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The ultimate sacrifice
In May, we take time to celebrate our loving mothers, those that I’m confident were reluc- tant to accept our choice to answering the call to a law enforcement career because they knew the dangers of fighting crime. But never in their wildest dreams did they think the dan- gers we would face would come from political agendas.
foot, who chaired the Task Force. If you saw the show, you might have seen a couple of cutaways to me sitting in the audience. Some members said I looked like I was stewing a bit, or even steaming. I was, and let me tell you why:
To begin with, I totally agree with the premise that the Task Force went in with bias. One of the reasons for that is that Lori Lightfoot was appointed by the mayor, a mayor who has been accused of covering up and needs to im- prove his approval ratings. The snowball effect since the
release of the Laquan McDonald video has certain interest groups on the mayor’s heels calling for re- form that will restore the trust between our offi- cers and the communities we are serving, and has created a script the Task Force had to follow. Mem- bers of the Task Force had to present something to the mayor that shows they are doing something
about it, and that they are not going to stand for it.
I read through the 190 pages of the report and there are some findings I take issue with. The study made several references that parts of our Collective Bargaining Agree- ment endorsed a code of silence, which, in fact, includes nothing that would encourage such behavior. If Task Force was referring to the 24-hour cooling-off period following an officer-involved shooting before having to make a statement, you have to wonder if the Task Force even understand why that is needed. We know officers need time to collect themselves after a traumatic experi- ence before giving an accurate statement, but apparently the Task Force does not know that. Nor does it know that many other agencies have an even longer cooling-off pe-
riod.
If the Task Force was referring to the affidavits citizens
have to sign when making a complaint, we know that is not to discourage complaints, but rather to cut down on false allegations and burdening IPRA and a system that is already overwhelmed with investigating unqualified claims. If the Task Force believes these are issues driven by our contract, that is wrong. This does not pertain to the FOP; it lays at the feet of the city.
I found some other examples of the Task Force’s heavy-handed reporting. Page 83 of the study makes recommendations for 40 hours of in-service training for sworn personnel. These types of ideas are great and have been identified in the past, but the city has to give the De- partment the budget to do the training. It’s no secret that one of the most critical challenges for the Department is the requirement for continuous training for in-service of- ficers during a time that budgets are being cut or reduced. But it’s the Department’s obligation to provide adequate training regardless of the economic conditions. Did we really need this expensive report to tell us that we need quality training? The money spent on this report could have been put toward the training budget, or new equip- ment and better facilities.
The report also notes the need for a way to keep offi- cers up to date on policy and procedures. How about this for a novel idea: give promotional exams more frequently,
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RAY CASIANO, JR
During May we also reserve a national day to remember our fallen comrades in law enforcement.
In 1962, President Kennedy announced May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and that
week as National Police Week, when we honor law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty. Ev-
ery year in May, officers from around the world come together in Washington D.C. to honor the fallen. It is truly a sight to be seen; so many honoring our fall- en heroes on the front lawn of our nation’s capital, never forgetting those who served and scarified for peace and order.
For the catastrophically injured
As a tribute to our catastrophically injured officers, last year I wrote an article titled, “Not All Heroes Have Their Name Etched In Stone.” These officers have been cata- strophically injured in the line of duty, and have the con- stant reminder of the event that forever changed their life. These catastrophic injuries also take a toll on the family.
These types of injuries often involve a lifetime of med- ical treatment and someone to care for them 24-7. In some cases, the officers are unaware of the severity of their condition, while others are fortunate enough to have the ability to read this article. I recently spoke to such a member, ironically on the 28th anniversary from receiving a gunshot wound to his neck that caused major health issues including difficulty walking. Today, not only is he taking steps walking in his uniform as he reports for duty, but he has also taken steps for officers in the same situation around the state to advocate for them.
I’m sure you may have heard of some of these stories. During my time as First Vice President, I have had the honor of meeting several of these officers and their fami- lies. Although it was an honor to make their acquaintanc- es, the circumstances surrounding it were not as upbeat because I had to file grievances on their behalf to ensure that their medical benefits were not interrupted by the city. As should be expected by our membership, Lodge 7 will use its resources to make the bad situations right for the officers and their families. These are undisputed cat- astrophic injuries that occurred in the line of duty. At the end of it all, “Not All Heroes Have Their Name Etched in Stone” and Lodge 7 will hold the city accountable for its responsibilities to those members.
No accounting for the Accountability Task Force
Perhaps you had a chance to catch the April 14 episode of Chicago Tonight on Channel 11. The live broadcast was devoted to discussing the Police Accountability Task Force study released that day and featured Lori Light-
10 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2016
First Vice President’s
REPORT