Dear Superintendent Cline

An Open Letter:

This is a missive we would rather not have had to write, but it has been 8 days now with no word from you, your staff, or your representatives and we feel the need to bring this up.

No one gets to the position you hold without making certain compromises. You may agree to toe a party line on things. You may agree to certain practices or policies that you disagree with but that are politically expedient for the moment. You may have to hold your tongue during certain situations (as you did so well during Rev. Meeks' racial profiling non-incident). We don't begrudge you your choices. Ability only gets you so far in this city -- we all know that -- and your choices seem to have served you well. When the lights go out, you are the one who has to sleep with the choices made, not us.

We have been under the impression that first and foremost, the well being of police officers is your #1 concern. The increased training, the modernization, the emphasis on safety all point in that direction. And no one in recent memory can hold a candle to your efforts on behalf of the Police Memorial Foundation. However, for a Superintendent who has been so "hands on" in the creation and realization of the Memorial Park, why has no one -- you or someone from your office -- uttered anything, ANYTHING! a whisper of a hint of an objection at the attempt to honor a man who advocated the ambush and slaughter of police officers? Someone who not only shouted "off the pigs!" but openly declared he was "at war with the pigs"?

What distresses us most of all about this entire incident is what can only be called "The Silence of the Bosses." For years we have sat through classes, roll calls, award ceremonies, promotion events, retirement parties, and far too many funerals, hearing the praise heaped upon our men and women being the best and bravest the city has to offer; of being the backbone of the city; of how important it is just to show up and do the job day in and day out. But when it really counts -- when we need real support over pointless platitudes -- who speaks up for the dead?

For all the videos we sat through at roll calls; for all the t-shirts, pins and other memorabilia we were "encouraged" to buy; for the payroll deductions we were "urged" to make or switch from other worthy charities; was it all only a front? a sham? a compromise?

No more compromises Sir. Either you are with us or you are with those who would honor a common criminal reminiscent of Al Capone, passing bread with one hand and consolidating criminal power with the other. Hoover and Bradley attempted to hide behind the guise of "front" organizations to further their criminal empires. Now, backed by politician's lies, media complicity, and a disinterested public, a dead criminal may gain honor at the expense of dead police officers. Your legacy should be one of honoring and supporting our dead, not holding your tongue while certain people defile their memories. Please, speak up.