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* Press release…
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge and Labor Council have issued the following statements after police officers in Atlanta, Georgia began walking off the job when an officer was charged with murder in the death of a suspect who fought with police:
“The politicians who have once again caved in to the loudest, most divisive voices in our society may soon realize their vision of a nation without police officers, and that is a horrific vision of uncontrolled violence and mayhem,” said FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “When people are dying and businesses are burning in the very neighborhoods they claim to represent, will those politicians wade into the danger and protect those vulnerable citizens? I think we know the answer to that question.”
“While the union would never endorse or condone any work stoppage, you have to ask this question – what profession is there on earth, other than the U.S. military and intelligence services, where you now face the death penalty for doing your job as you were trained, a job for which you risk your life protecting others?” said FOP Labor Council Executive Director Shawn Roselieb. “Who are you going to call when citizens are being bloodied and burned out by the lawless mobs that are emboldened by this disgusting political charade?”
The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP State Lodge, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 34,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.
The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council is a law enforcement union representing more than 12,000 professionals in more than 517 bargaining units who work in the criminal justice system. The Labor Council negotiates and enforces contracts and improves salaries, working conditions, and benefits for law enforcement professionals throughout Illinois. Its members include police officers who work for municipalities, universities, and elected Constitutional officials; county sheriff’s deputies, correctional and court security officers; probation officers; 911 telecommunicators; law enforcement records personnel; and some related support staff. Visit www.fop.org for more information.
* The Question: Do you agree or disagree with the sentiment expressed above? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 2:55 pm
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Disagree with the sentiment. It’s a total deflection on their part. Former officer Rolfe was not “risking his life protecting others.” Rolfe was the one bloodying - in fact killing - a citizen.
Comment by Can Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:04 pm
Spoken like true politicians. And that’s all they are. Politicians bashing other politicians they don’t agree with.
Comment by Kippax Blue Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:05 pm
Disagree. They’re mainly upset about no longer being the “loudest voice” about policing.
And is he serious with this:
“ When people are dying and businesses are burning in the very neighborhoods they claim to represent, will those politicians wade into the danger and protect those vulnerable citizens?”
I guess he didn’t see the video of Chicago’s Finest munching on popcorn while the city outside (figuratively) burned.
Also: the “never support or condone” is just CYA with respect to compliance with state law—if they don’t condone it, they should affirmatively say that it is bad when it happens, which I have never seen.
Comment by Chris Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:06 pm
Disagree.
You can do your job without kneeling on a neck, shooting someone in the back, or pulling them over for having a pine tree air freshener hanging from their mirror.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:12 pm
No, I do not agree. If a teacher cracked open the skull of a student and the eest of the teachers walked off the job becausw tha teacher was fired and charged with assault, and the union supported the sick out, there would be outrage. Except in this instance someone is dead, and a bystander’s car was shot because of the improper, dangerous, and unprofessional reaction.
Comment by Pangloss Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:13 pm
I’m for beefing up Internal Affairs, and videotaping those allegedly with the blue flu, barbecuing, and moonlighting as bouncers and security guards will “sick”. We need to rid the force of those who would pull this kind of stuff, and institute tough oversight and, yes, training that will allow us to have the force we deserve. Hint: It’s not the force we have.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:14 pm
Which sentiment? The sentiment that the FOP wants to support its members against a defunding move by certain politicians ( Minneapolis City council for one ). Or the regular collective bargaining stuff… “negotiates and enforces contracts and improves salaries, working conditions, and benefits for law enforcement professionals”
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:16 pm
These type of statements are why I view FOPs are nothing more than white supremacist fan clubs.
Comment by Justin Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:19 pm
= what profession is there on earth, other than the U.S. military and intelligence services, where you now face the death penalty for doing your job as you were trained, a job for which you risk your life protecting others? =
Health care professionals. And at least they wear masks.
And if killing unarmed civilians is the way they were trained to do their job, then the training needs to be changed. If it’s not, then they AREN’T doing the job “as [they] were trained”.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:19 pm
Jason Van Dyke agrees. I do not.
For too long bad officers covered for worse officers and too many Blacks died as a result. It has to stop. The FOP can be part of the solution, but it can’t stand in the way any longer.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:20 pm
== where you now face the death penalty for doing your job as you were trained==
Umm, if you perform your duties “as you were trained”, then I don’t think you will be facing the death penalty.
Unless the training has trained you to illegally conduct your job.
And if your employer is giving you poor training, training that results in you facing the death penalty, that sounds like something your union could try to address for you.
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:21 pm
Disagree. He’s basically saying, let us do what we want, or we’ll stand down. No oversight. No response to the continued atrocities.
That’s not going to happen. Come to the table, and provide your valuable input. Stop defending the criminal cops, and begin to turn them in.
Or, stonewall, and we’ll do it all for you. The time for status quo is over.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:22 pm
It’s a way too hot of a time right now. Just too crazy out there for police.
