur- suit of Happiness.” The fact that “life” is listed first is no accident – the benefits of living in a free country cannot be enjoyed without life.
The level of violence aimed at law enforcement officers has esca- lated in every region across the country. It is being fanned by the seething hatred of a small, but vocal few who reject the principles of our free society. The violence will not end until the rhetoric does. Cit- izens from all walks of life must stand up and reject the use of vio- lence, terror and hate as an instrument of social change. That is not who we are as Americans.
CHRISTOPHER SOUTHWOOD STATE FOP PRESIDENT
It is this life that has so tragically been taken away recently from a number of citizens whose calling in life is to protect the lives of others.
The Fraternal Order of Police is dedicated to supporting and train- ing our members so they can effectively do their jobs and in the process make sure that all citizens, including police officers, can enjoy life and all that matters to each and every one of us.
Law enforcement officers are our sons and daugh- ters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, grandparents, friends and co-workers. We are part of our communities. Many of us were born and raised in or near where we now serve the public. We care about our communities. We have sworn to protect and serve the
State President Chris Southwood has a long career in law enforce- ment serving the citizens of Illinois. After serving in the U.S. Army in Hohenfels, West Germany as a Military Police Officer, he joined the Illinois State Police. During his career with the ISP he held sev- eral positions including Patrol, K-9 Handler, Range Officer and Field Training Officer and in 1988 he also joined the Illinois Frater- nal Order of Police, Trooper’s Lodge. During his career with the FOP he has held positions in general membership, with local lodge exec- utive board and as a registered lobbyist. He became State Lodge President in July 2014 and traveled the state meeting local lodge officers and members. Following retirement from the ISP in October 2014, President Southwood’s focus on bringing fraternalism and communication back to the organization has included travelling to lodges across Illinois and working at the State Capitol speaking on behalf of our members.
people in those communities. It is a difficult and dangerous time to be a police officer. Law
enforcement officers put on their uniforms and go to work to protect their communities in a state of hyper-vigilance. We are highly trained and are often called upon to make split-second decisions of life or death. The vast majority of the time we get it right. However, when a life, any life, is lost, the circumstances should be fully and thoroughly investigated and, if warranted, justice should be pursued in accor- dance with that guiding document of the greatest nation on earth: the U.S. Constitution.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2015 19