SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Second Vice President Keith Turney has received appointments to two groups that will help chart the future of law enforcement in the nation and in the state of Illinois. Turney will serve on the National FOP Legislative Committee and on the Illinois Commission on Police Professionalism. Both appointments are effective immediately.
"Keith is the definition of police professionalism and these two appointments recognize his dedicated and untiring service to the law enforcement community," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "It's an honor that one of our own will be an integral part of charting the future course of law enforcement in our state and nation."
"I feel honored by these appointments that will allow me to represent the interests of the Illinois FOP on the state and national level," Turney said. "It is vital that the men and women who protect and serve the public in one of the nation's most dangerous and challenging professions have an effective voice at all levels of government."
National FOP President Chuck Canterbury named Turney to the five-member FOP Legislative Committee for 2015 - 2017. The committee monitors and drafts federal legislation concerning all aspects of law enforcement, from working conditions to training to citizen interaction. The members also communicate with federal elected officials about matters that pertain to law enforcement.
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner appointed Turney to serve on the Illinois Commission on Police Professionalism. The Commission, whose members are not paid, was created by the Police Reform Omnibus Act passed by the Illinois General Assembly this past May. The Commission will review current training, duties, identification, and other matters pertaining to law enforcement officers, and submit a report and recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor by January 31, 2016.
Turney is currently the Second Vice President of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge and has served as a Field Representative for the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council for the past five years. Before joining the FOP Labor Council,Turney had a 31-year career with the Joliet Police Department, the fourth largest in the state of Illinois, retiring as a commander.
The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.
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