Post by WaTcHeR on Oct 16, 2006 11:02:38 GMT -5
10.16.2006 - The Fraternal Order of Police is accusing Mayor Daley of appointing two people "who have shown nothing but disrespect" for police officers to the committee that will choose the director of the Police Department's Office of Professional Standards.
FOP President Mark Donahue said the appointment of activist-priest Michael Pfleger and attorney Andre Grant is "an insult" to hard-working police officers -- and stacks the deck against them.
Did he spit on cops?
"They are not individuals who I would have appointed to any committee because of their past activities admonishing the law enforcement profession without the ability to back it up," Donahue said.
"You've got the one gentleman [Grant] who's made a living off of suing the Police Department. And the other individual [Pfleger] who has shown nothing but disregard and disrespect toward our profession."
Grant would not comment on the FOP's blast. He has sued the department more than a dozen times for alleged police brutality and won millions of dollars in settlements. Last fall, he won a $6.2 million settlement on behalf of the family of an 8-year-old boy wrongly accused of the 1998 murder of 11-year-old Ryan Harris.
Pfleger acknowledged that he has been arrested "20 some times in my life" while demonstrating against racism, the Vietnam War, apartheid in South Africa and liquor and tobacco billboards. But he denied that he ever spit in the face of police officers, as some union members contend.
"I don't think you could find a police officer who would say I yelled at or disrespected them in any way... Maybe what they're upset with is that I'm not taking sides for or against police," Pfleger said.
Mayoral press secretary Jacquelyn Heard said City Hall "anticipated" the FOP's criticism and Daley has every intention of expanding the selection committee.
Other input
"The mayor said in his remarks [announcing Monday's shakeup], 'we want to get input and perspective from the Police Department as well as the people,'" Heard said.
Tisa Morris was forced out of her $145,836-a-year job this week as OPS director amid allegations she didn't do enough to improve the image of an agency that has been a lightning rod for criticism in the African-American community.
www.suntimes.com/news/metro/95122,CST-NWS-fop13.article
FOP President Mark Donahue said the appointment of activist-priest Michael Pfleger and attorney Andre Grant is "an insult" to hard-working police officers -- and stacks the deck against them.
Did he spit on cops?
"They are not individuals who I would have appointed to any committee because of their past activities admonishing the law enforcement profession without the ability to back it up," Donahue said.
"You've got the one gentleman [Grant] who's made a living off of suing the Police Department. And the other individual [Pfleger] who has shown nothing but disregard and disrespect toward our profession."
Grant would not comment on the FOP's blast. He has sued the department more than a dozen times for alleged police brutality and won millions of dollars in settlements. Last fall, he won a $6.2 million settlement on behalf of the family of an 8-year-old boy wrongly accused of the 1998 murder of 11-year-old Ryan Harris.
Pfleger acknowledged that he has been arrested "20 some times in my life" while demonstrating against racism, the Vietnam War, apartheid in South Africa and liquor and tobacco billboards. But he denied that he ever spit in the face of police officers, as some union members contend.
"I don't think you could find a police officer who would say I yelled at or disrespected them in any way... Maybe what they're upset with is that I'm not taking sides for or against police," Pfleger said.
Mayoral press secretary Jacquelyn Heard said City Hall "anticipated" the FOP's criticism and Daley has every intention of expanding the selection committee.
Other input
"The mayor said in his remarks [announcing Monday's shakeup], 'we want to get input and perspective from the Police Department as well as the people,'" Heard said.
Tisa Morris was forced out of her $145,836-a-year job this week as OPS director amid allegations she didn't do enough to improve the image of an agency that has been a lightning rod for criticism in the African-American community.
www.suntimes.com/news/metro/95122,CST-NWS-fop13.article