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* We Are One, of course, is the labor coalition which fought pension cuts. From Chicago FOP President Dean Angelo’s Facebook page…
The following is an earlier response to an FOP member addressing his concerns about reevaluating the lodge’s previous support of the CTU.
Dear Member,
Shortly after my taking office, Lodge 7’s association with ‘We Are One’ took a different direction after discussions about some in ‘We Are One’, in the CTU and in a few of the other groups were voicing anti-Police rhetoric.
Although the Lodge’s previous administrative body, as well as our lobbyist of the time, thought is best that the FOP be affiliated with ‘We Are One’, personally I did not. I quickly informed the new Board of my concerns.
The CTU filled at least 3 buses that headed to Ferguson after accepting an invite from their president to join in the demonstrations against the Police. We have also been informed that there was a Chicago contingent in New York and in Baltimore as well. Maybe those who previously thought we needed to be affiliated with this organization would like to answer to our Membership for signing on with them in the first place.
In keeping with their organizational anti-Police stance, a recent CTU newsletter contained a 3-page article describing how to best go about complaining against Police Officers working in and/or responding to issues in the public school system. Maybe the CTU should quell the classroom behaviors and gang problems with their own internal staff, social workers or administrators.
If what I just wrote falls short of clarifying the Lodge’s present position on ‘We Are One’, the CTU, it’s present leadership and any future FOP support; let me guarantee you that as long as I am sitting in the President’s chair of Lodge 7 there will no longer be any support from Lodge 7 to the CTU or any other organization that calls for their body of membership to rally against the Police.
I hope this addresses your concerns.
Dean C. Angelo Sr.
* The guy is outspoken, to say the least…
Fraternal Order of Police President Dean Angelo said Wednesday he was “surprised” at Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to fire Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, calling it “another kick” to the Chicago Police Department and “another blow” to a “beat up” rank-and-file.
Angelo also hinted strongly that Emanuel may have made a mistake by bowing to pressure to fire McCarthy to ease racial tensions brought to a boil by the Laquan McDonald shooting video. Angelo likened the mayor to a permissive parent who gives in to quiet a child’s tantrum.
“People are screaming for a change. If you have kids that scream for treats and you give them treats, they’ll continue to scream” and demand even more candy, Angelo said.
Oy.
* From a Tribune editorial…
[Chicago FOP President Dean Angelo] would have you believe that from another angle, McDonald can be seen menacing the officers with a knife instead of walking hurriedly away from them. From another angle, he’s struggling to his feet, knife raised, instead of writhing on the ground and falling still.
No way.
The video is so damning that Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s top attorney negotiated a $5 million settlement with McDonald’s relatives before they even filed a lawsuit.
The city fought hard to keep the public from seeing it, until a judge ordered it released.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:17 am
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You know what would’ve helped ease racial tensions? Not having your spokesperson flat out lie about what the video showed
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:20 am
Totally cool with that FOP. You go on and do your thing. As the old labor song asks “Which Side Are You On”. Now we know. AFSCME council 31 chose this summer by passing a resolution to support Black Lives Matter. We were always going to be on different sides of the line. I mean really look at pictures from any direct action. Police on one side workers on the other. Just the way it is.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:24 am
I can’t understand why Rahm would state that he hadn’t seen the video, BUT approved a $5 million settlement. Seems pretty implausible.
Comment by Downstate Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:25 am
Just when we thought that the FOP couldn’t be more marginalized, their own president puffs his chest out with ridiculous commentary and further marginalizes his membership. He should be offering to be part of the solution. Instead, he perpetuates the problem by denying its existence.
Comment by out of touch Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:26 am
This circle the wagons rhetoric ain’t gonna impress the feds.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:33 am
The stuff is hitting the fan for the CPD in the worst way and you guys think that solidarity with teachers will help?
Comment by Aldyth Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:36 am
So, it is the FOP’s position that, when the populace screams for change the very last thing you can do is offer change. Keep touting that message and see how it goes for the FOP. It will be pushed to the extreme margins.
Comment by illini97 Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:36 am
If CTU wants to unite labor, they really should avoid organizing events bashing other labor unions.
FOP is right on this one. CTU went beyond union issues and now wants to do some weird social justice thing.
The CTU needs to focus. Their President screwed up in their last contract and the result the layoffs. They need to keep an eye on the ball.
