Chicago’s rank-and-file police officers sent a letter to Police Supt. Matt Rodriguez Monday expressing a vote of “no confidence” in his leadership, but they stopped short of calling for his resignation.
During a Fraternal Order of Police union meeting Monday, the approximately 300 officers present unanimously approved the measure, said Bob Podgorny, vice president of the FOP Chicago Lodge No. 7.
“We are very (ticked) off at the way (Rodriguez) has handled things recently, and we want him to know that we don’t support him,” Podgorny said. “We told him we want things changed.”
Many FOP members are upset about Rodriguez’s handling of a case of alleged police brutality, in which two officers were suspended, and about his decision to base a portion of new sergeant promotions on performance.
“We hope your future decisions affecting our membership show some concern for (officers’) interest and morale and will be handled in a more suitable manner,” the letter sent to Rodriguez said.
Though Rodriguez said through a spokesman Monday that he was “surprised” and “disappointed” by the vote, the superintendent did not back away from his stance on either case.
“I will not alter my decisions, in good conscience, for the sake of popularity,” Rodriguez said in a written response released to the media.
“It is imperative that we the police have the confidence of the community and that you, in turn, have the confidence of our police officers,” reads his response to the union, which represents about 16,000 officers. “However, I am obligated to make management decisions based on what is best for the Chicago Police Department.”
Podgorny said union members are upset with Rodriguez’s decision to suspend–and seek the termination of–Officers James Comito and Matthews Thiel of the Grand Central District. The two are accused of beating 18-year-old Jeremiah Mearday in September.
“He made a knee-jerk reaction based on all the bad publicity,” Podgorny said, referring to the fact that Rodriguez took just 25 days to render a decision about the case.
Rodriguez defended his stance. “My decision was based on compelling evidence uncovered by the Office of Professional Standards,” the superintendent said in his statement.
Rank-and-file officers who approved the letter to Rodriguez also are angry about his support for a new plan that says as many as 30 percent of new police sergeants will be promoted based on performance.
Officials announced the plan last month, saying it would boost the number of minorities in the Chicago Police Department’s supervisory ranks.
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The union, however, argues that the plan is an invitation to cronyism. Leaders said that politicians will have too much sway over promotions.
But Rodriguez reiterated his support for it.
“I continue to be a strong proponent of the limited use of alternative selection procedures other than a paper and a pencil examination to identify qualified and competent leaders for the supervisory positions in the department,” Rodriguez said in his response.