Page 17 - FOP September 2016

Hooks’em ... not
For months now, the media has contin- ued to highlight stories that perpetuate the anti-law enforcement sentiment rag- ing throughout this country. It continues to profit from stories that negatively portray the law enforcement community, and call into question the actions of our officers. With its attention so heavily focused on law enforcement, the media has seemingly
missed reporting on other facets of our legal system, including the happenings down at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
it seems like pretty poor judgment to me. Way to go, Judge!
I wonder if the victim is aware that Hooks allowed this predator out of jail on a signature and a promise to be good. Did Hooks feel that allowing a convicted felon a free pass back to the streets was a smart move, as a person in a position of authority? This is the same Judge who finds the time to berate police officers in his courtroom on nothing more than an opinion, yet
allows armed offenders freedom to go rob and shoot the citizens of Chicago.
Where’s the outcry? Where are the protests? Where’s the good pastor of Saint Sabina? Oh, that’s right; he only cares about the Chicago Police Department, the FOP and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Lodge and the city. Whatever happened to the separation be-
tween church and state? Only in this city...
I have filed an official complaint against Hooks with the Judicial Inquiry Board. Unfortunately, I have zero faith that anything will come of that action. It is prob- ably a good assumption that the board is made up of
other attorneys, and that they are as thick as thieves.
Cell phones
As you know, there has been a recent effort to force officers into disclosing personal information from per- sonal email accounts and mobile phones. The employ- er is generally not allowed to confiscate the employee’s personal property. With this being said, it should come as no surprise that the law in this area seems to be shifting to a more liberal approach on this issue.
As many have discussed recently, the Lodge believes it imperative that our members refrain from using their mobile phones for work-related purposes. When I be- came a police officer in 1995, notifications were made on your CPD-issued radio via one of the citywide fre- quencies. Those of us from that era remember asking the zone dispatcher if it was double dot two or three on the radio. My hope is that all members go back to those simple days. I urge you to make notifications from your Department-issued radio, or drive into the station and use the Pax. We need to protect ourselves. This onslaught is just getting started and is only going to get worse. This tidal wave will only increase once the new IPRA is formed and the Cook County State’s Attor- ney, elected. d
THOMAS
THOMAS
MCDONAGH
MCDONAGH
This is the courthouse over which Judge Wil-
liam Hooks presides in Room 301. Hooks has a
very negative opinion of law enforcement, and
has had no problem vocalizing his anti-police sentiments to the masses. In fact, I have been so appalled by the actions taken by Hooks that I have written about him in past articles. Today, I bring to your attention yet another disturbing decision made by Hooks, and ask you this: Where is the accountabil- ity?
According to court documents, Hooks released an individual named Courtney Henderson, whose bond was set at $600,000, after he had been arrested with a semi-automatic Ruger LCP .380. Shockingly, Hender- son did not have a concealed carry permit authorizing him to carry a semi-automatic firearm. Henderson was incarcerated for a total of 36 days. Does anyone believe that this short stint in county jail has had any impact on the life track Henderson chose?
Fast forward to July 1, when Henderson made ar- rangements to purchase a vehicle from an individual whom he met online. When the individual showed up to complete the transaction, Henderson pulled out a sawed-off shotgun he had inside his jacket and an- nounced a robbery. This individual attempted to run away, at which point Henderson shot him in the back and then fled with the car and keys. The victim was rushed to Stroger Hospital where he was treated and his condition stabilized.
Hooks released an individual who was arrested with a gun, only to have this individual arrested later for an armed robbery committed with a firearm. Did Hooks really believe that such a short county-jail stint would completely rehabilitate this dangerous criminal? For someone who spends his life making decisions,
Field Representative
REPORT
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2016 17