To; Angry Tax payer, Flower girl, and Violet, You three are very perceptive, in also noticing the "body language" of the Mayor and the Chief, as concerned citizens spoke at the city counsel meeting. Their tacit response was clearly this: "We don't care who you are, nor what you think, nor have to say, you are a nobody here, just get it over with"! This same message was also displayed by some of the counsel members, who do not wish to appear "Contrary" to the Mayor, because they don't have the fortitude to stand up for the public they are supposed to represent. All this is a lesson for us Tax payers, one to be recalled the next time we go to the polls to vote. WE SHALL REMIND THEM THEN, as they clearly won't listen now !

Log Dog,
or should I change it to Mad Dog ?

I am disappointed in the chief and the mayor.
The first rule for being a good manager is to listen to the people that report to you.
Respect for your employee is crucial for a good working atmosphere. Apparently, that isn't happening here in Rockford, why?

I'm a citizen of rockford,not a police officer.I fine it very disturbing to me that when the public is speaking Epperson and Larry paid no attention.I have faith in the rockford police they are doing the right thing.Myabe Larry can't face the truth about his 2nd choice or will he live by the sword and die by the sword.To the union stay strong.

As a tax payer, a voter and a citizen of Rockford I was absolutely disgusted by the Mayor and Police Chief's behavior at city council last night! Hundreds of Rockfords finest, their families, citizens and other unions were there to support and speak on behalf of the union and the egregious manner in which this administration is treating the officers. Instead of listening to the speakers Morrissey and Epperson kept there heads down and paid ZERO attention to the speakers and showed a complete lack of respect! This type of behavior, although typical, should raise many concerns for the voters of Rockford. When two highly public officials can't even show the good grace to listen to the concerns of the public there is a huge problem with this administration! Mayor Morrissey, you showed your true colors and you are a disgrace to the office of mayor! Clearly, you are far too immature to hold the title of Mayor and come 2009 we will be shopping for a new one! I can promise you that! Mr. Epperson, you call yourself the publics chief and yet when the public speaks you turn a deaf ear? You, sir, are not fooling anyone! You are a disgrace to the uniform and the Rockford Police Department!

I am a retired Police Officer.
Why will I march?
I joined the department in the days the wages were so bad we were qualified for food stamps. I used old equipment and drove squads that were falling apart. Sometimes we would stop and pick up the pieces and continue to the call we were on. I paid for most of my uniforms. I learned from the “old-timers” how to catch crooks, how to protect citizens and property and each other. I swore an oath to protect and defend and I stuck to it.
I saw more in one year than most people would see in a lifetime. I saw crimes in progress, I saw children lying in the street broken and bloodied, and I was with people as they died, I saw citizens and other police officers dead in the streets from violence, and yet each day I returned to duty. I forgot what a holiday was or when they were because I was working the streets every day no matter what. A day off sometimes was a way to unwind unless I was sitting in a courtroom waiting to testify.
I knew I was doing the right thing when years later, people I had arrested would call me and ask advice about their families and children. My reward was in the smile people would get when their problem was solved, or those who offended them would be off the streets for many years. The toll for this career is heavy, premature aging, premature health problems, daily reminders of pain from old injuries, but ask any retired police officer if they would do it again and your answer would be “In a New York minute”.
We all did this while working within the rules set down by our government, agreed to by our administrations, negotiated by our unions.
Now the wages, training, and equipment are better, but in the final analysis, cops still go out, find crooks and put them in jail. That’s what it’s all about, protecting society and making things safe.
Now the mayor and the chief come out and say prior administrations were mediocre. This is a kick in the face to every prior Chief of Police, every Officer who ever served, or died in the line of duty. I watch them trot out “new” programs with slick names and spiffy charts. Are they new? Look close and its cops going to where the bad guys are. They are the same old tried and true methods that have been in use since Sir Robert Peel. I see a chief who has severed ties with every other police agency and cooperative effort, initiatives that have taken years to form, initiatives that work and were working. I’m seeing a chief and mayor who took a fine department that could almost run itself and turn it into something they thought they could micro-manage on a daily basis after cleaning house of almost all experience and dissention. Is this making Rockford safer or is this to make them look good? Do they follow the rules as they claim everybody else must? The same courts and justice system we all swore to protect and defend will decide that.
Another right, equally defended with honor and paid for in blood, is every citizen’s right to petition government for the redress of grievances. The marches to city hall are just that. Each lawsuit and each grievance filed is for redress on signed documents that spell out how things are to be done. In the case of contractual procedures, a daily thumbing of the nose at those procedures sets the stage for union-busting. This is a situation that no labor union will allow be it another police union local or any of the trades unions. Why? Because they might be next. I do not think the unions are scared of the mayor or chief, but they will defend their rights with honor and dignity. Nobody in the PB & PA Unit 6 has said they want to run the show, they only want fair treatment, they only want to do what they took an oath to do, protect and defend.
What’s the story? “I’m back, and I’m mad as hell”.

