Thank you for your comments; it is refreshing to debate an issue without resorting to name-calling, arguments ad hominem, or other disparaging remarks.

Having said that, I made no reference to facts in my statements. The FOP is not suffering due to its inability to resolve disputes - the officers are. The environment I outlined remains. By focusing on the AHOD and the fired officers, you ignore the other deplorable conditions that officers are forced to work under. How many times has a FOP rep told an officer to "...just take the discipline and beat it on appeal?”

“The FOP/MPD Labor Committee is the Police Union representing DC police officers; it is run by a Board of 20 people elected by the membership”

Unfortunately, if the current FOP leadership claims that they are representing D.C. Police officers, and the current methods yield poor results, then another method needs to be tried.

"While the chief does work for the mayor, she has a duty to advocate for her agency and the people working for her. During her tenure, she never has."

I concede you this point. This is basic social contract theory. We cannot vote the chief out, so we must work within where we can. If we cannot think outside of the box to resolve a situation, then the FOP is not needed. The strongest weapon a union wields is its ability to organize members into a strike. Officers cannot due this, therefore the organization acts with impunity. Hence, current conditions.

And you are correct sir; the forensic audit did not say funds were misappropriated. That was my editorializing after learning union dues were being used to subsidize lavish dinners in Florida and other states, hence the necessity of a forensic audit. I will seek to be more precise.

I agree that petitioning the chief on any issue appears to be a moot point as she is found to have a "lack of candor" on many issues. Therefore the point becomes, the current method is not working, and another must be tried. Negative media appearances designate a lack of class, and produce no results, plus give her fodder.

Whether the PERB has ruled on the AHOD, and the officers were reinstated or not, the conditions remain. If the board of 20 cannot brainstorm a different method or system, then the officers will continue to suffer. It’s time to sit back, broadly examine the reasons for the negative relationship, and work to interrupt it, using whatever methods that calls for. Supporting change is no longer enough. Change is needed now.

In response to "Right" you simply have the facts wrong. Let us begin with AHOD, that practice was declared illegal by a neutral arbitrator. The Department appealed and the case is being reviewed by the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB). A decision on that matter is expected soon. The Union does not have the power stop the Department and Chief Lanier from breaking the law; it must allow the litigation process run its course. Next the Forensic Audit, it was authorized by the Union's Executive Board and the document did not say funds were misappropriated. It did say that prior to current administration adequate records were not maintained documenting the reasons for expenditures and that the proper protocol was not followed when making some of those expenditures or adjustment to the budget. It did not say fund were misappropriated.

Next I will address negotiation, you claim that Mr. Baumann bases the chief at every turn and that is the reason negotiations cannot proceed. This is factually incorrect, the situation is like this because Chief Lanier has broken her word on every agreement she made with the FOP. Remember the reinstated officers, she settled those cases because she knew she would lose in court; and then she turned around a charged those officers using on the same old charges alleging "inefficiency" and fired the officers again. By the way, the first few cases have been review by neutral third parties and those officers have been reinstated. She sided with Mayor Fenty against her own members and proposed no pay raise for 7 years while at the same time receiving generous increases. The last thing I will say about negotiation "Right" is look up the term GOOD FAITH. Lanier and her command staff don't know what that means, she lies all the time. That is why the union cannot negotiate with her.

If AHOD is the measuring stick with which you are judging the FOP's results, you are not well informed. FOP#1 is a social organization The FOP/MPD Labor Committee is the Police Union representing DC police officers; it is run by a Board of 20 people elected by the membership. While Mr. Baumann is the public face of the organization, it is the Board that does a lot of the heavy lifting, get your facts straight.

While the chief does work for the mayor, she has a duty to advocate for her agency and the people working for her. During her tenure, she never has.

My comments above are not intended to disparage Mr. Baumann, or extol Chief Lanier. The fact remains that Mr. Baumann has "zero" IG experience, and his position does not qualify him to comment on it.

However, since your comments appear to hijack this article using arguments ad hominem; let us examine Mr. Baumann's accomplishments. His initial running platform was the end of the crime emergency, which he did, now we have the AHOD. He touted taking the Chief to court - the AHOD remains. Officers in the District have by your own account, been working several years without a contract. A forensic audit of FOP #1 revealed serious misappropriations of funds from senior union personnel.

A culture of discipline, fear, and retaliation remains on MPDC, long into his tenure. The centralized, top-down leadership mentality devalues the authority of the Sergeant, and has caused an all-time level of low morale. Officers are peppered with weekly union propaganda, and zero results. And "Ralph" - the UFIR remains in place.

