A Closer Look at Chicago's FOP

The Chicago chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police represents thousands of rank-and-file officers at the Chicago Police Department. Most of them never make headlines. But the presidents elected to lead the labor union through the years are another story. This series examines the oft-contentious tenures of FOP presidents, from the civil rights movement of the 1960s to the Black Lives Matter era today. It shows a pattern of incendiary rhetoric and antagonism toward racial justice and reform movements.

Commentary

How I visualized the turbulent tenures of Chicago’s FOP presidents

By Veronica Martinez | October 20, 2021

Local artist Veronica Martinez describes how she approached illustrating portraits of the eight leaders of Chicago’s largest police union.

Police and Prosecutors

Analysis: Here’s how Chicago’s most powerful police union preserves tradition of problematic leadership

By Emanuella Evans and Adeshina Emmanuel | September 13, 2021

We interviewed past and present police union presidents, activists, and legal scholars for perspectives about the role FOP leaders have played since the organization established itself in Chicago nearly 60 years ago.

Longreads

Timeline: Chicago FOP presidents’ turbulent relationship with race and police reform

By Emanuella Evans | September 13, 2021

Injustice Watch reviewed the tenures of past FOP presidents elected by Chicago police, from the civil rights movement to the Black Lives Matter era. We found a history of police union leaders making inflammatory statements, antagonizing racial justice and police reforms, and shielding allegedly brutal cops from accountability.