Response to: "Tired of the negative police comments" Lady, I could not believe your writings. Obviously, you are so misinformed, or you are the type of person that will listen to, or watch a news clip, and take it to be Gosple. Lady, you need to become informed, and read other materials, and postings, and talk with those that are affected by this controversy. I, like you, was happily ignorant of what was going on with our city,and Police Department, until it became an issue that was too big to ignore. I did exactly what I suggested you do, and I formed a conclusive opinion, and it is this: The officers are absolutely correct in their stance against a chief that does not care about them, nor their welfare, and safety. I mean, a Chief who is doing exactly what a crooked, and corrupt Mayor acting in his own self interest,and gain, is directing him to do! This is precisely why he supports the Chief, and continues to make him look as if he were the best this city has ever had. Well, he can get the Chief to save 1.5 million dollars in over time, and juggle the statistics to look like crime is going down, but the bottom line is that it isn't! Ask yourself this: Do I really feel safer now than I did two years ago? If you don't, you've got your answer. If our Mayor was truly an honorable man, and really had the best interest of this city at heart,he would have terminated the Chief shortly after the "No Confidence" vote! I am so sorry I voted for Mayor Morrisey, and I fear when he fails to be reelected, he will take Chief Epperson down with him! This is a shame, as I believe that in the begining, Epperson wanted to do what was best for the Department, and the City as a whole, but he was side tracked by a Mayor who is not honorable! Take this as you will, but Lady, if you care, research what I have suggested, and if you still feel the same, then I salute you.

Concerned like you; LogDog

i happen to think that the police would be doing a better job , if your station wasnt intreviewing them on fridays which is the night with most crime , just cause you all live in nice nieghborhoods doesnt mean you can be part of the problem and not let everyone else get help

I'm growing sick and tired of Chet's supporters claiming that there are only a few officers who are disgruntled. 98% of the police force do not trust and have NO CONFIDENCE in Epperson. That should speak volumes to this community! Instead of bashing the hard working men and women who protect your personal freedoms, you should all be thanking your lucky stars that any one of these officers would do whatever they had to, to protect you. Even if that meant taking a bullet! I worked with Epperson for years and I can assure you that he would never take a bullet for anyone! Epperson is a power hungry egomaniac with no moral compass whatsoever. He has made a career of lying to his superiors, violating citizens civil rights and hiding from true police work every chance he could. he has never worked a crime scene and has never been a detective. He was refused advancements because he could not handle the job. Now, as a second choice chief he is destroying the RCPD, commiting criminal acts, blackmailing his own command staff, bullying the rank and file and disparaging the good name that this department had before he took over. There will be no resolution to the union/city leader problems until Epperson gets his butt fired or thrown in jail.

You are right, Tired in Rockford. The PB&PA and their families, friends and supporters will not let it go.

And yes, the police are fearful of losing their jobs if they don't give in to Epperson's intimidation tactics.

And, yeah, the Chief knows how to stroke the media, so there have been opportunities for Chet to give compliments to the officers when the cameras are running.

Too bad he cannot do the same inside the police department walls. Instead he is too busy trying to find out who is blogging about him and handing out internals to the best officers in his department and covering up for those he assisted in committing a felony.

And maybe you are afraid of your union leadership, but no one needed to strong arm the PB&PA membership to get the 276 votes.

However, Epperson had to threaten to fire his deputy chiefs if they didn't drop out of the union.

If you are so unhappy with your union, why don't you just resign? Seems like that is a better option for you than any that is available to the 276.

And do you really believe there would be a long, long line of dedicated, educated and experienced officers that are dying to work in the toxic, unsafe environment that is the RCPD under Chester.

Why don't you apply--sounds like you might enjoy getting beat up everyday by your boss...no matter what!

So, the PB&PA and all their supporters will not let this go until Epperson is gone. No one is making you read these blogs, so I suggest that you just go away as well.

EVERYONE except a few who will not LET IT GO are tired of the whiners. Chief Epperson has more class than some of the police and their family members and friends who have written childish comments on the 276 to 6 blogs, You are the ones who are fearful.I have heard the Chief numerous times respect and support his officers. He is your boss and no matter what he has been appointed and makes the decisions. Go somewhere else if you can't handle his decisions. I am a union member and I have seen in my 34 years just how unions act and behave and intimidate their members to vote behind closed doors and I know that many members are afraid of their own union members. Maybe those who can't handle it should RESIGN and go to any other department,Rockford will find more dedicated, working officers. BYE!