Now, let's examine negotiation. The coming together of two or more parties to resolve differences, or bargain for collective advantage. Mr. Baumann's bullish tactics, including embarrassing Chief Lanier at every media opportunity does not foster a culture of cooperation, and his results reflect that attitude. He appears to be more concerned with grooming himself for the "next" opportunity, then actually working for the officers, in a method that yields results.

At its basest level, FOP #1 is low on results. The AHOD remains, no contract is in place, and officers are leaving in droves - at the rate of 30 per month in some instances. Officers are disciplined for being the passenger in a cruiser during an accident, and other outrageous examples. MPD supervisors act with impunity, and there is a reason for their conduct.

It becomes very easy to blame the Chief using your examples; however she is an instrument of the Mayor and Council, albeit flawed. Mr. Baumann’s fiery rhetoric may inspire the younger officers, but the more seasoned personnel, the ones concerned with results, see right through words - and look for results.

A change in Mr. Baumann's style, and a record of results with MPD would restore respect when it is much needed. Let us now return to the topic of this thread, the IG.

the comment made by "right...." and the FOP is incorrect by a long shot. Kris Baumann has clean up the union and put its money where it needs to go, dealing with Lanier and her idiot command staff. Lanier won't speak to him for many reasons but one being that her called her to the table in contract negotiations which ironically was at the beginning of her tenure a chief. She along with King Fenty, offered the union (and its members) zero percent for seven years. The union took her to court because you cannot come to the table with zero. Her contract SPELLS out THREE percent per year PLUS BONUSES. She apparently can't do that for the troops she supposedly leads. She was a lousy commander in 4d, as commander of sod and now as chief, can't even tell the truth on a simple escort policy. If you are a District resident or work in the city, you all need to wake up and start asking questions of your beloved Chief. You safety may depend on it. Officers are leaving at twice the rate she has previously stated. She doesn't talk to Baumann, that's her UNPROFESSIONAL choice. Business is business. Their are issues they can resolve together but she doesn't have the maturity to do so.

It was dumb to use a large photo of Orange to illustrate CP's story about Willoughby and the IG. Why not use Mendo instead ... he criticized the IG. Makes as much sense.

Of course, the photo should've been of Willoughby.

The same people on Rhee's staff in Washington, DC who were fired (supposedly) are some of the same people who travel with her around the country with this message. I saw them myself. As they showed the "Waiting For Superman" documentary I had an out of body experience watching scene after scene. All I could think of was that I was there - a faceless member of almost every scene in that documentary and now I'm here watching her talk about if from the stage.... of my alma mater....the very institution where I began my career....as if my "real" face never existed. Who knew, when she first arrived in DC that she would destroy the livilihood and careers of thousands (majority African American teacher in poor, urban neighborhoods going through gentrification) who worked so hard to teach children and struggled to hold these public school systems together when little funding was available. Now that funding is available, all of our lifelong schooling, love, caring, working with families, guidance, and long hours of attention to the needs of children and their accomplishments are on the auction block and made a mockery.

The real clencher for me was when Rhee, from the stage of one of the greatest historically Black colleges in this country, and in the presence of the NAACP, the college President, and other respected Black leaders, asserted that she equated her movement in education with the Civil Rights Movement. I had to leave the room because I became nauseated, literally, I felt pain in my gut.

As one teacher put it, we can't march with signs, yell, holler, and scream anymore. We are educators. We have to educate and pull together to clear our names, get our homes back, and restore our dignity. Rifs were not created to defame and discredit people. Post rif, hundreds of DCPS employees have been hired, fired, hired, fired......what!? Teachers are ducking and dodging everyday trying not to get caught up in the endless list of pink slip recipients. Teachers! Please stop this madness and organize so you do not have to live out your career in fear and uncertainty on a daily basis. We work(ed) too hard.

Please see the attached flyer. If we unite we can send a counter message out about who we are and not allow someone to dictate that to the nation. Speak to those in your community, your churches, your centers, and anywhere you frequent. Ask them to support us in getting rid of the "bad teacher" stigma. What is really "bad" is that teachers were wrongfully terminated. But what is worse is that the "bad teacher" stigma is now a platform for Michelle Rhee which makes it increasingly difficult for these same people who have children to be hired anywhere... again.... by any other employer. This is criminal.

found him on google images.