Page 12 - Demo

New year, new challenges:
Navigating retiree healthcare and other complex issues
The sign up period for retiree health insur- ance has ended and, outside of a few hiccups, the transition was smooth thanks to the cooper- ation of Jack Byrnes for AETNA and ULICO tak- ing callers’ questions. A total of 4,600 FOP mem- bers signed up for AETNA Medicare and 160 FOP members signed up for ULICO non-Medi- care. The City’s BC/BS plan signed up 1,800 FOP retirees for Medicare. We believe there are 2,000
members who have done nothing, or purchased indi- vidual plans.
police provide around-the-clock protection for any gang- banger on the SSL list. Jamaal Green led the violent street protests after police shootings and does not believe the police have to shoot armed offenders. Green should have learned by now you can’t have it both ways. If you abso- lutely don’t want the police to shoot armed criminals, you can’t demand we guard a gangbanger when there is a very good probability an armed criminal is going to shoot the criminal you want guarded. What about the innocent peo-
ple who are not on the SSL, don’t their lives matter? It is amazing the media gives this guy a minute of air time because if Black Lives Matter, he would be talking to the criminals that are responsible for the shootings
and stop trying to run the Police Department.
DOJ
The DOJ has kicked its report writing into warp speed in an attempt to beat the inauguration. The DOJ always takes years of investigation before it releases its re- port, but in the biggest city it ever investigated, the report will be done in less than a year. I don’t believe the DOJ will make any of the recommendations made by hundreds of our members who met with its members, or any recom- mendations made by Dean Angelo, Sr. Its members are hell-bent to follow the recommendations made by Lori Lightfoot and the Accountability Task Force report. The DOJ doesn’t see why we have to know the allegations against us prior to giving a statement. The DOJ doesn’t think we should be allowed to review video evidence prior to making a statement. The DOJ doesn’t believe an affidavit should be required to complain against an officer. The DOJ believes anonymous complaints should be taken. It can’t under- stand that these rights were won contractually because of abuse against officers in the past. The DOJ report won’t be worth the paper it is written on, and after Trump is sworn in as president, most of these DOJ lawyers will be looking to
the private sector for a job.
Parole hearing
The Parole Board met and denied parole for Ronnie Car- rasquillo who murdered Officer Terry Loftus in October 1976; he received a three-year set. The Board also denied parole for Bruce Sharp, who murdered Officer Ken Kaner in June 1970, and he received a three-year set. The Lodge will keep you informed of any future parole hearings.
Call FOP
As we start the New Year, remember if you have to give a statement to IAD or IPRA, call the FOP for an attorney to represent you. Even if you think it is a silly complaint, use the Lodge attorney; it is your right. If you have to write a to-from report to answer allegations, call or come into the Lodge for assistance. We have Lodge reps on call 24 hours a day to assist you with any problem, and if you are involved in a shooting, please call 312-733-7776. d
We can only hope that 2017 is a better year for us. Happy New Year to you and your family,
GREG BELLA
Local 2 has 1,600 members who signed up for AETNA Medicare and 500 members who signed up with the City’s BC/BS Medicare plan. Local 2 has 600 members who have done nothing, or purchased individual plans.
Christmas Bloodbath
The Department has created a Strategic Subject List of 1,200 gangbangers who are statistically the most likely to be shot or shoot another gangbanger. Anyone on the SSL list was sent a letter informing them of the probability and the 600 who responded were talked to by the CPD. I found it ironic that after the violent Christmas weekend that left 11 dead and 60 wounded, Black Lives Matter (BLM) lead- er Jamaal Green held a news conference demanding the
12 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JANUARY 2017
RECORDING
Secretary
and please stay safe.