Page 39 - December 2020

“We know it’s a hard sell for anyone to celebrate police work because of the focus on COVID and trying to get
through this,” Fitzpatrick commented. “But
the people know they can rest assured
and sleep at night because we were out there doing our jobs to the highest degree to make sure the city is safe.”
Rave review
When looking at 2020 in the rearview mirror, the im- ages of Lodge 7 at work are bigger than they anticipat-
ed. When the Department foundered at the outset of
the pandemic, the union stepped up to procure hundreds of gallons of hand sanitizer and pallets full of PPE equipment. A testing program was also set up for active and retired mem- bers.
When the riots hit and days off
were cancelled, the union mobilized
to bring food, water and other provi-
sions to officers on the front lines. Lodge
leaders turned the FOP into a rest stop during
the endless summer days, firing up the barbecue to feed as many officers as possible.
This was Catanzara, Mette, Second Vice President Dan Gor- man, Third Vice President Fernando Flores, Financial Secretary
Jim Jakstavich, Noceda and Field Representative Andrew Can- tore joining board members and others working the details and out there on the front lines. From a represen- tation perspective, they filled the year with an abundance of successes like helping mem- bers get their days off due and the pay they deserved, ensuring members knew how to best use the grievance process and confirming they understood all
their rights within their contract. “We wanted to be there for them instead of just saying it,” Mette explained. “We weren’t just going to be the FOP at 1412 W. Washington. We were going to be out there, be on the street and in the districts. Everybody up there in the office, we all came from working in districts and the area. We have been on the street, and our goal was to bring
the membership together.”
With Catanzara prioritizing cus-
tomer service as a premium, the mea- sures for success of Lodge work became keeping the office open as late as needed and how many calls and emails were taken and returned – and zeroing out the number of not
returned. It has become personal.
“I think we come into the office every day thinking, ‘How
much more can I do to make this ship go in the right direction,’”
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