THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2008

MIKE METTE HEARING   UPDATE  09/04/08

A hearing is scheduled on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 10:30 am at the Iowa Court of Appeals. Lodge #7 is making arrangements for bus transportation for those members that would like to support Mike in his time of need.

Members who wish to attend should contact the Rich Aguilar at the Lodge ASAP at 312-733-7776 or by email. Please submit your request to attend no later than Tuesday, September 9, 2008.

The bus is scheduled to leave FOP at 0330 hrs on September 11th. The one-way mileage is 330 miles and should take approximately 6 hours. Members are requested to wear casual business attire.

Members may travel on their own. The Iowa Court of Appeals is located at:

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.

FTO PROGRAM CHANGES   UPDATE  09/04/08

The Lodge is filing an Unfair Labor Practice over this issue:

AIRPORT COURTESY PARKING / ESCORT  08/27/08

The CPD Airport Law Enforcement Section will provide family members of Chicago Police members returning from Active Military Deployment, with courtesy parking and an escort to the airport gate area.  Please refer to the airport policies listed below.

Courtesy Parking / Escort Policies

RETENTION JUDGES  08/22/08

The Political Action Committee of the Lodge has begun its work preparing recommendation for the Lodge's Board of Directors to consider before the Board makes its endorsements for the November General Election. Seventy current Cook County judges will be on the retention ballot for our consideration. We ask that you tell us about your experiences , both good and bad, in front of these judges. Please send your comments to raguilar@chicagofop.org             Cook County Judge Retention List

$10,000 REWARD  08/14/08

The Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 7 is offering a $10,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Detective Robert Soto.

Early Wednesday morning, Detective Robert Soto was parked in a vehicle on a quiet residential street on Chicago’s near north side.  Detective Soto and his passenger were shot multiple times, the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and Detective Soto succumbed to his wounds early this morning.

Area 4 Detectives are working leads in the case and studying video tapes in the hopes of identifying the killer or killers.  Anyone with information which may lead to the arrest and conviction of the killer is asked to contact Area 4 Detectives Bor or Jacobson at 312-746-8252.

Members are urged to print and distribute the reward press release.

EASTER SEALS WALK WITH ME  08/07/08

The annual Easter Seals Walk with Me fundraiser will take place at Lincoln Park Zoo on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 8:30 am.

This a a great family event that gives kids the opportunity to see the animals during their most active time period. It also serves to raise funds for the FOP preferred charity, Easter Seals.

 The Lodge has a team in place. You can choose to join the team and get your own sponsors or you can sponsor a team member. Please visit www.easterseals.com . Click on the Walk with Me icon and navigate to the Chicago walk on September 20. The Lodge team is listed as FOP Chicago Lodge #7.

Unsubscribe from Email Updates

If you have any questions/suggestions or comments please send them to Rich Aguilar