Page 10 - February 2018 FOP Newsletter

Throughout this country, there is a total lack of re- spect for most people who live here. At the top of this list are authority figures such as teachers and Police Officers. Respect is a feeling of appreciation, a state of being held in high regard with honor or esteem. Respect is also a two-way street.
Respect is something that you acquire at a young age, and it continues throughout your life. How chil- dren are raised has changed within the past gener- ation, and this lack of respect has affected far too
many young adults in our society.
When I attended De La Salle Institute, if you did something “out
of line” it was immediately dealt with. It could have been a few days in detention (“Jug,” as we called it), a crack on the top of your head, or the paddle by Mr. Wenshutonis. The bump on the head, the time in detention or the sore backside reminded you that this behavior was unacceptable. Whatever it was, it corrected your at- titude! The majority of the time, you deserved the punishment you received. Today, we talk to our children: “Hey, Johnnie, you prob- ably should not do that!” Corporal punishment has been all but abandoned in home and school settings.
Police Officers are assigned to public schools where students are taught an anti-police curriculum. How many complaint numbers are assigned to these officers when they attempt to de- escalate situations that occur on an everyday basis? Tactical teams and foot teams are also assigned to dismissal at many schools in their district. But what about the repercussions of their criminal activity? Are there any? The majority of the time there are none.
What do you do with a young juvenile who has no respect for any- one, including his parents? A media that favors the young offender and not the police?
Cell phones have definitely changed how we live today. How many times have officers been involved in situations where they are attempting to place an offender in custody, when John Q. Citi- zen pulls out his cell phone and begins filming the arrest? And not only filming, but also talking to the officers attempting to com- plete their arrest? The problem is that officers now have to divert their attention to this person instead of totally focusing on the situation at hand. There should be new laws that deal specifically with this problem.
How about the elected official who attempts to enter an active crime scene because he is inconvenienced on his way home? Does that justify him taping Police Officers or supervisors protecting the scene and demanding verbal directions to get home? How long have you lived there, and you can’t find your way home?
That brings me to the elected official who had his “subordi- nates” write down the license plates numbers of off-duty officers who had attended a neighborhood zoning meeting, and then ob- tain the officers’ home addresses, solely because they opposed his community housing development. Was this done legally?
You garner respect when you stand together. We need to elect representatives who have a general respect for Police Officers in today’s tough times. Politicians know how you vote. If you’re regis- tered, please vote; if you’re not, please get registered. All of us must work together! d
First Vice President’s Report
A lack of respect
PAT MURRAY
10 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ FEBRUARY 2018