Comment by Gooner Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:43 am
He likens people that are horrified by a cop putting 16 bullets in a kid that isn’t attacking anyone, and thus demand accountability, as “screaming children?”
And for the cherry on top, he’s trying to weaken a unified front while the Governor actively tries to destroy unions.
It’s time for change in the president’s chair at Lodge 7.
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:47 am
The whole FOP union in Chicago has no credibility. Funny that the Suntimes does articles on Police Officers on disabilty yet their very own Union President has a bad Knee amd yet cant go back to work the desk. Someone needs to look into their Union President Angelo.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:48 am
We Are Some
Comment by nixit71 Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:49 am
FOP knows that we can see that video, right? Using the Jedi mind trick to tell the whole world something that is completely at odds with the video evidence is not going to work.
Comment by SAP Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:52 am
Once the Feds come in I have a feeling the FOP’s arrogance is going to disappear rather quickly. Are they going to get rid of the bad cops or protect them to further isolate themselves?
Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:52 am
I don’t get why CTU is fronting this issue. Individual members, like us all, should be horrified by the shooting and coverup and show their displeasure if so inclined. CTU has their own issues and needs support not enemies.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:52 am
I don’t think the “children screaming for treats” analogy is apt in light of recent events and revelations.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:54 am
At the end of the day a union is about protecting it’s members and the best interests of it’s members.
I suspect if the FOP put out something saying how to report your kids bad teacher and all the steps you could take to get the teacher removed from that school the CTU would be cool with that either.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:57 am
Isn’t it his job to be outspoken on the part of those he represents?
There isn’t really anyone else defending them right now, and the enablers such as Rahm, the City Council, the State’s Attorney and the Attorney General are desperately looking to avoid getting run over by the bus.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:59 am
None of the things Angelo categorizes as “anti-police” are that. What they are is anti-bad-cop, but then he perfectly exemplifies the “patterns and practices” that the federal investigation into the Chicago Police Department will uncover and, hopefully, change. His circling of the wagons when anyone brooks even the slightest criticism of any, even the most obviously egregious, police behavior is what allows those few bad cops to continue to abuse their position, a position that needs continuing close scrutiny to weed out those few that taint the reputation of the many good officers of CPD.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:00 am
CTU is in overreach mode as they dial up the rhetoric meter moving to their strike vote.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:02 am
CTU to FOP: don’t let the door hit ya…
Comment by Juvenal Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:02 am
=At the end of the day a union is about protecting it’s members and the best interests of it’s members.=
Protecting your ego over your rank-and-file family’s financial well-being. Then yes that is what he’s doing.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:02 am
== Protecting your ego over your rank-and-file family’s financial well-being. Then yes that is what he’s doing. ==
How isn’t he fundamentally doing that? How is the CTU protesting against police officers in any way shape or form beneficial to a cop’s financial well-being?
Is there a union out there that wants more work rules on their members that may result in their memebers getting in trouble and getting suspended?
Here is another way of thinking about it, would the CTU be cool with the same level of monitoring on teachers that is being proposed for cops? Disciplinary records being public, etc?
Not saying the CTU is wrong with that, but understand why the FOP and it’s members may not be cool with partnering with a union that protests against it’s members.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:16 am
Would now be a good time for the FOP to ask for a pension pick-up?
Comment by nixit71 Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:17 am
–There isn’t really anyone else defending them right now, and the enablers such as Rahm, the City Council, the State’s Attorney and the Attorney General are desperately looking to avoid getting run over by the bus.–
Huh? Isn’t “enabling” a form of “defense?”
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:26 am
“CTU went beyond union issues and now wants to do some weird social justice thing.”
Do Americans still consider universal civil rights “some weird social justice thing”?
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:33 am
Historically the police have been used to strike break. Always have been the willing tool of employers against workers. So police unions occupy a weird contentious space within labor.
I get defending your members but it was an FOP spokesperson who first told the reporters that McDonald “lunged.” Protecting their rights doesn’t mean lie when they commit murder.
Also I find it interesting that FOP is leaving We are 1 only after the big Illinois Supreme Court battle is over. CTU didn’t find their politics yesterday. You’ve known for years about this. Now after other unions do the heavy lifting you’re going to take your ball and go home? While benefiting from the ruling?
Comment by There is power in a union... Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:36 am
Not sure any union does well by publicly supporting CTU right now.
OTOH viewing legal protesters as spoiled children, is exemplary of the deep problems in the blue line culture.
