Voluntary CAPS Lt.s
Recently a notice came out from Headquarters looking to identify those Lietenants who are voluntarily filling the position of CAPS lieutenant. Remeber this, when you are asked to be the CAPS Lt it is no longer voluntary. There is always the threat of reprisal should you say no. If you go to the Department and ask to be the CAPS lieutenant it is then voluntary. If you voluntarily take the position you can have your watch changed or day off group changed daily without premium pay. If the commander comes to you and says "I would really appreciate it if you would volunteer for the CAPS Lt position" it isn't volunteering. If you have any questions please call your CPLA Representative or send him an email.
Headquarters Representative
Brigid Forlenza was promoted to the rank of Captain. As she was our Headquarters Representative this left a vacancy on our board. At the 13 May 2008 Board Meeting and in keeping with the Chicago Police Lieutenants Association by laws Jeff Mappa was nominated by our President for the position and the board unanimously approved the nomination. Jeff will finish out the remainder of the position left vacant. This position as well as the rest of the board will be up for election in November of this year.
For those of you who do not know Jeff, he was promoted to Lieutenant in December 1999. He has been assigned to 017 until recently when he was brought down to Headquarters in unit 112. We all look forward to working with Jeff.
BIDS?
Several people have asked why so few open unit bid positions when there are districts with unit bid vacancies. According to our contract, Article 32 (page 72), the Department has to recognize a vacancy only when there are two or more bid vacancies in a district, when there are new Lieutenants promoted or when they want to. In this case the Department had to recognize the vacancy in 006 (there were two). In addition they decided to also recognize two additional vacancies (021 & 025). They do not have to recognize the others unless the other requirements come into play.
As of today there are 252 Lieutenants. The Department needs 274 to be at full strength. It would be wise for them to promote Lieutenants now and be ready for the hot summer ahead of us. As soon as they do promote the remaining vacant bid positions will be open for bid.
Watch Bids will be open in the 6th period and will be filled for the 7th period.
UNIT BIDS
AMFN Message 082040, announcing Recognized Vacancy Bidding was released on the evening of 08 May 2008. You have 96 hours from the time it is posted in your unit to get your bid into Management and Labor Affairs. To bid you must complete a PAR formset by entering the recognized vacancy listing facsimile number (AMFN Message No. 082040) in the appropriate section. In the remarks section you may list one (1) district to which you request to be assigned. You then must present the form set to your commanding officer / watch commander who will verify that the bid was submitted within the prescribed 96 hours by entering the time submitted and signing the formset. You can not approve your own formset even if you are the watch commander / commanding officer.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the formset is distributed properly. The formset must be distributed in the following manner:
| White page: | The unit you wish to bid to. |
| Pink page: | Management and Labor Affairs section Unit 129 |
| Green page: | The PBPA unit 156 b Lieutenants. Address this to the Chicago Police Lietenants Association CPD Unit 546. If you send it to CPD unit 156 it ends up at NAGIS - don't do that. |
| Gold page: | This is your copy. Hang on to it. |
All bids must be recieved by MLAS no later than 1000 hrs on 14 May 2008. You may fax a copy to MLAS at 745-6961 or 745-6962. You can verify that your formset was recieved by calling MLAS at 745-5806. Remember it is your responsibility to make sure it is properly processed.
Vacancies are as follows:
| Unit 006 | 2 Vacancies |
| Unit 021 | 1 Vacancy |
| Unit 025 | 1 Vacancy |
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE
WATCH BIDS
Watch bids will follow soon in the 6th period
Contract Update – 29Apr08
We attended a negotiation session on 23Apr08 where the city presented it's counter proposal to our rather substantial offers. The city put forth a poorly drafted nonresponsive proposal. It had a slight (and I mean extremely slight) wage increase, and modification of our uniform allowance, and many sections of "rejected, current language". We thought we had made substantial progress in changing things that were of paramount importance to the city and its new superintendent, in spite of this, the city has ignored all of our issues, those that you thought would greatly affect you and your families. Most of the changes requested by us would not have cost the city any money, they would have in fact saved themselves money down the road. The city is being shortsighted as usual and refuses any attempt by this organization to help them plan for the future. We are meeting on 02May08 with our attorney to discuss whether to, or how to respond to this latest offer. We will meet again with the city on 06May08, but I don't expect a very productive session. We are trying, but now that the city got its concessions from us, they are not willing to hold up their end of the negotiations. We may have to remove some previously agreed upon items from the table to get movement on their part. I will keep you informed.
Steven Regnier
Vice President
Congratulations to the New Captains
Good luck to the 9 new captains. We know you will be great after all you used to be Lieutenants.
Headquarters Representative
Thanks go to Bridgid Forlenza who served as Headquarters Representative until being promoted to Captain. That however opens up her representative position. We are looking for anyone interseted to take the over the reins of the Headquarters Representative. If you are interested in the postition please contact Bob Weisskopf by email at
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Kid – this job ain’t what it used to be…
When we went through the police academy we all had someone tell us "kid – this job ain’t what it used to be." Well it ain't. No matter when you came on the job it is never the same as it used to be. However, some things do stay the same.
In 1968 after the Democratic Convention the Chicago Police were blasted by the media across the country as thugs and the enemy. The Chicago Police Officers at the convention were ordered there. They did not freely choose to be there like the demonstrators who attended the Battle on Michigan Avenue. The Officers were there doing their duty. Politicians and Officials called for federal indictments. Eight Chicago Police Officers were charged with civil rights violations, forty one officers were disciplined after an internal police investigation. Oh, by the way 119 Police Officers were injured during the convention.
