ITS THAT IMPORTANT

Food for thought.

Union News

Via CPSA.PB&PA web site

Contract 2007-2011 Update: 22 October 2008

The last contract negotiation session with the City was on 11 September 08.
At that time the City rejected our latest proposal, which addressed bid positions and
economic issues. The City stood on their previous position citing the current economic
dilemma. The City has proposed the below captioned changes to our contract.

5 year contract
No increase in Watch Bids within District Law Enforcement (currently 5 per
watch)
Changes to section 8.4 of the current contract.
Maintain sustained C.R. numbers for the entire career of the officer.
Inclusion of on-duty random alcohol testing
Mandatory alcohol and drug testing for any off-duty incident involving the
discharge of a firearm.
Audio recording of all statements given by officers to I.P.R.A. and I.A.D.

We continue to meet with our attorneys and advisors in an effort to develop a
proposal that will result in a document that will address the City's concerns, while at the
same time protecting the interests of our members. In addition, we feel that the current
economic proposals by the City are short of being acceptable to our membership.

John Pallohusky
President
Chicago Police Sergeants Association

ELECTION RESULTS

Congrats go out to Retirement Board winners

P.O. Mike Shields

Sgt. Mike Lazarro

Lt. James Maloney

ELECTIONS

A sergeant member will be selected this Thursday, October 23 for the Police Retirement Board. Ballots should have already been returned. Any ballot received after 9:00 am on the 23rd will not be accepted.

Good Luck to candidates Lazzaro and Voight.

We also received ballots for the 2008 elections for the 2009-2011 term CPSA, PB&PA.
The candidates for president are the incumbent, John Pallohusky and challenger Gerry Majerczyk.

Five candidates are vying for the four positions for Director-At-Large.
Debra DeYoung
Nancy Higgins
Michael Lazzaro
Michael Burke
Thomas Motzny

Ballots must be received by 8 November.

PROTEST AGAINST BETTER ARMED POLICE

A couple of media outlets have covered the "outcry" by a small group of teenages over the departments plan to train and qualify officers to carry the M4 Carbine.
ABC7 uses an AP source on its web site.

Young people opposed to arming Chicago police officers with military assault rifles rallied at Chicago Police headquarters.

A group called the 'Live in Peace Campaign' says they delivered to Weis 5,000 signatures opposing the idea

The Chi-Town Daily News contributes this gem.

A group of about 40 protestors from the Southwest Youth Collaborative chanted slogans like “Stop the war on the poor, no more M4s” outside of Chicago Police headquarters before the meeting, holding up signs as they paced in a large circle.

So that's what this is all about, "a war on the poor". Give me an f-ing break! You blame us for not preventing the innocent from being victims. You second guess us when we come across an armed offender who intends to do us harm and we stop him. Now you want to hamstring our abilities to defend ourselves and the citizens of this city against an ever increasing violent criminal element that is motivated by the drug trade. Why aren't you protesting the GDs, Stones, 4 Corner Hustlers, CVLs, SGDs, Dragons and Kings?

And here comes the best of all.

David Stout, 19, who lives in Lincoln Park, came to the meeting with a group of friends all concerned about police having M4s in their arsenal.
“It would generate such an atmosphere of fear that safety would be unattainable in the city,” Stout says.

Would you be afraid up in Lincoln Park David? You keep fighting for that "social justice" David. Why don't you and your friends take a walk along Chicago Ave between Pulaski and Cicero or on Roosevelt between Kedzie and Pulaski or Ashland from 51st to 87th. I'm sure you and your do-good friends would feel right at home. Actually, you would probably welcome the sight of a policemen or at least wished you had your own M4.

RETIREE HANDGUN NEWS

From the update web page at FOP Lodge 7

Retired police officers were given the right to carry concealed weapons by virtue of Federal legislation commonly referred to as H.R. 218. The City of Chicago initially denied this right to retired officers who wanted to purchase new weapons or to those officers who moved into the City as their weapons could not be registered in the City.

On Wednesday, October 8th, the City Council did the right thing and enacted an ordinance that ensures that retired officers have the ability to enjoy the rights given to them by H.R. 218. Please view the newly enacted ordinance MCC 8-20-050.

With or without this ordinance retirees had every right to be in possession of a handgun as granted by Public Law 108-277 (Law Enforcement Safety Act of 2004).

MIKE IS FINALLY FREE

The Iowa AG took a pass on appealing the Appellate Courts ruling finding in favor of Mike Mette. Read More.

WELCOME HOME MIKE

Chicago cop's acquittal in Iowa fight is long overdue, but appreciated
John Kass
11:42 AM CDT, October 1, 2008

Great news from baseball-loving Iowa:

Chicago Police Officer Michael Mette, wrongly convicted and railroaded into five years in prison for the crime of self defense, will be getting out of prison soon.

