Page 29 - April 2017 Newsletter

The view from the White House
National President Canterbury relates details of the meeting with President Trump
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
President Trump had a pointed and direct question for Dean Angelo, Sr., that resonated from the Roosevelt Room at the White House through the Oval Office all the way to the streets of Chicago. The listening session with the Lodge 7 President, National Lodge President Chuck Canterbury and other officers of the National FOP to talk about the police and the violence in Chicago compelled President Trump to look across the table almost as if he was back on that television show and ask:
“When can they police?”
The President had heard about the ISRs and the barriers they had created to Chicago Police Officers actually doing the work needed to do something about the violence. And at that point, the meeting the National Lodge asked Presi- dent Angelo to attend on March 28 sent up one of several memorable phrases, lines and questions that tend to make these sessions historic.
Not “These are the times that try men’s souls” historic and certainly not “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen” historic. But the view inside the Roosevelt Room and even the Oval Office courtesy of Canterbury revealed that President Trump offered some hopeful sentiments for Chicago Police Officers, and President Angelo responded with one or two of his own.
President Trump’s most notable comment reiterated: “I made a crucial pledge: We will always support the incredi- ble men and women of law enforcement. I will always have your back 100 percent.”
Angelo, Sr., articulated several important thoughts to the President, the best of which, according to Canterbury, might have been: “Some of our members are worried about losing their jobs for doing their jobs.”
Canterbury reported that President Trump, who was joined by Vice-President Mike Pence and Attorney Gen- eral Jeff Sessions, was very businesslike with his inquiries about Chicago. There was nothing contentious in the air, but more the supportive posture from the President that compelled the National Lodge to endorse him in the 2016 election.
“We talked about law and order and what he could do to help the violence,” Canterbury added. “It was obvious to him that the mayor and his administration were not going to have the relationships to do something about the vio- lence, and the President is very interested in what the rank- and-file officers need. It was the very reason Dean was at the Justice Department before that report; to make sure the rank-and-file position is not left out.”
The National Lodge had been working on going to see the President since the inauguration. When it came to fruition, Canterbury was offered a group of 10. Because of the issues in Chicago, including the consent decree that might be coming to City and the Department, Canterbury said it was important for Angelo, Sr., to be part of the contingent. He also invited Philadelphia Lodge 5 President John McNesby,
Lodge 7 President Dean Angelo, Sr., (left) listens to President Trump during a meeting at the White House on March 28. National Lodge President Chuck Canterbury is seated to Trump’s right.
who has been through an investigation similar to Chicago’s, and the members of the National Executive Board.
Among the talking points at the meeting, according to Canterbury, were gun violence, the opioid crisis, sanctuary cities and the ambush-style attacks on law enforcement of- ficers the past few years. But when the discussion hit the violence and impact on Chicago Police Officers, the Presi- dent stopped to ask Angelo about the “hindrances caused by the agreed-upon ACLU-driven stops,” Canterbury dis- closed.
When the President learned some of the details about how much paperwork had resulted from the ISRs, that’s when he asked, “When can they police?” Canterbury re- lated that Trump’s perspective indicated a recognition that “paperwork is more important than police work” in Chica- go.
Overall, from where the National President sat, the trip to Washington seemed more than productive.
“We had the President’s full attention as well as the Vice-President and the Attorney General,” Canterbury con- tinued. “Very seldom do you meet with that much admin- istration. Obviously, he took it very seriously. You could tell he was more interested in the safety of police officers than he was in political correctness.”
Following the meeting and the photo op in the Oval Of- fice, the President directed the FOP to keep him informed. Clearly, Trump’s initiative was to further a relationship that will assist police officers in doing their jobs rather than dic- tating how they do their jobs.
Follow-up will also include looking at how to provide proper training and equipment to Chicago and to main- tain a staffing level capable of addressing the violence. The President apparently understands what’s at stake with in- creasing safety in the City.
“We made the administration understand that Chicago Police Officers live in the City, and they want a safe place to live and raise their families,” Canterbury emphasized. “The President is a businessman. He knows if employees are un- happy or treated poorly, they will look for other employ- ment. Chicago Police Officers don’t want to leave home, but they can only take so much.” d
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