Member-only story
Facing Fear
Divide and Conquer Wins
Because we let it win
“Please, don’t believe anyone who tells you that you can’t fight City Hall.” This was something my father instilled in my mind when I was a child. Another one of his favorite quotes was FDR’s, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
I was 5 years old in 1964, when my Dad and his friends stood up to City Hall and formed the first chapter of the IBPO (International Brotherhood of Police Officers).
In 1964, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers was born in Cranston, RI as a result of a promotional exam scandal. The day after learning that someone had leaked the answers to this test, seven police officers protested by announcing a boycott of the exam. These seven officers were suspended then later terminated.
Following this, the Rhode Island General Assembly, with the help of these seven officers, passed the Police Officers Arbitration Act. This legislation gave all police officers the right to organize and negotiate wages, benefits and the conditions of their employment.
The terminated officers, who had filed a lawsuit in order to return to work, saw their case go before the RI Supreme Court. The court ruled that these seven courageous officers were to be reinstated and awarded all back pay and benefits.
