The Police Contract Battle Is Running Deep & Turning Odd

By Stephen Gossett in News on Apr 14, 2017 3:27PM

Photo: Scott Olson / Getty Images

The pushback against aldermen's effort to reform the police union contract displayed a wild flair for the dramatic on Thursday. The same day that members of the Black Caucus spoke out adamantly in favor of scrapping or tightening controversial measures that give police cover (too much, they say) the incoming police union chief reportedly said barely much at all at a 45-second press conference—although his reticence spoke volumes.

First up, the Black Caucus again threatened to kibosh a contract proposal that doesn't clean up the current one's thornier allowances. Those current specs include an affidavit requirement, which effectively roadblocks anonymous complaints; the 24-hour so-called “cooling off” period that officers have before making a statement after police-involved shootings; and a clause that allows disciplinary record older than four years to be destroyed.

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th Ward), chairman of the caucus said on Thursday, via the Tribune:
"The FOP contract has been preserving and protecting a culture of racism and violence in our Police Department for far too long. Now is our chance to change that once and for all, and I would challenge the FOP to contact us and meet with us to discuss what's beneficial for the entirety of the city of Chicago, not just the rank-and-file members of the Police Department."

But the brand-new Fraternal Order of Police head, Kevin Graham, a hardliner who bested Dean Angelo in a high-turnout runoff election on Wednesday, seemed to make a between-the-lines pushback at an oddly reticent press conference.

The Tribune reports:
With cameras and reporters ready at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge in the West Town neighborhood, Graham spoke for one minute, offered no specifics, said "thank you" and left without taking questions.

It was a decidedly non-splashy approach, but in line with the steely-reserve look Graham displayed in a statement following his win, a statement that drew crystal clear battle lines.

Graham said in part on Wednesday, "We look forward to immediately preparing for the upcoming contract negotiations, fighting the anti-police movement in the city, and obtaining fair due process and discipline for our members."

The showdown happens of course against the backdrop of potential broader police reforms, in the wake of the Justice Department's scathing report, issued in January, following a yearlong probe into the Chicago Police Department. That report found that the contract played a part in the lack of progress on misconduct cases. As WBEZ points out, 98 percent of the of 30,000 complaints, lodged over a five-year period, were not thoroughly investigated, the report said. Graham, meanwhile, was critical of his opponent for the FOP presidency, Angelo, for even cooperating with the DOJ.

The police contract expires June 30. If this week is any indication, both sides are prepared for the fight that will likely come before.