Page 6 - June2021

Last Words
About the no-confidence vote
There were calls for it last year. I just didn’t think it was the right tim- ing. The response to the St. Jude March and disrespect for the Gold Star families was the straw that broke the camel’s back. And this was the time to address it and leave it to the members to decide. I gave the backstory at the membership meeting, and there wasn’t even a blink of hesitation. It was loud, raucous and unanimous. The sergeants and lieutenants were 100 percent behind us. It was a very loud “yes,” and not even a second thought of a no.
About the mayor’s response to the no-confidence vote
I know she likes to spin it that this was me, me, me, but it’s all PR bullshit. Her reference to this being about the contract is so out of left field. It was almost out of touch with reality. It’s also 100 percent incorrect, because we had negotiations scheduled for the next morning after we took the vote. So she doesn’t even know what the hell she’s talking about. It’s the same old, same old. I don’t even know where her support’s at anymore. Even the left-wing supporters feel she’s not doing enough.
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ticipating in neighborhood clean-up. There was another outreach where they actually want us to bring out the new trailer when it’s ready to go. I had ministers come up to me and tell me, I’m glad I got to hear you speak, because you’re not what the media said you are.
It was just putting us in a different light and letting them know that the police aren’t the problem. The police can be the solution working alongside the pastors. As I’m talking across this sea of hu- manity, you could see heads shaking yes. Those aren’t the people who want the defund the police. I can assure you of that.
So to me, they’re a logical partner in this endeavor about try- ing to change the dynamic of how the police are being slated, as opposed to reality of what they really are. Not only locally, but at the state level. Across this state, we’re trying to let them know that we’re trying to make your life better. At the end of the day, that’s what the police are supposed to do. Whatever we can do to facili- tate that, on a fraternal side, aside from being on duty, we’re going to try and commit to that if possible.
This is not, “You’re on duty. This is where you’re going to go.”
This is, “We’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do, and we want to build relationships that aren’t forced.”
The natural question would be, what’s in it for them? The real- ity is a law enforcement partnership allows them to feel safer in their neighborhoods. So, it’s an all-hands-on-deck approach, and I’ve committed to helping open whatever doors I can to make it successful.
It’s going to benefit on a couple of different levels, but I don’t want to say it’s even being done because it’s for the benefit. As po- lice, we’re all just people persons on a major level. That’s just your characteristic in this profession. There are very few introverted police officers. So being a people person by the profession you’ve chosen, it just comes second nature to want to do the right thing for other people, whether you’re on duty or off. It’s not about the benefits, but the benefits are clear.
The foundation is clear. If anybody understands Chicago spe- cifically, and the crime in Chicago, 80 percent of the crime is in six police districts. And those communities are African-American. So what I told the ministers is, “We’re trying to make life better for your parishioners. We have a job to do. We certainly can make life better for the people in your community, but we need your help.”
6 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2021