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SecondVice President’s Report
What does a field rep do all day?
This is such a broad ques- tion, but it is often asked. Sometimes it is an honest question, and sometimes it is asked in ignorance. (My apol- ogies to those who are easily offended). It is more than sitting at a desk, twiddling our thumbs. That impression may be based on past obser- vations and past experiences
of some members. The best way I can think of explaining it is to keep a work-log and share with the members.
Before I decided to start this log, I asked some members for their opinions on what they would want. Their suggestions includ- ed privacy and transparency. Since some days are busier than others, one sugges- tion was to keep track of a week’s worth of work, but I’ve provided two weeks’ worth. Yes, keeping track of work takes extra effort and extra time, but I have not let it get in the way of any member’s issue.
The times in some circumstances are approximate and to the best of my recol- lection. Names of members and specific issues are not stated for privacy, and some of these issues are still ongoing. Although the members’ names are not listed here, I have maintained a record in my log.
As you may or may not know, my pri- mary focus as a field rep is to prepare and present defenses at the monthly Binding Summary Opinion hearings. For those who don’t know, BSOs are mini arbitra- tions where the accused member (with a sustained CR facing between reprimand and up to 30 days) is allowed to participate and testify before an arbitrator. The proce- dures employed by the Lodge and the De- partment allow for each party to provide rebuttals; obviously, the Lodge provides rebuttals on the officer’s behalf. Per the contract, 10 sustained CR investigations are presented at the monthly BSO hearings.
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020
0900:
• Prepare and set up room for Binding
Summary Opinion hearings
• (Skip board meeting — BSO hearing was
scheduled before the Board meeting
schedule change)
• Greet arbitrator and city representative
as they arrive at FOP 1000:
• Begin 10 discipline grievances at BSO hearings
• In between hearings, meet and re-prep each member on previous calls and emails
• Answer texts that were received during BSO hearings
1300:
• Meal in office and cover while other reps
attend the monthly board meeting
• Check emails and voicemails
• Phone call from member: BSO and be-
reavement leave
• Phone call from member: residency
• Brief staff member: Part II of sergeants’
exam
• Phone call from member: disagreement
with a supervisor
• Text exchange with member: political
endorsements for state’s attorney’s of-
fice
• Text exchange with member: comments
made by Cook County state’s attorney
• Phone call to LRD: officer having ongo-
ing issues with a supervisor 1600:
• Email to attorney: ongoing grievance 1700:
• Phone call to member: being stripped
and CR number
• Phone call to member: ongoing issue
with supervisor
• Text exchange: forced medical
• Phone call from member: submit retire-
ment
• Follow-up call to member: COPA inves-
tigation
• Text to unit rep: obtain PO info who was
injured on duty
• Meeting with first VP and president
• Phone call to member regarding retire-
ment submission 1900:
• Email to member: supervisor issue 1930:
• Email: to resolve supervisor issue 1950:
• Phone call from member: CR statement scheduled
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020
0800:
• On call for next 48 hours
1200:
• Call to member: suspension time prior
to retirement 1215:
• Appointment with member: retirement • Phone call to LRD, left message
• Member walk-in: request for legal repre-
sentation
• Phone call to LRD
• Member walk-in: forced medical
• Phone call from LRD: Seeking resolu-
tion to supervisor issue
• Phone call from member: schedule ap-
pointment for To/From
• Meal in office
1700:
• Begin reviewing CR files for Sept BSO • Update membership database
• Phone call from member: FLSA over- time rate
1930:
• Phone call from member: military/re-
tirement/contract update 2330:
• Email return to political candidate
• Forward email to political action chair-
men
Friday, Aug. 7, 2020
0417:
• Call regarding O.I.S.; sergeants’ union
not answering their phone 0424:
• Organize a response to O.I.S. until ser- geants’ union can be contacted
• Contact two sergeants seeking their union’s emergency protocol
0600:
• Email to sergeant
0700:
• Text sergeant seeking their union’s
emergency protocol 0800:
• Brief FOP shooting rep
1050:
• Email attorney: grievances
1100:
• Email member: grievance
1230:
• Meet with national FOP trustee, Lodge
president and first VP 1300:
• Phone call from member: CR statement and unusual circumstances
1330
• Lunch at police supporting establish-
ment 1400:
• Phone call to attorney: member’s CR 1500:
• Research member’s grievances
• Phone call to member: grievance status • Research member’s grievances
• Phone call to member: grievance status • Follow-up on a previous inquiry about
hall rental
• Research past arbitrations for current
grievances
• Phone call to member: ongoing super-
visor issue
• Phone call from member: South Shore
training site
• Office meeting: South Shore OSHA
complaint
• Phone call to member: South Shore
training site
• Phone call from member: supervisor is-
sue temporarily resolved 1700:
• Phone call from member: COPA state- ment notification
• Phone call from member: district oper- ating with three “99” units
• Phone call from member: BIA statement notification
DAN GORMAN
8 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2020