The Iowa Court of Appeals, in its ruling posted early Wednesday, reversed Mette's conviction and ordered sentencing Judge Monica Ackley to acquit him.

The appeals panel said the court had no business discounting the self-defense argument. Mike threw just one punch in self defense after he'd been repeatedly attacked by an angry drunk with a blood-alcohol content of 0.27 percent.

Continued

Police Officer Nathaniel Taylor, Jr., Star #7322

2 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St. in Oak Lawn.

St. Jude at 7 p.m.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Bede the Venerable Roman Catholic Church, 8300 S. Kostner.

Rest In Peace Friend.

CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS

102 years since these two were in the post season at the same time.

OFFICER DOWN

Chicago, IL. --
A Chicago Police officer remained in “very critical” condition Sunday afternoon after being shot by a convicted felon as police attempted to execute a search warrant on the Southeast Side. The suspect was also critically wounded in the shooting.

thoughts and prayers

Update: Officer Nathaniel Taylor Jr. was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Hospital at 6:02 p.m. Sunday.

THATS NOT THE HALF OF IT!

FOP FOR McCAIN

This from the FOP Grand Lodge website

FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE ENDORSES MCCAIN!!!
Nominee has the “full support” of the nation’s largest police labor organization

“Senator John McCain is a proven leader with a clear record of support for the men and women who put their lives on the line–just as he did–to defend our communities and our nation,” Canterbury said. “I am proud to offer the Senator our endorsement today and I look forward to working with the McCain Administration over the next four years.”

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

My thoughts and prayers are with those innocent children.

Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004

On 22 July 2004, President George W. Bush signed H.R. 218, the "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act," into law. The Act, now Public Law 108-277, went into effect immediately.
The bill exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from local and State prohibitions on the carrying of concealed firearms.

This story from the Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah

Off-duty Chicago cop shoots 'random' attacker in Orem

An off-duty Chicago police officer shot a suspect who stabbed a man, apparently at random, outside an Orem restaurant, police say.
Both the stabbing victim and the suspect were in stable condition at separate hospitals as of late Saturday morning. They're names have not been disclosed.
About 8 a.m. Saturday, a Boise man and his girlfriend were leaving the International House of Pancakes at 850 W. 1250 South. In the parking lot, Orem police said, a 33-year-old man approached the couple and somehow startled them. The man apologized, then began attacking the Boise man with a pair of scissors, police said.
An off-duty police officer saw the attack and went to help. The officer drew his gun and ordered the suspect to drop the weapon, police said. But when the suspect made another move to stab the victim, police said, the officer fired.
The shot wounded the suspect but he tried to run away, Orem police said. The off-duty officer apprehended him. The stabbing victim suffered wounds to his head, neck and arm, police said.
Police said the suspect was a stranger to the couple and may suffer from psychological ailments.
The off-duty officer was in Utah to provide instruction, Orem police said.

Great job officer! A common sense law that saved a life.
Also watch the video from KSL TV News.

WEST SIDE THUGS

It appears that some in our ranks would rather give the benifit of doubt to a felon charged with a double murder than to our own detectives.

Looks like proud Fillmo Trooper was right after all. Looks like we have to get back to work and do the investigation correctly. Maybe its time for A4VC to step aside and let the Federal Bureau of Investigation handle the case. Our CPD officers are starting to lose a lot of credibility with this years multiple arrests of coppers.It seems like this year a majority of the coppers that have been arrested were M/2s. When I see a M2 Police Officer coming my way I am afraid. Whats up with that?

F1 SGT 006 District

Wed Sep 10, 11:48:00 AM

Really sarge? You ought to ashamed of yourself! Was it bad detective work or just a case of west side thugs getting away with murder due of witness intimidation?

Two teenage girls have been charged with beating a female witness in the murder case of a Chicago Police officer and a social worker, authorities said Thursday.

The witness was beaten at least twice on the West Side, and police said they are now keeping a close watch on her, sources said.

Sources told the newspaper witnesses began recanting their accounts, fearing retaliation. Austin’s attorney David Wiener also pointed out that Austin’s maroon Buick Regal — the vehicle allegedly used in the shooting — was in a repair shop a day before shooting and was still there several hours after the crime.

And sarge don't think for a minute I'm going to give you a platform to spew your bullshit. If you want a forum for that then create your own blog. By the way more than a few commenter's put a name to your comments. I choose to delete them because the name may be wrong but either way I'm protecting your anonymity

NEVER FORGET

DNA

From the FOP Lodge 7 website:

NEW DNA POLICY 09/04/08

The department has a form that they will want you to sign so that they can buccal swab you for a DNA sample. We have been negotiating over this issue with IPRA and the City attorney for the past six months. Our concerns are many, including but not limited to, whether or not your DNA samples will be put into CODIS? Will DNA be taken only when police are involved in a shooting, or will it be used whenever the department feels like using it? If you do not touch an offender’s weapon will the department still take your DNA? The department form states “I understand that these samples will be presented to the Illinois State Police Forensic Center, or other appropriate laboratories for analysis.” We don’t even know where your DNA sample will be sent. There are many other questions which need to be answered, but the department apparently does not want to provide any answers.

