GREETINGS FROM MAYOR LARRY MORRISSEYOctober, 2007
Dear friend:
I would like to address some of the issues pending with our Police Union in this newsletter. These remarks were delivered at the Rockford City Council meeting of October 1, 2007.
First, let me assure our citizens that all of the pending contract and discipline issues will be ruled on in due course. They are all within the Circuit Court, Arbitration, or Police and Fire Commission processes and each of these venues provides a well-defined process of resolving our differences.
While we go through this process, it is important to remember that our officers will continue to do their jobs. They have sworn an oath to do so, and it is also the promise of both our administration and the officers of our Department.
Every day, the men and women of our police and fire departments put themselves in harm's way for our protection. The truth is that we cannot thank them enough for the risk they take and the burdens they bear on our behalf. Their concerns are important to me and to the chief. So, too, are the concerns of our citizens.
Over the last few years, I have been all over Rockford, west and east, north and south, in our churches and in people's homes. Again and again, our citizens have told us that we have work to do:
- that certain neighborhoods were neglected;
- that sometimes crime victims were made to feel like criminals;
- that we lose too many of our children to the streets and to crime; and
- that our crime rate is far too high.
For many years, we have watched the crime rate and poverty rate soar. We have far too often had among the highest rates for crime and poverty in the state. Yet, in the past, there was no apparent change in strategy, no change in tactics, no new approach tried or supported that reduced the crime or poverty rates. These poor results drove many of our citizens and middle class families out of Rockford, including many within our own Police Department.
Our responsibility as an administration is first and foremost to the citizens of this City. We are called to improve services and reduce the crime rate while making government more efficient. While it may not be popular with some, we would not be doing our job as an administration if we did not engage and address many long-standing management issues like overtime, absenteeism, and discipline.
This is why I support our Chief. The Chief if courageously addressing many issues previously ignored. He is well trained and well educated. Our Chief is applying new approaches to fighting crime that involve partnering with our community. These are strategies that have worked in many other cities like ours.
He is using new strategies like Weed and Seed, Alternative Drug Enforcement Strategy, and the M3 Street Team. Our Council has passed numerous ordinances addressing critical quality of life initiatives like truancy, littering, refuse, panhandling, parking violations, and noise. The Chief and our officers enforce these ordinances. We are using technology and modern management practices; and we are building a command structure within the department that will give more voice and more problem solving opportunities to our officers in the field. We are partnering with other departments within the City as well as other government bodies and community members. We have more work to do, but so far, our efforts are producing results:
- Overtime will likely be cut more than $1 million this year;
- Sick leave is down 40% over the last 18 months;
- We are cracking down on problem property owners and demolishing dilapidated properties while we encourage rehab;
- We have an ongoing partnership in place with the RHA to demolish dangerous and deteriorated housing developments like Jane Addams; and
- Most importantly, our crime rate is down significantly from a year ago.
I want to specifically mention the Alternative Drug Enforcement Strategy nicknamed by some as "Hug-a-thug". Some have taken shots at this program. Here are the real facts: The program works. It engages spiritual leaders, business leaders, and neighborhood leaders as we set out to find those persons whose lives could be turned away from crime and made to be productive citizens. The Chief's plan identifies criminals that have been overlooked and allowed to walk among us. These criminals sold drugs, used guns, and were violent. Because of the Chief's plan, these criminals went to jail. By any definition, this program is a success and it should be continued.
I recognize the frustrations that can come as our officers are without a contract and we are working through numerous discipline issues. But, we cannot tolerate personal attacks or degrading speech directed at any citizen of Rockford by officers of the Rockford Police Department. Unfortunately, a handful of people have lowered themselves and discredited the department by disseminating hateful speech, innuendo, and false information.
This is neither the time for personal attacks nor the place for political opportunism. Our citizens expect professional conduct. That is why I support the chief in his offer to meet with the union in order to foster good communication and to negotiate resolutions to our disputes where possible. In fact, we have reached agreement on some pending matters before the Fire and Police Commission, and we hope to resolve as many issues as we can at the negotiating table. But we must not abandon the path and the process we have started. We can improve this community; but we can only do so by embracing the challenge.
We have a great community with many dedicated individuals both in and outside of City government committed to making Rockford the best place it can be. The ultimate goal of community policing is to empower officers to work with those community members to develop creative solutions to reduce crime. We are making great strides to achieve that goal.
I ask for your prayers and support in resolving these issues and moving our community forward.
All my best,
Mayor Larry Morrissey