Page 17 - August 2016 Newsletter

Rising to our challenge
I start my report with a heavy heart with re- gards to the recent shootings of police officers from various states around our country. Every watch of every day officers leave their loved ones to report to work to start their tours of duty. I know that there are many citizens who like and respect the police, but there are those who do not like the police and right now are using the events of the past 18 months to
from Escape from New York, in which the people in charge are the ones with the most gang members carrying the most guns.
The business of effective policing has two sides to it. First, we have how most of us officers would like policing to be: a safe, respectable, interaction product between the police and the citizens within each neighborhood we all
KEITH CARTER
serve their own political goals.
Why is that?
It’s because some of those people make a con-
scious choice not to do the right, or the ethical
thing. Some of those people may have had cer-
tain situations forced upon them due to social and economical factors in their neighborhoods, and some just choose to engage in activities that will increase their chances of ending up in prison.
Most people do not know what it takes to be the police because most people do not have a realistic understand- ing of what it takes to do this job. Being a police officer is a very noble profession, and not something to be taken lightly. The local police, deputy sheriff and even volun- teer officers are the first line of homeland security in the defense of our property, life, liberties and our pursuit of happiness. Without law and order what we would have is anarchy and chaos. This country would look like a scene
took an oath to serve and protect. There’s also another side of policing, a dark side – and no, this has noth- ing to do with the media’s portrayal of us as rogue cops bent on assassinating the citizens of the city of Chicago. This has to do with that portion of the population that deals in the underworld of orga- nized crime and consistently breaks the law for
personal gain.
We as the police sometimes are put in situations that
are not popular with the media or the citizens, because of the action of the bad guy that affects the reaction by the officer to ensure the peace. The media only shows or reports the side that sensationalizes our interactions with bad guys and not what actually happens. We do the job to the best of our abilities to keep those people who live here and those who visit from harm. Never ever does the media make mention of the thousands of officers who are assaulted and battered every year across this country.
I used to get a kick out of citizens who would tell me how to “be the police” and then dislike how I did the job I was trained to do in the Police Academy, then say to me, “I’ll have your badge.” Well, after 29-and-a-half years I still have my badge, but we have people out there who are coming after the badges of our officers, and nowadays they have the blessings of politicians, clergy members and the media for their own personal gain.
I would like to thank Lodge 7, family, friends and co- workers who helped me reach the goal of $1,000 in pledg- es – actually it was $1,120 – to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). I’ve taken the challenge since 1998 of rid- ing my bike 150 miles during the two-day weekend event. I’ve ridden as part of a team and I’ve participated as an individual rider. Each and every time I feel a great level of accomplishment upon completion of the ride knowing I helped forward the cause of helping find a cure for MS.
I would like to extend a very special “thank you” to a close friend, who used to participate in – and now spon- sors me during – MS bike rides; his name is Frank Rich- ardson. My reason for mentioning Frank is because his generosity knows no bounds. Frank came into the Lodge and filled out a personal check for $500 for the Brother- hood for the Fallen for the families of those police officers killed during the senseless act by a sniper in Dallas. The turnout to the fundraiser sponsored by the Brotherhood for the Fallen was truly a magnificent show of support to our brothers and sisters in blue of the Dallas Police De- partment. Active members, retirees and command staff came out in support of Dallas to let them know that their loss was our loss, as well. Thank you everyone for showing that you care. d
Field Representative
REPORT
16 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ AUGUST 2016