Comment by walker Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:41 am
This is going great, Deano. Keep it up.
The members of your union have never been held in higher regard. Now is definitely the time to condescend and insult the public.
Ferguson, Baltimore, New York. Crazy that CTU picked those places without any sort of precipitating event.
Gooner, many teachers feel that teaching in the city is itself a “weird social justice thing”
Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:48 am
It’s actually a complicated issue. You know that I tend to always support CTU, but even I see a big risk in this. One thing I will say is that the CORE caucus and Karen Lewis have always been a social justice caucus. Many teachers are married to police, but former and current CPS students are getting shot.
Comment by Carhartt Representative Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 10:58 am
Let me get this straight….Chicago FOP president thinks his predecessor was mistaken to join the coalition of labor unions fighting to protect public pensions (which btw has so far successfully gotten both the State and City pension reforms overturned) because one of the coalition’s members has taken a stance he disagrees with on use of force by his members? There was a time police unions thought they were so loved and sacrosanct that they didn’t need to worry if other public employee’s were being screwed because it wouldn’t touch them. If this guy doesn’t know those days are over then his members are in big trouble.
Comment by Bibe Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 11:04 am
I imagine some groups are better off NOT being associated with FOP right now.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 11:07 am
Look, two kitty’s…
CAT FIGHT!
Comment by Anon2U Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 11:18 am
Chicago hasn’t been this divided in years. Rauner couldn’t be happier.
Comment by Anonymouth Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 11:24 am
Did the FOP go to the NRA school of public relations?
Comment by D.P.Gumby Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 11:27 am
Is defending the indefensible really going to lead to a better outcome for his members?
If he is indicative of the dominant culture in the department, the house cleaning needed is massive.
The civil service/contract rules will work to prevent the changes that are needed.
Comment by Any Mouse Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 11:34 am
FOP v. CTU? Just what some want, yes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ_j3s5xj8I
Comment by Georg Sande Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 11:55 am
-One Man-
They both have a pension system with the City of Chicago that are extremely underfunded. At the moment both have a terrible PR image. Both are public sector unions, that have a lot more in common when it comes to benefits and pensions.
I think there is a false belief that cops and firefighers’ pensions are off-limits. You stick together because you are both fighting for fiscal issues that impact your family’s financial well-being.
Read “What’s the Matter with Kansas” and I think you will get the idea.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 12:05 pm
– Almost The Weekend–
I would suspect that the FOP isn’t going to stop worrying about pensions nor fighting for theirs.
I am not sure any union who has common cause with another would fight for that common cause together if one was protesting against members of the others.
Or
Would the CTU stay in the group as it were if the FOP was talking about educational reform that might result in more charter school and school choice?
Doubt it.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 12:14 pm
After this I’m no longer commenting, but if the city is negotaiting a new contract, pension contributions, etc, would you rather negotiate with CTU and FOP at the same table or two different tables in a race to who takes the lesser offer. Then again they can pit the two unions against each other. One takes the better offer, the other is left out in the cold.
Something similar Rauner is doing right now with AFSCME. Isolating them from all other public sector unions.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 12:25 pm
OneMan
Do you think they might have charter police stations where unlicensed police can arm themselves and patrol to fight crime? I am so there.
Comment by Cathartt Representative Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 1:03 pm
How many FOP members have been convicted of attempted murder in the last decade? How many CTU members?
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 1:46 pm
==Huh? Isn’t “enabling” a form of “defense?”==
An ==enabler== helps make negative or destructive behavior possible. They do not have to defend the results of the behavior to have enabled it.
The prime ==enablers== of this situation include officials involved in oversight of the justice system and police. Mayor Emanuel, the aldermen, State’s Attorney Alvarez, Attorney General Madigan and anyone who could have held the police accountable but let CPD’s problems fester for years.
Many of the same ==enablers== are now throwing CPD under the bus in hopes the bus does not crush them as well.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 1:54 pm
Isn’t there an old saying that goes … “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face”?
Comment by forwhatitsworth Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 2:00 pm
When I was a kid growing up in Chicago, we used to joke: “Quick, call the FBI. There’s a suspicious Chicago policeman lurking outside my house.”
And so it has been, all my long life…one police scandal after another and no evidence that things are getting better or ever will.
Now our latest scandal comes at the same time that Chicago’s murder rate, especially in minority communities, is also a national scandal!