There are two very important points:

1. We have been in talks with the City and their attorney and we have never agreed to anything related to DNA testing with respect to our officers. Now the department backdoors the union and hopes to trick you into signing a form voluntarily.

2. If the department wants a DNA sample from an offender they have to go to court and get a court order for that sample to be taken. They must prove to the Judge that there is a need for that sample. This department will not give us the same rights that an offender has?

Do not voluntarily give up your rights, DO NOT SIGN THE FORM. Buccal Swab Consent Form If there is a request for your DNA, call the union immediately. We are on call twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week. We will send you an attorney so that your rights are protected. For the department to circumvent the union and the negotiating process, and ask you to voluntarily sign a form and allow the illegal intrusion, is just another attempt at union busting.

Nothing on our site(PB&PA) concerning this matter.

JODY MEETS WITH SUPERVISORS

One of our own has left a brief synopsis of the town hall meeting with the superintendent. The supervisor also was good enough to give his/her opinions of the points brought up at the meeting. I am certain that others will vehemently disagree with this commenter but please be respectful enough that I can publish your rebuttals.

Notes from the supervisors meeting:

Estimated attendance: less than 50

The black Tahoe is the preferred choice. Graphics will probably be the traditional one.

New recruits to be trained with Glocks only.

Brust(sp) is only person allowed to strip an officer. J Fed showed common sense in why decision was made.

J Fed wants to completely revamp the promotional exams and merit process. He believes there is no reason one should not have a score when leaving the exam site and know their rank at the end of the day when all exams are finished. He strongly believes in merit but it should be because of what you do, not who you know. He would like to have officers nominate themselves for merit and have to complete a lengthy package detailing their accomplishments and qualifications. Have the process more transparent, possible with union reps at the selection process as observers.

20 new Lts this year....6 merit.

The reason that patrol is under represented in merit promotions is because exempts are NOT nominating officers from patrol. (shocking!)

Manditory fitness testing as a condition of employment or for promotion is NOT true. The reason for it as a requirement for the carbine is that if you are carrying one, and have to run, you shouldn't be huffing and puffing when trying to aim the weapon, thereby throwing off sights--dangerous situation with that type of weapon.

600 wehicle locks for carbines coming.

Performance reviews coming January 2009. He believes there are way too many CRs obtained for things that are performance issues or simple mistakes. There are better ways to handle those issues: training, notation in file which will afffect performance grade, etc.

Explained, at length, the Cozzi incident. Said that he explained it the same way at other meetings with officers. He only asked the US attorney to look at the video of the incident. It was a decision he made at the time and stands behind that decision.
MY OPINION: Believes he was right in his decision to make the call. But in retrospect, may not have made the same call in light of the fallout. I could be wrong, that's just my impression.

They are actively looking for a very strong case to charge somone with perjury in making false allegation and signing the affidavit. Mayor is on board.

He will back anyone that acts as a reasonable person. That action may not the right, but if actions are reasonable, ok. Example: If attacked, spit on, etc and bad guy gets an extra crack or so, wrong, but not unreasonable under the circumstances. Incident will he handled accordingly.

He would like to eliminate TRU and the DOC. Decentralize control. Let the Commanders decide where their problems are how how to address them.

New computers coming. He can buy 3 motorolas for the price of 2 toughbooks. OEMC has the motorola but is sitting on their ass and not making a decision if they will work. All he asks of them is to make a decision.

GPS coming to all cars. Command staff included. Command staff and dangerous districts to get the first. Installation to be started very soon. This is an officer safety issue.

He's not a fan of the inspectors as they now. They should be focusing on larger issues, not petty stuff.

He is amazed at the length of time it takes to institue any change in this department.

He never expected that when he made a command change, that person will take all his/her people with them to the new unit/district. This totally disrupts everything. The boss in the new spot should not make personell changes immediately but have those that now work for him prove that they can do the job. This will not be allowed to happen in the future...Question not asked--But that's what he did!

My overall opinion:

I didn't agree with everything but overall was impressed. He appeared genuine, wasn't feeding us a bunch of BS. He's trying to use common sense in setting policy and in his decisions. He seems as fustrated as we are in how this department is sometime run and how decisions are made. He will make a decision and expects others to do the same. He has a vision that includes a lot of common sense. That's going to be his biggest hurdle. Because, we all know that common sense and the Chicago Police Departemt have nothing to do with each other.

Sat Aug 30, 09:37:00 AM

TOWN HALL MEETING

I had other commitments (working) so I could not attend the Superintendents meeting.
If any of the readers who attended would like to share with the rest of us it would be appreciated.