Comment by Fighter of Foo Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:24 pm
Disagree. They would be better to acknowledge not every police officer is perfect, and call for more training and supportive resources.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:24 pm
Disagree. The message is tone deaf and only underscores why reform is needed. What uncontrolled violence and mayhem was George Floyd engaged in at the time of his death? Did he deserve the death penalty that was administered to him? When you compare your work to the military, that turns the rest of us into the enemy.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:26 pm
This is a straw-man argument on the part of the FOP. They either don’t know the changes people want out of policing or they just don’t care. Probably both. The worst part is, there might be a small sliver of a grain of truth in this pile of silliness. https://www.vox.com/2020/6/18/21293784/alex-vitale-end-of-policing-review
Comment by Nuke the Whales Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:26 pm
“ The politicians who have once again caved in to the loudest, most divisive voices in our society may soon realize their vision of a nation without police officers, and that is a horrific vision of uncontrolled violence and mayhem,”
“Soon?”One city council in Minneapolis doesn’t make up the whole nation. Subsequent interview showed a lot of vague ideas on their part. I don’t even expect Minneapolis’ reform to happen soon, much less the whole nation.
“The politicians” OK, it’s a representative democracy. The politicians are representatives of the people. Sorry you don’t get to run things, the people do.
“The politicians” Paul L. Howard Jr., the Fulton County district attorney has to do his job. Rolfe and Brosnan will get their day in court.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:28 pm
I got three sentences in and am now ready to discuss spending some of what goes to the police on something that works.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:29 pm
Maybe the FOP should work to eliminate the death penalty.
Comment by 17% Solution Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:32 pm
“The police are the loudest, most divisive voices in the labor movement. We are calling for a blue flu strike to validate our existence. Our vision is of horrific, uncontrolled violence and mayhem, which we alone can combat the violence using brutal measures against unarmed civilians. We serve and protect ourselves.”
Fixed it for ya.
Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:32 pm
Disagree, and this is also a bad strategy for them to take.
They are making it clear that they can identify no middle ground between murdering unarmed citizens, or for example, losing control of your non-lethal weapon to a person who may have been intoxicated and then shooting that person in the back as they flee, is incredibly different from the situation that they fantasize finding themselves in when they write a statement like the one above.
The idea that without police officers our country will turn into “a horrific vision of uncontrolled violence and mayhem” is ridiculous, however if they think that police forces are the only thing that prevents that, they’re making a pretty clear argument for the importance of policing our police force as they continue to unleash violence and mayhem on the communities they are paid to serve.
===Who are you going to call when citizens are being bloodied and burned out by the lawless mobs that are emboldened by this disgusting political charade?”===
This, however, is a good question. Who do we call when our citizens are being bloodied and burned out by mobs of police?
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:33 pm
===They either don’t know the changes people want out of policing or they just don’t care===
They’re treating their position like a Pro-2nd Amendment organization where they fight everything, even if it’s reasonable and they probably think this is a good tactic, or a good stalling tactic, or frankly they just didn’t plan and they’re just full of themselves.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:34 pm
“what profession is there on earth, other than the U.S. military and intelligence services, where you now face the death penalty for doing your job as you were trained, a job for which you risk your life protecting others?”
Gee I’ll have to ask my daughter who is a CNA helping Covid-19 patients.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:35 pm
Yeah, gotta disagree. And all I need to do is change 2 words.
“Who are you going to call when citizens are being bloodied and burned out by the law enforcement officers that are emboldened by this disgusting political charade?”
Comment by Skeptic Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:37 pm
“Who are you going to call when citizens are being bloodied and burned out by the lawless mobs that are emboldened by this disgusting political charade?”
Self own much?
I certainly can’t call the police to subdue a lawless mob when the cops are the lawless mob.
Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:37 pm
I have to disagree. “Nice town… be a shame if we let something happen to it” is just arrogant.
They can be part of the solution.
Comment by downstateR Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:42 pm
For a group that systematically terrorized entire neighborhoods and are responsible for atrotricites committed against the very neighborhoods and people they were supposed to be protecting, the FOP sure is good at playing the victim.
Their total lack of compassion, introspection, and accountability shown in this statement is all the evidence one needs to see that reform is impossible with them.
Comment by Tin pan Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:43 pm
Big bad wolf - I’ll have to ask my daughter who works at a grocery store the same question.
Come to think about it, there are many people working in dangerous jobs. One of the toughest and most dangerous jobs on a highway construction site is the flagger. Many flaggers are hurt and killed each year.
Comment by Huh? Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:43 pm
===…for doing your job as you were trained===
Arguably…
The worst choice of words to defend any position of law enforcement in the current moment.
It’s as though with that phrase, they’ve learned nothing about the Black Lives Matter Movement and how trust in police these weeks has now turned to a movement against systemic and institutional racism.
I still can’t believe they put those words in a release, as they are.
I disagree with this position. I cite that phrase as to my “why”
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:46 pm
If the police are doing such a great job, why are the people they “protect and serve” asking for them to be defunded? When entire communities decide they would be better off without your services, maybe you need to rethink how you are providing those services.