Demote the chief back to patrol. Hire a woman as the chief !!!!!!!

I think that they should do it privetly.

Nice story in Saturday's Rockford Register Star about the PB&PA president, Aurelio DeLaRosa.

Is it not puzzling to the Citizens that every night you turn your t-v on and Chief Epperson touts some Grand Plan and fails on a daily basis to recognize his Officers. Does it not make you wonder why Mayor Morrissey and Chief Epperson both sought public dissention towards everyday Police Officers by making damning statements and releasing sensitive information about an on-going investigation, then basically slandered Officers to the Public in a Pre-Trial Publicity Stunt meant to give their views favoritism ?

Now he refuses to meet , he cant go anywhere without the Mayor and Patrick Hayes speaking for him. I'm bewildered as Chief Epperson said regarding his vote of No Confidence

What is the Chief and Mayor afraid of That Their Lies will come OUT ?

citizens should go to police union blog site at "276to6part2" and read some of the postings if you want to see whats really going on.

I cannot understand why the Chief and Mayor would be afraid to meet the Union in a public setting. It does seem like there must be something they are hiding. At they very least they should allow a debate between the two signs and arbitrate the issues. I don't see how a board chosen by the Mayor can be fair.

IT'S TIME FOR EPPERSON TO FACE THE PUBLIC.WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING TO THIS FINE POLICE DEPT.

I agree with all the above comments......they are all accurate and true. WIFR why don't YOU start asking some hard questions of Epperson and Morrissey!!

276 Rockford police officers cast a vote of no confidence in Chet Epperson’s leadership. Officers and their family members then marched for fairness to city hall. Now, union leadership wants to sit down with the Mayor and Police Chief in a semi-public forum and discuss their differences with the media present. Morrissey and Epperson refused. I want to know what our municipal leaders have to fear from this meeting.
I cannot fathom why the party line from the Chief to the Mayor to the City Legal Department is that the rank and file are malcontents only motivated by their lack of a contract. I am deeply offended at the way the union has been publicly disparaged and ignored. The Police Chief has alienated his rank and file and in doing so he has compromised the public trust in the department. The public has a right to know what caused 98% of the police department to express no confidence in the Chief. I believe the vote is direct result of failed leadership. Epperson’s style - rule with an iron fist and motivate by fear - has destroyed the morale of the department. A lack of vision and guidance - not greed- led to the no confidence vote. The union has clearly delineated their grievances and concerns. It is time for Mayor Morrissey and Chief Epperson to show true leadership and meet with the union to discuss issues that directly effect the community. The union has stated that manpower shortages have led to fewer officers being able to adequately patrol areas of the city. They have provided data to support that claim. All Epperson says is “not true.” Where are his precious statistics proving that isn’t true. All he has to do is show up at a meeting and refute the union’s claims. If he is right and the crybabies are wrong then why hide from a debate. Come on Chief, show your face and back up your terse non-committal denials with empirical data. I thought that’s why you got a Masters Degree. Prove to the public your policies and initiatives work. Hiding only fuels speculation that crime statistics have been manipulated into deceiving the public into thinking crime is down. I read the paper every day and in my eyes crime isn’t down at all. But what do I know. Epperson is the Chief of Police and as such he should stand in front and meet his detractors head on. Instead he is hiding. Does he fear objective, critical scrutiny of his theories of policing? That is the only logical conclusion to be drawn from his refusal to meet with the union.

I have been reading the posts by Rockford Police Officers, both on the old site, and the new one, which is... 276to6part2.blogspot.com ...
and have talked with several cops that would talk; I have come to this conclusion: This dispute is NOT about the unsettled CONTRACT, as we have heard the Mayor say on the radio. It is about not having enough cops on the streets during thier patrol shifts. this is due to the special projects the Chief has initiated, which takes away manpower from the patrol shifts! It is also about inadequate equipment, and lack of police radio communications! The cops cannot get back-up if they need it, nor can they call for help! This creates UNSAFE work conditions. Now, add to this their grievances against the Chief's unfair practices, and the lack of interest on the part of the Mayor of this city. Top this off with the fact that they are gagged, and cannot speak out to the public, and we have a combination that will not be easily resolved.

