Page 12 - April2021_Magazine

ThirdVice President’s Report
This job ain’t what is used to be
Hope you and your loved ones are well. First, I would like to thank those members who have been generous enough to donate their old ballistic vests, which will be given to a neighboring police department that does not supply these vests to their members. I have spoken with the chief of the neighboring police department, and they are very grateful.
I feel like I am beating a dead horse, but remem- ber, if you get a phone call from the FBI or any other agency and they tell you they just have one question they would like you to answer, respectfully decline and tell them you are willing to cooperate in this investigation, but they need to go through proper channels and notify you through our Depart- ment. As we all know, there is no such thing as answering just
“one” question, especially to the FBI.
When you get notified by either COPA or BIA to give a witness
statement, you will get legal representation. There is no such thing as just a “witness statement.” Today’s witness is tomor- row’s accused. Going to give a statement of any kind to COPA or BIA without a lawyer is like going to talk to the devil without taking a priest with you. Don’t do it.
When I was a young man on this job, an old-timer said to me, “Kid, this job ain’t what it used to be.” No truer statement has ever been spoken. We are living in a strange reality where the
police are the criminals, and the criminals are the victims. The mainstream media has turned us into these ravenous savages with a bloodlust for murdering innocent Black men. Systemic racism does not exist within the Chicago Police Department, and to make that statement is to say that racism is taught in the Police Academy as one of your courses. I guess I must have been off that week in the Academy and missed out on those lectures and certification.
To paint every police officer as a racist is disingenuous and an outright lie. Are there police officers that are racist in this De- partment? The answer to that is yes. But they are the minority. In any profession, such as doctors, teachers, clergy, politicians, there are bad apples, but they do not represent all of their mem- bers. Most of the citizens are good, law-abiding people. They are not all our enemy. It is just the 10 percent of the population that causes 90 percent of the problems.
I am asking for feedback from any member who has been represented by any lawyer or law firm that was provided by the Lodge to represent you at COPA or BIA. Just making sure that the representation you are getting and the service being pro- vided are satisfactory. I have received some positive feedback about the law firms we provide and would like more input from our members. As always, be safe and stay healthy. And remem- ber: No lawyer, no statement!
FERNANDO FLORES
12 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2021