All this in the national context of Blck Lives Matter and mass shootings by the month, some now with roots in Middle East terrorism.
And to help make things even worse we’ve got an irresponsible Congress so scared of the NRA that they think that letting no fly list members buy automatic weapons and without registration is a good idea.
A federal consent decree may take years, but given the rot in Chicago and the depressing context, it’s the minimum that we should do to GET A GRIP and start turning things around no matter how long it takes. A DOJ Consent Decree is working for the once notorious Los Angeles PD. Let’s at least try in Chicago. We’ve put up with this way too long.
Comment by Buster Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 2:11 pm
“CTU went beyond union issues and now wants to do some weird social justice thing.”
Weird indeed. Getting mixed up with social justice things just causes trouble, like that one AFSCME strike in Memphis where that one guy got shot.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 2:53 pm
++- Honeybear - Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:24 am:
Totally cool with that FOP. You go on and do your thing. As the old labor song asks “Which Side Are You On”. Now we know. AFSCME council 31 chose this summer by passing a resolution to support Black Lives Matter. We were always going to be on different sides of the line. I mean really look at pictures from any direct action. Police on one side workers on the other. Just the way it is.+++
Sorry it’s most of the police, fire, paramedics, teamsters, labors, city employees (streets and san etc) on one side and the CTU SIEU and AFSCME on the other. It’s people who get dirty and hurt on one side and for the most part never work up a sweat on the other.
Do you think Lewis may be picking this fight to keep people from evaluating how bad she has been for the average teacher? The strike will cause the people with less than 5 years to lose their jobs, she refuses to help the B of E in Springfield, and their pensions are not properly funded by their 2%. It’s just not the police that will turn their backs on her if she goes on strike this time. The public will too and most of labor. If she champions this movement she will survive another election
Comment by Rollo Tamasi Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 3:00 pm
It does occur that Unions would do well to not blindly support egregious member’s behavior just because a Union collects dues and ‘represents’ members as well as to not take not-well-thought-out positions.
Public opinion counts.
We’ve seen from the NFLPA,
Comment by sal-says Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 3:11 pm
NFLPA, CTU, AFSCME and others. Questionable support does not enhance their credbiliy nor public support.
Comment by sal-says Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 3:15 pm
Dean Angelo is speaking about the rule of law, governmental structures and systems, including the constitutional right of due process. Gary McCarthy did nothing wrong. Rahm was simply trying to appease those who oppose the aggressive enforcement of the rule of law. When politicians eagerly chop off the heads of police chiefs, social control breaks down and the rule of law is not respected.
Comment by Muscular Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 3:42 pm
Uh oh…looks like FOP realized the hypocrisy of CTU and its upper middle-class allies who don’t see the irony in opposing any effort to limit teacher tenure protections, but want to make it easier to fire police.
Quick, Rich, tell them how this is a ‘red herring’ for some nonsensical reason
Comment by What? Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 4:09 pm
–Sorry it’s most of the police, fire, paramedics, teamsters, labors, city employees (streets and san etc) on one side and the CTU SIEU and AFSCME on the other. It’s people who get dirty and hurt on one side and for the most part never work up a sweat on the other.–
That maybe the case from wherever you live but I highly doubt it. What local are you with pumpkin? If you’re not in a union, I just don’t think you deserve the credibility you are claiming. Seems like I touched a nerve with the Black Lives Matter. Whatever
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 4:47 pm
How United will the FOP, CTU,NEA,AFSCME,SEIU be after the sCOTUS ruling on Friedrichs vs California by mid year 2016? Wait why is that date ringing a bell? Oh! Now I remember, the RAUN Man says budget impasse will likely drag out til……
Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 7:40 pm
Wow. What a loss! Wonder what the CTU will do now that the FOP Membership will no longer be voting in droves for those candidates that support their Union Agenda.
Comment by anon Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 8:29 pm
Friedrichs will not impact the unions as the right wing folks think. As a matter of fact I’m counting on it to strengthen the unions. Wheat from the chaf my friend. Besides this adversity has never made us stronger.
Comment by Honeybear Monday, Dec 7, 15 @ 9:30 pm
Honey bear, as a lifelong Union supporter, I wish I shared your optimism. Even with a favorable ruling in Friedrichs fact is, union membership is damn near at an all time low.
Comment by Blue dog dem Tuesday, Dec 8, 15 @ 4:22 am