I've worked for the Rockford Police Department for a great many years and have always been proud to wear the badge. That is until Mr. Chester Epperson became chief! In all my years I have never seen a department fall so fast. Morale is at an all time low, officers are afraid of losing their jobs for actually doing their jobs. Patrol shifts are running shorter and shorter, equipment is failing and injuries sure seem to be up. I'm afraid it's going to take the death of one of our own to wake up the people of Rockford. I don't think there is any hope for Epperson and Morrissey, though. They have their own agenda's and I can assure you that it doesnt have anything to do with what is decent, moral or even legal. When the chief of police decides it's okay to go after young officers with families and children for posting a few comments and then allow other officers to commit serious crimes and then cover it up...that says alot about what the RPD has become! I got alot of respect for the union for requesting a public meeting but Epperson will never agree to it. The best that can happen is that Epperson will resign or the board will grow a backbone and fire him! Either option works just fine with me!

Yes, for sure the union, Chief and imaprtial party/ies should meet to get the truth out to the community. If the Chief has threatened Officers if they speak out....Seems one could follow the chain of events occurring when an Officer does speak to the community and then is subjected to repercussions. The community needs to learn the TRUTH! WHat is happening at RPD is inexcusable!

I don't have a problem with matters being settled behind closed doors. As a citizen, I don't feel as though I need to know all of the personnel matters - from the Chief on down. After a vote of no-confidence, is it possible for Chief Epperson and those who work with and/for him to get back to normal? I think so as long as all involved behave like grown-ups and stick to the issues at hand. Nothing will be solved by flinging insults, calling names, bringing up the past, and threats -- this applies to both sides involved. Let's get past this nonsense and get back to business!

In its simplest form, the issue about hashing things out in a public forum comes down to this: Epperson has said publicly that he would meet with union members anytime and anywhere. So the union leadership requests a meeting, in public, and Epperson turns them down. Now, does that sound like an executive who says what he means and means what he says? Or one who is willing to go the extra mile to solve the current problem?

Believe me, I'm aware there are lots of other problems between the union and Epperson (I can't bring myself to address him as "Chief"). But it's not about the lack of a contract, as Epperson and Morrissey claim. They are using the contract issue as a reason to deny a meeting with the union to iron out the other problems.

So, Rockford, what or who is Epperson hiding from? Maybe WIFR should do a little investigative reporting and try to find out.

The chief and the mayor should have no problem attending a public forum with the union, unless they are hiding something! The public has a right to be informed about this matter!

Epperson and Morrissey have used the local press to spin their stories about issues in the Rockford Police Department that should have been dealt with internally. They have blown small infractions by some personnel out of proportion. Epperson has used coercion with others by threatening to go public with charges that twist the truth.

The Rockford public only is hearing the administration's side of the story.

The police department personnel have been threatened by Epperson to not comment about these issues in the press or they will lose their jobs.

The police union asked to have a semi-public meeting to resolve some issues, because they want the public to know the truth. The union has nothing to hide. They do know they cannot trust Epperson.

Epperson has much to hide, so there will be no meetings. He and Morrissey do not want the truth to come out.

There are very good reasons for the No Confidence vote. 98 percent of the Rockford police force has no confidence in Epperson's abilities to resolve this dispute.

Epperson should resign his position.

Mr. Epperson has continually said that he will meet at any place and time to discuss the issues. He has also repeatedly said that his door is open for communication. Then why won't he meet openly and honestly as the union has requested? I find that to be a little unsettling. It seems to me that he has something to hide and that is very concerning. He also keeps saying that the police matters are private and should be discussed outside of the media glare. Then why did Mr. Epperson so brazenly take internal investigations of officers to the media? Why has he and Mr. Morrissey spoken opening about these investigations and about unproven allegations against officers? It is my understanding that the most recent investigations surrounding officers blogging was a very minor violation of department policy. I suspect Mr. Epperson thought he could rule by intimidation. Now that he sees those tactics aren't working, he wants to pull away from the media spotlight.

For the safety of the union board and all the officers I think the only way to resolve anything is through open discussion in a public setting! However, it seems to me that Mr. Epperson has caused so much damage I don't think it can ever be repaired as long as he is the chief of police. If he cares about the department and the city, he should do the right thing and resign!

I think that it is time for chief Epperson to face the facts,He is not respected by the police officers he is suppose to lead nor does he have the support of the union, and the reason is clear, HE IS NOT QUALIFIED..
Power went to his head and he has no idea how to be a leader he thinks of himself as the supreme ruler not the puplic servent he is suppose to be.

I think the Chief and the Mayor should join the union in a public forum, unless they have something to hide!
The taxpayers of Rockford deserve to be informed on this very important issue between the two sides!