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First Vice President’s Report
The battle against complacency
As police officers, we have one of the tough- est jobs out there. Being here in Chicago just makes it even harder. But even though we have been knocked down and beaten on what seems like a daily basis for the last year plus, we still show up to work and do the job. Now, the job has changed, and not all for the betterment of society.
The job has changed so drastically in the last five years, it is hardly recognizable. Every new training that comes out seems to tighten the reins even more than the last. The department is always trying to tell us what we can- not do and almost never what we can. All these new poli- cies have created a police department so worried about not being the next sacrificial lamb that we are second-guessing ourselves to the point of putting us and others in harm’s way.
At our general meeting in August, I spoke about this very issue. As I can understand the need for a professional and courteous police department, there will always be a need for the use of physical force.
“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill every- body you meet.” is a quote from Retired Marine Corps Gen- eral James Mattis. Now I know we are not in combat, but we have our mini-battles all the time. General Mattis’s words speak loudly to me personally, and they should for every one of you still working the street. I hate when I hear people say, “Stay fetal.” It makes my blood boil. The reason being is staying “fetal” creates complacency, and complacency will get you hurt or killed in our line of work.
For my baseball players out there, this type of mindset is like being in the field playing ball. Up until the point of the ball being hit, you keep thinking of the current situation and what to do depending on what happens next. Watching baseball can be boring, just like most of our job. We can go from zero to “oh shit” and back to zero in a matter of sec- onds. But being mentally prepared prior to the “oh shit” moment happening will help with the mental and physical drain these types of situations have on us.
There is a time and place for everything in our job. A time to deescalate, a time to create time distance and a time for shielding when needed. And there is a time when you have a person who just absolutely wants you to punch them straight in the mouth, sometimes several times. We don’t need to go looking to get into these moments, but our job dictates where we must go and what jobs we must handle. The people we encounter on the streets dictate how we are to treat them. The last few years on the street, I really en- joyed trying to make arrests without having to fight even those who truly wanted (and maybe needed) a good old smack to the face. But I was always ready to hand it out if they gave me the green light.
We only have each other when we are on the streets. It’s you and your partner, and sometimes it’s only you. I still don’t know why we have any cars 99. God bless you if you are still getting out and doing the job. That is tough as hell. I have always been proud of the work all of you do daily for this city and our neighborhoods. Thank you, God bless and stay safe and healthy.
God bless Ella French, Carlos Yanez Jr. and Joshua Blas. Ella, you will never be forgotten! Carlos and Joshua, you are in our hearts and minds. We are here for you and your fam- ilies.
MICHAEL METTE
10 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2021