Page 34 - November 2019 FOP

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half of his CPD BFFs came during that brief interchange with Graham. You can see Trump smiling that knowing, almost cun- ning smile when shaking hands with the Lodge 7 president.
Why was this man smiling? Nothing to do with punchlines, but rather some jabs the president was about to take at the Chi- cago police superintendent in front of the National FOP leader- ship, U.S. Attorney General William Barr, invited guests that in- cluded Chicago Police Officer Adam Wazny and the entire IACP.
After the first of multiple shows of love for law enforcement, a nod to Barr and a thank-you note to family members of police officers, Trump started – started – his speech with a message for the superintendent.
“We’re in Chicago. Where is he? I want to talk to him,” the president charged, eliciting rousing laughter.
“In fact, more than anyone else, this person should be here because maybe he could learn something,” Trump continued. “Here’s a man who could not bother to show up for a meeting of police chiefs in his hometown, and with the president of the United States. And you know why? It’s because he’s not doing his job.”
Seated front and center for the speech at McCormick Place was Wazny, the CPD hero who is recovering well after being shot in an exchange that took down a murderer in September. Seated next to Wazny was Lodge 7 Field Representative Bob Bartlett.
These seats had been designated for many of the depart- ment’s exempt ranks. But they followed the superintendent’s lead and did not show up. Which was appropriate because while the president’s remarks might not have exactly been call- ing for the superintendent’s retirement, they were intended to pay homage to the rank and file.
“Calling out the leadership of the department on a national
stage, I think it was encouraging to all our members,” Bartlett submitted. “The support the president has pledged to men and women of law enforcement, he knows they are the first line of the defense of law. And it’s especially important when we have police board hearings that are wrong and a superintendent who doesn’t stand up for us.”
Yoes seemed to anticipate the boost Trump could provide to Lodge 7 members when he called Graham a month before IACP to ask him to be the official greeter. The president has been similarly supportive in every discussion with the FOP. And Yoes confirmed that Trump realizes that the backing is not only much needed, but it is consistent with his view of how police play such an important role in a free society.
“Our members need access to the administrative side of gov- ernment because it’s a big part of what we do,” Yoes continued. “To not have relationships with the administration, the Depart- ment of Justice and the White House would be doing a disser- vice to our members. We have worked really hard to have that rapport so we have a seat at the table to talk about the issues that are important to our members.”
34 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2019