Page 33 - APRIL 2019 FOP MAGAZINE

grateful I am to Judge Stevens for methodically looking at the law and made a decision based on the rules on evidence. That certainly was a high point around here. A lot was invested in that.
The fact that we have had legislation moving in our favor in- stead of against us has been a positive trend. Eliminating the quota from the Department was huge.
We have done a good job communicating to both the City and the citizens. We’re here to fight for members, but we’re also here to have a safer city in a responsible way.
The blog has created a greater source of communication be- tween our members and this Lodge. An electronic form of com- munication has been a big change for the FOP, and our members are grateful for the messages we are providing. They’re happy that they are getting the communication, and it has taken a lot of great work from Marty to get that done.
What are some other important goals you have for this year?
One of the things I discussed at the roll call the other night is mental health. We have told the City and the Department that they need to hire more clinicians to provide more professional counseling. That was the very first thing I asked for in my very first meeting with the superintendent when I took office.
We have addressed with the FOP Executive Board a number of times this year about improving the parking situation around our building so members can get in and out. It’s not an easy is- sue to solve. When we bought the building 25 years ago, parking wasn’t a problem. Our neighbors then weren’t Google and the McDonald’s Corporation. We are working on plans to resolve the parking problem and make it a benefit for our members.
I think we have had good communication with the Depart- ment and the superintendent, however, there needs to be an honest dialogue almost on a weekly basis so that we can help
the Department move forward. We want the Department to back up our members.
You mentioned safety. It’s been a tough year for officer safety. How can we improve that situation?
I will tell you that one of the saddest moments I’ve ever had was when I had to return the wedding ring to the wife of Officer Jimenez. That will stay with me forever. I’ve had the honor to meet the families of all the officers we have lost, and we know what we have to do. We need to make sure that officers have all the tools that they can get to make sure that they can go home to their families at night. That’s not just about what we get in the contract but making sure that the Department recognizes it and starts to back them up.
What message do you want to give members going forward this year?
We have excellent people on the contract negotiations team. Obviously, we don’t have a crystal ball, but we will do our very best along with attorneys to achieve the best contract imagin- able. I have great faith in the attorneys and the people on the team, who each bring specific expertise to the table.
We will work to ensure members get the time off and the ac- cess to mental healthcare they need. They need to be treated fairly, both in promotions and when they’re at work. We need to make sure they get training that will benefit them. Members should have a voice in what training needs to be put at the fore- front so when the Department makes decisions, it is making only the best decisions for officers.
We’re challenging everything we need to, and we’ve had sig- nificant wins. The federal courts have told the City and the De- partment that they need to come back and negotiate with the FOP. Through our efforts, we can make any changes we believe are possible to improve our members’ lives.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2019 33
o . r -
e o y
.
- A e t
- g d g t
r e n - e -
e
n d w