Why I’m Terminating my Membership with my Police Union

My letter to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President

Dear President J. Catanzara:

It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the City as a Police Officer. Nothing excites me more than going to work and ensuring the welfare of our city and its citizens — most days, I cannot get there fast enough.

Prior to being the Police I was of the opinion that police officers must always be guided by truth, reason, and fairness in accordance to the law. As the Police I’ve come to learn that the three most important aspects of policing are police effectiveness, police accountability, and public trust. Without this trilogy real measurable progress is limited.

Furthermore, I am proud of some of the progress made over the last year in coordination with the city and the union: better and more frequent real-life training, improved field training officer programs, stress management and counseling for officers and many other improvements that help us best serve the public. Additionally and on a broader scale I’ve known most labor unions of the 21st century to serve the interest of their members and the public. I applaud those organizations and support them. Unions are not obsolete and are needed today to negotiate members wages, health benefits, work conditions, etc. which ensures the well-being of members and their families and retirees after a lifetime commitment in their given profession.

One core belief that I’ve always maintained is Sir Robert Peel’s notion that the citizens are police and the police are citizens and that it is imperative for us to work in conjunction with one another; if our goal is to ensure safe and just communities. This means a working relationship with the public, in every neighborhood, is paramount to any and all success. Similarly, I believe the Police must be steadfast and resolute in our support of community partners and organizations that stand for justice, peace, and healthy ideas that move our society forward. For example, those who peacefully protest that the color of their skin should not dictate a death sentence or abuse of power by the police aren’t taking a political stand but are crying out that they too have unalienable rights that should be protected. Moreover, these folks are not our enemies or are they part of some deep state. Comparatively they seek justice, tranquility, liberty, and prosperity for themselves and their…