Excessive Force Against The Police?

It doesn't matter how many of us get of our butts in a sling - the same 'buddy system' politics are going to win out. The FOP is a shell; it is a weak, powerless shadow of what it represents. The FOP refuses to hire a professional negotiator to work on our behalf at contract talks, and no, Mark Miller IS NOT a professional negotiator, no matter how many years he's being doing-er, trying it! -Neither are the officers appointed to the negotiating committe- you think an officer is going to: 1. Know how to negotiate effectively, 2. Do it to the best of their ability, KNOWING retaliation is a major theme on this department? Absolutely not. So, the masses on our butts keep looking for leadership and representation.

Teamsters, anyone?

I'll make the same statement I've made numerous times in the past -

Organizations don't vote, people vote. If each member of the FOP would make the effort to "touch" 10 people - family, friends, etc., just think what a difference that would be! 1300 times 10 - that's 13000 votes - how many were even cast in the last mayor's election? Include the 700 members of LFR, the 100 or so members of EMS - that's another 8,000. That's a major block of votes in any election!

How many votes can YOU influence? It doesn't matter what the organization does - other than that it should give you pause when the next FOP election occurs - what matters is that each and every member should make an effort to talk to people they know about who should be elected, and why.

You don't have to attend events or even be that active to have a major effect on a local election - you just have to talk to people you know and who respect your opinion.

Will the FOP, as an organization, right now, stand up and say - we'll support anyone who runs against Abramson (and crew) - doesn't matter if Democrat or Republican? And if Abramson chooses to run, I don't see another local Dem running against him, so it will likely mean supporting a Republican.