Page 12 - APRIL 2019 FOP MAGAZINE

Financial Secretary’s Report
It’s far better to command respect than demand it
It’s April, and I hope sunny days are upon us.
I have received a few calls from officers regarding hostile work environments. The first step in any of these cases is to go to the immediate supervisor to attempt to resolve the matter. If your concerns are dismissed by the immediate supervisor, then fol- low the chain of command and speak to the next superior. If you get no solution, go to human re- sources to discuss a possible EEOC complaint.
Moving forward in our careers as police officers, it seems that more often we’re hearing about encounters with supervisors who need lessons on how to address people. There’s a balance between rigid conformity and casual disregard. The first step is to have an open conversation with those who rely on you to keep things in order. Remember: it is better to command respect than demand it.
The Grievance Committee met on March 21 with the follow- ing results: the committee decided to withdraw nine grievanc- es, including two that were ongoing labor complaints, although we are looking to remedy things through negotiations with the City. The committees deferred three and decided to go forward with three others that included two officers who appeared be- fore the committee to further explain their grievances.
The committee has dealt with many similar situations that warranted a grievance. I also have the help of Dan Gorman and Andrew Cantore, both of whom are able to see the proper angles when approaching a solution. Mike Hayes steps up for intricate grievances, and Alfie Patterson, Mike Mette, Mark Tamlo, Fer- nando Flores, Tom Wake, Dan Quaid, Nick Duckhorn, Glen Pop- iela, Jim Jakstavich, John Catanzara, Dave Salzman, Brad Tucker and Tom McDonagh also provide their knowledge based on a wealth of experience.
I have to mention the barrage of calls I’ve been getting about changes initiated by the Department that seem questionable. If you have questions or doubts about what you are looking at, please give us a call. I have been able to intervene in many improper procedures that have come down on the officers. The observations of just one officer could provide information that might affect all officers. The main idea is to keep the lines of communication open. A fully informed organization is the greatest supporter and defender of the working officer.
Lastly, we lost another officer due to a tragic and horrible in- cident. My deepest sympathies sympathy to Officer John Rive- ra’s family.
Stay safe.
MICHAEL GARZA
12 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2019