==“Who are you going to call when citizens are being bloodied and burned out by the lawless mobs that are emboldened by this disgusting political charade?”==
That’s exactly what many folks are asking, but the “lawless mobs” are made up of some of the people represented by Southwood and Roselieb. The FOP needs to spend some time reflecting on the actions of their members, the folks who abuse as well as the folks who stay silent. If they want respect and support, they will need to earn it by admitting they have some very serious problems and acting to correct them.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:46 pm
Pathetic.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:48 pm
Disagree. Just waiting for the Blue Flu pandemic when police union contract negotiations begin across the country.
Comment by Beecher Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:49 pm
== “what profession is there on earth, other than the U.S. military and intelligence services, where you now face the death penalty for doing your job as you were trained, a job for which you risk your life protecting others?” ==
How many teachers have been shot to death while trying to protect their students during a school shooting? Doesn’t happen every day, but it kind of comes with the territory.
Comment by olddog Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:50 pm
* For a group that systematically terrorized entire neighborhoods *
Sheesh, hyperbole much ? I don’t think the cops are the ones racking up body count in Chicago every weekend. Those intransigent unions sure are a pain, aren’t they?
Comment by Pork Steak Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 3:58 pm
No, it’s a pathetic self delusion that without police in their current form there would be mass chaos and violence.
Police prevent extremely few crimes, and solve very few without cooperating witnesses.
And murder, even if part of training, is still murder.
Comment by Excitable Boy Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:04 pm
My wife’s a state cop. My dad’s a state cop. My uncle’s a state cop. This press release is just more proof FOP is biggest bunch of snowflakes I’ve ever seen.
Comment by Southern_Dawg Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:08 pm
Absolutely agree. Cops will now decide going the extra mile to protect is done. Why risk being hung out to dry by the politicians. Case in point Atlanta DA. Two weeks ago he said a taser was a deadly weapon. I guess only when it’s used by the police, not against the police
Comment by Telief Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:12 pm
This is the same FOP who in 2012 assisted the ISP Troopers union in deliberately undermining legislation to provide full law enforcement authority for Illinois Gaming Board agents. As an ISP Trooper in gaming stated “no offense just protecting or interest in gaming.” The same FOP that represents the ISP employees in gaming who continue to block training and equipment to gaming agents for the purpose of justifying their promotional trampoline and hiding spot. As long as your an FOP represented law enforcement officer they are concerned, if not to bad for you. So much for a thin blue line.
Comment by Clueless In Illinois Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:12 pm
==I don’t think the cops are the ones racking up body count in Chicago every weekend.==
The gangsters work for the citizens? That’s a new one.
Apple and oranges argument.
Comment by Abby Normal Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:16 pm
Every profession has bad actors; teachers molest students, doctors let patients die but schools and hospitals are not getting burned and their entire professions demonized. We have to remember they are still first responders and anyone one of us could be in a car wreck or have our home broken into tonight and they would the first to call. They also protect thousands of victims of domestic violence every year from being further abused and killed. They can not all be grouped in the same category and deemed guilty by the actions of another member of their profession. People forgot they are only human and they are still someone’s father, son, daughter or spouse. Stop making it “us” and “them” let’s try to find common ground and work together for productive solutions.
Comment by Daisy Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:18 pm
Disagree. They are part of the problem. When they recognize that defending the indefensible Is not working then perhaps they can become part of the solution.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:21 pm
Everyone else has to make adjustments for new laws and standards. Electricians have to learn to install solar panels. Medical professionals have to abide by Hippaa laws. Etc.
Why do FOP leaders think they are exempted and are privileged to continue doing things as they’ve always done?
Comment by All this Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:22 pm
Don’t like the statement. and it does not help sentiment for the officers who are charged. But I do understand that they are not happy with both of the charges. The officer who was charged with the lesser offense had his taser taken away and was tased by the deceased and apparently has a concussion from the action. The video shows Mr. Brooks trying to break away, the officers getting pulled to the ground, and the tasing. the prosecutor just finished second in a race, going into a runoff, and is under criminal investigation himself. it’s a real mess down there.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:26 pm
Disgusting political charade? They’re still deaf and blind to anything outside of their echo chamber. Disagree.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:28 pm
Disagree, I do think the unions should be proactive in changing the culture of Police and Law Enforcement across the country.
I found this article from a Marine interesting and relevant to this post.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/police-learn-former-infantry-marine-214055592.html
Comment by Steve Polite Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:32 pm
I disagree. I think it’s a bad idea to defund the police but there has to be reform. There needs to be changes in training and they need to make it more difficult to become an officer. There are a lot of good cops out there but there are some bad ones too that have no business wearing a badge. George Floyd and Rayshaun Brooks should still be alive.
Comment by The Dude Abides Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:41 pm
===There are a lot of good cops out there but ===
But they certainly aren’t doing much to stop the bad cops.
The FOP represents the good cops and the bad cops, and look at what they’re doing with the dues paid by the good cops. This is how folks arrived at the ACAB slogan.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, Jun 19, 20 @ 4:44 pm