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Liaison to Mayor’s Office Report
Turning it over to the next generation
I have had the pleasure of serving the members of FOP Lodge 7 for many years, and it is time for me to retire as the recording secretary and turn it over to the next generation.
There was a rumor that newly elected Lodge 7 President John Catanzara fired me, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I have talked to John about retiring for a while, and now it is time.
Everyone knows when it is time, and it is time. Father Tom Nagle told me many years ago that be- ing a cop takes time away from your children, and that is why God gives you grandchildren. Tom knew what he was talking
about. I have six grandchildren who keep me busy.
I am being replaced by Rob Noceda, a working cop who is dedicated to serving the membership. I guarantee you will not
be disappointed by Rob.
I was not going to run in the last election, but Jay Ryan asked
me to reconsider and help him put a team together for the FOP election. I agreed to help him, and we had a full team when Jay got the offer from the private sector and it was the best choice for him and his family.
We were a team without a candidate for president, and we held several team meetings where I was asked to sit down and have a conversation with John Catanzara. It is no secret; John and I did not get along, and that is because we never sat down
and talked.
After talking to him, I honestly could not believe how wrong
I was about him and how right the people on our team were. During our talk, I stated that I want to get the younger officers involved in this union, and John had a plan. The rest is history.
I believe that this administration is the best we have had in more than 20 years, and they will do great things for the mem- bership. Contrary to what has been rumored, John and I did not have an argument, and he did not fire me because of my tirade against a teacher.
During the campaign, John and I discussed my role with the Lodge, and it was my intention to be the recording secretary for a year or two and then retire. What I have seen in the last four months from this team is that we are going places that, in my opinion, we should have gone years ago. The underlying theme with the leadership here is that it is all about the members. It is time for me to ease out and have a diminished role with the FOP.
I will remain with the FOP as the retiree liaison, and I will be in the office a few days a week and available by phone anytime. I will take care of retiree issues and work with the Retiree and Insurance committees to keep our Medicare premiums afford- able. I want to thank the membership for all the support I have received over my years as an officer with the FOP. God bless and stay safe.
GREG BELLA
14 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2020