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“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Everyone knows that phrase. But what if it is broken? Well, the Lodge has been trying to fix a lot of broken things between the department and our mem- bers. One of the biggest issues deals with officer wellness. Even before this administration took office, President John Catanzara and I had been talking about how we would like to see officer wellness taken to a whole new level. The health
and wellness of officers should always be the top priority for the department and the Lodge.
Police suicide is a real problem and one that doesn’t seem to be making the Department step outside their comfort zone to try to solve. We talk about it when an officer takes their own life, and we grieve for them and their family, but then we block it out. We do what “cops” do, we shut out the bad memories and we move on. But do we really ever move on? We might forget about this traumatic incident or that one, but they never leave our subconscious.
I have said this many times: Police officers are fantastic at helping others solve problems but horrible at dealing with their own. We get too involved in work, and we let it define us as a person. We find ourselves hiding our issues in alcohol, drugs and other not-so-good ways to deal with our problems. We try to mask our problems to keep them from affecting our jobs. We do not want others to look at us funny or look at us as weak. But that all needs to change, and it needs to change at every level of the Department. But that won’t happen un- less we begin seeing officer mental health issues as duty-re- lated injuries. We all got on this job after taking this test and that one. We were all fit for duty on Day 1 of the academy. So, what happens that changes us? Life happens! And on this job, life is far different than in normal society.
Just look at last year. It was brutal as far as being over- worked, being slung through the mud on every aspect. You did your job, and the City turned its back on you as you dealt with the riots. We are still dealing with it now, between CR numbers and nonsense at the State’s Attorney’s Office seemingly wanting to charge officers more and more. 2020 changed law enforcement forever, and 2021 is not taking any breaks from piling on the bullshit. Every one of us feels the pressure of our jobs, and it has become harder and harder to take the constant abuse. Let me be clear: If you ever think it is just you...it ain’t! You are not alone, figuratively and literally.
This article is not about me, so I won’t go too much into my “issues.” But I want each and every one of you who might
be going through a rough patch to know, I understand what you are dealing with, and the Lodge and I are here for you 24/7/365. I have been dealing with my own health and well- ness issues for the better part of the last 16 years. Again, you are not alone, and I want to help make the changes the De- partment needs to truly address officer health and wellness.
One of the changes that should be up and running by the time you read this is an FOP Lodge 7 health and wellness app. Lodge 7 has teamed up with Lighthouse and Apex Mobile to give our members access to health and wellness options and suggestions on their phones. This app will have all the same information that EAP and Peer Support offer, as well as info from other treatment centers that have been vetted by the National FOP and Lodge 7. There are plenty of tips and in- formation on how to deal with stress and anxiety in our lives. This will be just one of many things Lodge 7 is going to do to try and help you address and overcome whatever obstacles you may be trying to handle.
Lodge 7 will be working more closely with the Department and EAP to come up with and act on better ways to help our members deal with the traumas officers see and go through. As police officers, we see way too much during our careers, and no one should feel ashamed or afraid to ask for help when needed. Remember, being a police officer is just a job and shouldn’t be the only thing that defines who we are as a whole. Take time to relax, to decompress on a regular basis. I don’t do it as often as I should, but I find yoga and medita- tion to be a great way to bring my mind back from stress and anxiety.
Whatever you might be going through, just remember you are not the only one and there are plenty of people willing to help you along the way. Reach out to EAP or Peer Support, confide in a friend or supervisor. It doesn’t matter who you reach out to, but when — the earlier the better. There are plenty of other options out there that are friendly to the po- lice and understand where we are coming from. If you need help taking that first step, my phone is on 24/7, and I am will- ing to help in any way I can.
None of us are alone, we are all family and we should start taking better care of each other. Stay safe and God bless!
First Vice President’s Report
Rough patch? You’re not alone
MICHAEL METTE
10 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2021