Page 34 - February 2018 FOP Newsletter

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Jackie Wilson was harmed or coerced into confessing. O’Rourke pointed to photos of Wilson taken after his interrogation that showed no visible injuries.
So you might imagine the ire and the fire stirring as members headed to 26th and Cal on Jan. 16.
“We take our frustrations,” Bourret confided. “We get knocked down, but we bounce back and we come back strong.”
We had to voice our opposition
A retired member sat in courtroom 301. Jakstavich observed that this was a member who comes to every general meeting, and his presence here at 26th and Cal was part of the antici- pated showing. But then he pulled note cards from his pocket and began writing on them as the hearing commenced. Turns out, he was the evidence technician who worked the case when O’Brien and Fahey were gunned down.
“It just shows me that people are so involved and how it touches them so much,” Jakstavich remarked.
The Lodge had set the stage for this response. The end-of- watch photos on display came from the Chicago Police Me- morial Foundation and were used to line the walkway at the St. Jude Parade. They served to put faces with the names.
As a Lodge Sergeant-at-Arms, Jakstavich is responsible for having those attending a general meeting sign the membership log. His book was nearly full by the time court was called to or- der. It wasn’t just members on hand, but supervisors who used to be FOP members who also came to stand and support.
“There were officers the who made the comment, ‘I wasn’t even born when this happened,’” Bourret related. “On the op- posite end of the spectrum, officers who worked with Fahey and O’Brien were there as well.”
The only mess in the punchbowl came when the judge or- dered any officer who was carrying out of the courtroom. Obvi-
ously, there weren’t enough gun lockers at 26th and California, so many members stood vigil in the hallway outside room 301.
But all the orders and rulings in the book couldn’t kill the buzz Lodge 7 members had created.
“It was an amazing show of unity,” Bourret added. “Every- body there was talking about the case and what we could do to help. It really made me feel proud to be a Chicago Police Officer and an FOP member.”
We will be his voice
On Jan. 30, Chicago Lodge 7 mustered another contingent to show up at the continuation of the hearing. Representatives from the Illinois FOP State Lodge also attended. Other FOP Lodges sent members as well. And the National FOP reportedly contacted President Graham to offer support.
Members of the Fahey family lined the front row. Word is that there aren’t a lot of members of the O’Brien family left. The son of a former Chicago Police Sergeant was survived by only his mother when he was assassinated.
“We are his family,” Jakstavich charged. “We are there for him. We will be his voice.”
Herein lies one of the lasting messages from the Lodge 7 stand. Continuing to show up for this hearing, or parole hear- ings for convicted cop killers, must continue to honor the sac- rifice these sisters and brothers made. But it’s also to honor the work of the officers who apprehended the criminals and the de- tectives and everybody else investigating the case that can be called into question by a false allegation.
It’s about sticking together because, as all members know, it could be any one of them at any given time.
“We’re strong and we’re not going to give in,” Bourret an- nounced. “Whether the officer was killed in 1920 or 2018, we have to take time to keep the families in mind. They are depend- ing on us. That’s our message.” d
34 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ FEBRUARY 2018