FOP Meeting 20 Dec 2011

From Kevin C. Jans  Unit Rep 020

The Lodge is requesting your attendance at 26 and Cal on the following days:

10 Jan 12 Rm 404 In Memory of Officer Michael Flisk

20 Jan 12 Rm 702 In Memory of Officer Nathaniel Taylor

24 Jan 12 Rm 207 In Memory of Officer Alex Valadez

Father Brant will be holding a public prayer for each of these Officers Killed in the Line of Duty, outside the courthouse prior to the above scheduled dates when their killers will appear in court.

The two pension reform bills that past in Springfield, HB-3813 and HB-3815, addressed the pension abuses that never affected our pension fund.  All of our past presidents get their earned pension.  As they have all been the rank of Detective when they retired, that’s the pension they get.  No enhancements for being the president of the FOP.  HB-512 was not brought up for a vote, however the Lodge expects that it will come up again.  Governor Quinn has said that he is against any reduction in police or fire pension benefits to FOP President Shields.

The MD at the medical section is giving recurring IOD officers a list of three doctors to choose from to receive medical care.  The Lodge won an arbitration on this practice.  You get to choose from a list of thousands on the “Workmen’s Choice List”.  Most of who are also on Blue Cross and Blue Shield list of providers.  If you have any problems or questions, call the Lodge.

The City is changing the time for Limited Duty Non-IOD officers to 365 days total for your career, then back to full duty or go on disability.  If this goes into effect the 365 day clock will be set from the day the order goes into effect, no one will have any days taken for past Limited duty days.  The Lodge expects an order to be out soon.  The Lodge will grieve it on the grounds of past practice.  The Lodge has been in talks with the City on this, but the city is forcing the issue.  There are 310 officers on limited duty Non-IOD.

Ret. Capt. John Farrell has proven to be a great benefit to our officers involved in shootings.  The Lodge is adding Retired Detective Kris Kato to help out.  There has been a 25% increase in police shootings this year.

There are several arbitrations on going, one that we hope to have a decision on 02 Feb 12 is the length of time that IPRA can take to complete an investigation.  The Lodge is also trying to get a ruling on what “random” means when it comes to drug testing, as there have been times in the past that it wasn’t so “random”.  Remember starting 01 Jan 12, all officers will be given a breath test as part of the drug testing procedure.  See appendix T in the contract for more info on alcohol testing.

The number of training districts arbitration was lost.  FTOs who had a grievance in concerning their status lost with this ruling.  The Lodge also lost the ET’s starting time grievance.  Military personal will be able to change their day off group for training, check with the Lodge for more info.  5^th period furlo was to be heard on 18 Jan 12, but the date has been cancelled.  The Lodge has no problem having officers work during their furlo, but pay them time and a half.  Don’t close furlo periods just to prevent officers from receiving what’s due to them.

FOP Meeting 18 Oct 2011

From Kevin C. Jans  Unit Rep 020

Station closings: The 19^th Dist and 23^rd Dist are slated to be

combined.If they do, there are no plans to send any of the 

officers from 19^th Dist to the 20^th Dist.  Before any Dist is 

closed, it must be approved by the City Council.  

 There is no such bill in the Council at this time.

5th period furlos, the City has not yet contacted the Lodge about 

canceling any or all of 5^th period.  At this time members will be 

able to select 5^th period furlo segments.  Any changes will be 

immediately posted when the Lodge receives them.  Please 

check the Lodge’s web site and sign up for the email blasts.

If you haven’t heard, lockup keepers were given a 60-day 

notice letter about being replaced in the lockup by civilian 

personnel.  This is required by the contract.  This does not 

mean that in 60 days they will be replaced.  That’s the quickest 

they could be replaced if there were trained civilians ready to 

work in the lockups.  There are no classes for civilian lockup 

keepers at this time.  An officer from central detention claims

to have heard that a class will be starting on the 7th of November.

  I have no idea on how long the classes are.  Any bid lockup officer

that is replaced by a civilian will keep an inside position.  If your 

lockup is closed and you have a bid lockup position you lose your 

bid spot and can be returned to the street.  This is an arbitration 

that the Lodge lost some 20 years ago.  The City is meeting with

the Lodge on 19 Oct to talk about this.  Keep an eye on the Lodge 

website for the latest news.

Some officers that have attended G8-NATO training have been 

told that because we can’t use our riot helmets and gas masks 

together, because you can’t lower the clear face mask on the 

helmet over the gas mask, that they would have to buy a $300.00 

new helmet.  NOT SO.  The Lodge will be contacting the training

officers about this.

The Lodge has just finished arbitration hearings over “random” 

urine testing and is waiting for the Arbitrator’s decision.  Look 

for the results on the Lodge’s web site.

Pension News: Fall Veto Session begins Tuesday, Oct. 25, and 

there are 2 bills of importance to us: SB-512 and HB-3827.   

HB-3827 will gut our representation on the pension board.  

 This must be defeated.  Call your state rep.  Find your rep’s 

phone number and email at www.elections.state.il.us 

SB-512 will lower pension benefits to all current 

members if at the last minute we are included.  Right now we 

are not included.

Time now for Open Enrollment for medical plans.  

 Remember to sign up again for flexible spending.   

You have to do this every open enrollment period.  

 Also there is only 1 HMO plan this year.  Check the Lodge’s 

web site for Health Fairs at some of the Dusts.

If an FBI or IPRA agent stops you or knocks on your front 

door to “talk” to you about some incident you may have 

witnessed and they have a few quick questions they would like 

to ask, DON’T.  Make sure you politely get their contact 

information and tell them you will get in touch with them. 

Immediately call the Lodge and get a lawyer, don’t answer 

any question without one.  It is your Right! Contact the Lodge.

It can happen this quickly

Click on the title. It will take you to a site that has a police traffic stop shooting.

From the FOP Locge 7 site

FOP Election Information 02/13/11

Ballots for the 2011 FOP Lodge #7 election were mailed out on Friday, February 4, 2011. Completed ballots must be received at the post office by close of business March 3, 2011.

Any member who does not receive a ballot or spoils their ballot may vote in person at the Lodge on Friday, March 4, 2011 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

There have been questions as to whether a voter needs to make a selection for each and every office. Members have the option to vote for as little as one candidate on the ballot or vote for the maximum number of candidates allowed for each office. A ballot will be considered ineligible if it contains more than the maximum number of votes allowed for a particular office. Please double check your ballot before mailing.