Posted on 12/03/2021 4:38:36 PM PST by ChildOfThe60s
Anyone who’s ever quit a job has probably dreamed of writing a delicious “kiss my *ss” email to the companywide distribution list and hitting “send” just before they walk out the door for the last time.
But a veteran Chicago police leader pretty much did it for real, although he opted to withhold actual names in favor of not-so-subtle hints about who he was writing about.
The author of the red-hot communique is Melvin Roman, who was unceremoniously dumped as commander of the police district that includes Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s home after “someone” became displeased with protests that closed down intersections and caused disturbances near the mayor’s home last year.
Roman was later reduced to captain and reassigned to serve as second-in-command of the department’s 20th (Lincoln) District, which serves the area between Peterson, Lawrence, the Chicago River, and Lake Michigan.
Rather than pick and choose highlights, we’ll just print Roman’s full going-away message for you to enjoy:
After over 31 years with the Chicago Police Department, my career has come to an end. I find contemplating retirement similar to contemplating life in general.
Thoughts of what has been left undone, thoughts of what I could have been done better come to mind. I’d like to think that I have always tried to do the right thing regardless of what was right.
Anyone who is a true leader will understand what I have said. My resignation as a Commander was done with this in mind. If I cannot have a voice to be heard then I have no business being in the position.
I will always be proud to say that I was a Chicago Police Officer, although I cannot be proud of our current Department. We speak about building trust with the community but do not have a trust within our own department. We speak a lot about Officer wellness and contradict that daily by missing the simplest and most basic opportunities to truly show Officers we care.
In 31 years I have never seen a Department in which the rank and file Officer is at war with the top brass administration of the Department. An administration that listens to no one, allows no one a voice, and tries to lead by the only tools they know: Fear and intimidation. Tactics which will always be doomed to fail.
A plumber on a job knows that his tools are the most important aspect of his job. An electrician knows the right tools for the job are critical. Yet here in the Department we seem to lose track of one plain and simple fact: Officers are the most important aspect of our mission.
They must have trust and faith in us as supervisors to leave the station and fulfill the missions we decide and they do that because they respect and have faith in the MEN AND WOMEN who lead, NOT the rank! This is a fact that some will never understand. Some put on the uniform and rank, and even ribbons, and think they are more important and look down on the Officers they should be holding in high esteem.
CPD’s second-in-command, Eric Carter (second from left), famously chooses to display rows of award ribbons on his right breast — a choice that some cops view as showboating and an effort to intimidate subordinates. Other top-level leaders in the photo do not display their ribbons. | CPD
Supervisors who have had the benefit of some of the most prestigious leadership training and still do not know the most fundamental traits of a leader: A leader must genuinely care about the people they lead. Without that you will never accomplish a mission and this Department will not change.
Some will claim they do care and maybe they do, but if your outward demeanor exemplifies disdain and a lack of respect, that is what is received. Rank should be perceived as a level of responsibility. Even though it’s also authority, you should lead by your character and not by what’s on your collar.
I have faith that at some point the Department will build itself back up and will once again be something to be proud of. I hope that many of you who will take over the Department will keep these hard facts in mind. Many will be angry and upset with my words but I promise you I offer them only out of a deep gratitude and respect for the Officers who serve the great city of Chicago and to a beloved Department which I will always love and support.
To the rank and file Officers to whom I undoubtedly owe any and all my success, I can never express my true gratitude so I will simply offer a very sincere appreciation and a huge thank you.
Chicago is now West Lagos
That was rather mild—I remember in my younger days writing a much stronger resignation letter in one job.
;-)
What does “Deuces!” mean in this context?
More detail and commentary at the “Chicago Contrarian”: https://www.chicagocontrarian.com/blog/chicago-police-captains-retirement-message-warns-of-dire-state-of-affairs-among-leadership-at-cpd
From what I’ve gathered “Deuces” is an old fashioned way of exclaiming “F**K!!” as a reaction to a usually negative surprise.
I know deuces is likely taken from a playing cards game.
I know very little about those playing card games, tho.
I have no idea either - must come from a generation before mine (and that puts it back quite a ways).
I’ve seen much more scathing than that in my department. But that ended when management took away the “Send to All” option.
Emailed HR and six mgrs.
Reasons I gave:
1) Loss of Confidence in Branch, District and Corporate Management
2) Lack of Candour by Branch and Distict Management
Prior leading up to this, I got Corp to write up my Branch & District managers for failure to follow written Corp policy.
Pretty much the same I gave to UPRR. My boss was spleeping with an underling and promoted him to asst. manager. When ask why I wasn’t considered having an MBA, I was told that I was too old. Thankfully, I was wearing a wire because I knew wyat was coming down. I forwarded all the info to my attorney and walked off the job.
I settled out of court.
“I have faith that at some point the Department will build itself back up and will once again be something to be proud of.”
I hate to tell you this chief but...
What does “Deuces!” mean in this context?
It’s a way of saying “I’m done, I’m outta here!”
“I’m done, I’m outta here!”
That may be it...
I have heard a few times people flashing the “peace sign”
(two fingers) and said “deuces” as they were leaving...
I have heard a few times people flashing the “peace sign”
(two fingers)
Same here.
Lightweight is despised by everyone in Chicago who is not a complete commie or a carpet-muncher.
“Let’s Go Deuces”
Good rant but similar could be written by any rank and file to middle manager of any government agency anywhere in America. All of top managment is butt kissing yes men giving away the farm to go along while embracing everything about the woke progressive agenda, and hamstringing rank and file along the way, saddling them with massive idiocy while failing to provide the tools they need to succeed.
This is hardly a malady suffered uniquely to police departments. This is government 2021. It is a complete and total mess. “Quagmire” is not too strong a word for it. Government is failing everywhere. Government agencies are failing everywhere.
We got away from limited government and got tyrants in the exchange.
LOL !!! I was working at a city in North Texas I guess I was there about 3 years and one day the Mayor sent out an E-Mail to the entire city with a Load of PC-B.S. in reference to the “religion of pieces” about how not All of them were bad people and we (city employees) should bend over backwards to help to “heal the hurt” from the rumors that all are terrorists.
Now let Me be clear about this kind of stuff. I don’t care if someone is tall, vertically challenged (short) black, brown, yellow or green, short, left or right handed, like Dogs or cats, is from somewhere besides America or another Planet or Galaxy.
However I DO have a problem with someone that wants to hurt My Family and/or Friends !!! I DO have a problem with someone that hates Our Country and what America stands for (or used too) and bitches about it !!! As Americans we are expected to save the rest of the World with money, food, medical supplies. We have bent over backwards to try to help because that’s what Americans do !!!
AND if someone wants to come to America that’s fine, JUST DO IT PROPERLY !!!! Don’t sneak in or float across the Rio Grande River.
So, back to me and this E-Mail from the Mayor. I hit Reply All by accident and didn’t catch what I had done. I dutifully type the names in My Department thinking that they would basically agree with My views (which I already knew they did.) Next I click that SEND Button and go about My Night Shift and go home at 07:00 for 2 days Off.
I got a phone call about noon from my supervisor asking me what was I thinking !?!?!? I asked what are You referring to ? That’s when I was told that I had hit REPLY ALL... I got EVERYBODY IN THE CITY including HR. OOPS!
At least everyone knows where you stand. Good move in the long run.
He probably supported and voted for Democrats his whole life as his family did too and now he is bitching about his Democrat bosses being Democrats...
Cry me a river!
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