In the last two years there have been a few incidents regarding Chicago Police Officers. Modern electronic and print media have sensationalized these events. Television stations have played over and over the same video clips. Newspapers have rehashed old stories. All this is in an attempt to raise ratings and sell ad space. What better way for someone who wants media coverage right now then to stand on the podium or pulpit and to slam the police, to call for indictments and investigations.
Don't let a little thing like due process stand in the way. To these people seeking media coverage little things like a statute of limitations mean nothing. Pleading guilty to a crime and serving your punishment is no longer protection from further prosecution. It is apparent that the bigger the city and the bigger the organization the more it is susceptible to political correctness and less concern it has for actual justice.
There is an old adage in criminal justice studies that says "Society gets the police it deserves."
Keeping this all in mind, we as Chicago Police Lieutenants have several responsibilities. First we need to ensure that the officers who are in our charge have the knowledge, training and leadership to help them make the proper decisions as they go about the performance of their duties. Give them the tools to help them make it through their off duty lives without jamming themselves up. Let them know that, truly, this job ain’t what it used to be. We need to show them the correct way to do things and we need to set the example for them to follow. We need to take care of our people! Those of us who are fortunate enough to rise further in rank need to remember this.
Second we need to ensure that we make the proper decisions ourselves both in our role as Lieutenant as well as when we are off duty. No longer can you rely on the city or police department to watch your back. You have to watch your own. We all have too much to loose. Society is no longer happy with a mere pound of flesh in retaliation for what it perceives to be a wrong by a police officer. Now they want to ruin that officer’s life completely and are not satisfied until that happens.
The podium and pulpit have not mentioned the fact that, in spite of, the recent media thrashings that Chicago Police have taken, when shots ring out in the neighborhoods and they are ducking for cover behind their podium and pulpit that it is the members of the Chicago Police Department that are racing to their aid. For some reason that poor slob of a police officer who races to the call is protecting the very same people who gave them dirty looks, called them fat and sloppy, called them thugs and enemy.
We had a Lieutenant back in the late 80's that always ended roll call with "run low and zig zag." Well kid - that ain’t changed. It isn't just the bad guys who are taking shots at you today. Be safe.
The Representatives and Executive Board of the Chicago Police Lieutenants Association
17Apr08 Contract Update
The city canceled this weeks meeting which was scheduled for 16Apr08. This coupled with the fact that we have not received any counter proposals from the city, seems to highlight the problem with these negotiations. The city would like to have sweeping concessions, and a quick resolution, and yet they will not put forth anything of substance. We cannot be expected to lead with no cooperation from the other side. The city cancels due to the graduations of recruits, I am sure that this graduation was not a surprise, we had contract meeting scheduled weeks ago. Hopefully next week, 23Apr08, I will keep you informed.
Vice President
Steve Regnier
Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner
We had a great turn out for annual Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner. This year it was held at the Irish Heritage Center 4626 N. Knox. The food was great, the company was wonderful and we even were entertained by excellent Irish dancers. The pictures from the evening are now in our PICTURES section.
Police Related Shootings
If you are involved in a shooting, on or off duty, you should know that the CPLA will respond as soon as we are notified. Our Board of Directors work and reside throughout the city and have been provided with reference manuals to aid you during the investigation. We will have a union representative there as expeditiously as possible. In addition to a Board Member, a lawyer from our firm will also respond.
To best protect your rights it is important that you follow the department guide lines concerning police involved shootings. Familiarize yourself with these. Remember that you are required to provide the ranking member on the scene (one on one) with a synopsis of what happened. For instance, the following is a valid response to the boss prior to consulting with your union representative and attorney:
"I responded to the suspicious person call. I tried to stop the subject who refused to comply with me after I told him I was the police. He produced a gun. I was in fear for my life and I had no other choice so I shot several times at him and hit him. I shot in a southerly direction and there are no other suspects."
This type of response provides the investigators with the information that there are no other suspects and that if you missed with any shots they went in a direction that can be checked for evidence and/or someone else shot. You provided the required information that you identified yourself, the offender had a deadly weapon, you were in fear of death or great bodily harm and you exhausted the Use of Force Model. A more detailed report will be filed later once you have had a chance to consult with your union representative and your attorney.
Since the new IPRA now responds promptly to any shootings, stand your ground if they intend to query you in more detail. Tell them you wish to consult with the union and your attorney. They are required to abide by the department orders and our contract in providing you with your rights.
You should also know that a "U Number" will be obtained. This documents a referral number to an individual incident where Chicago Police Officers fire their weapons. A Log number will also be obtained and more than likely will be converted to a CR investigation down the line.
Your General Handbook has the 24hr. contact number (312-332-7432) you should call if you are involved in a shooting or are investigating a shooting where a fellow lieutenant is involved. Make this notification as soon as possible so we can get someone to assist you in this traumatic time.
If you respond to a police shooting as a field lieutenant or watch commander remember these same suggestions. You would not be out of line to tell an involved officer that the U Number, Log number and possibly a CR number will be obtained and that he has a right to representation by his union (no matter what rank is involved).
I hope that none of you ever has to use this advice or recommendations. Be Safe.
Robert H. Stasch
Treasurer