When your bargaining unit’s contract window opens, you have a choice. Compare what truly matters for rank-and-file officers, detectives, sergeants, and lieutenants: strong legal defense, real legislative wins that protect your career and family, and personalized advocacy that matches management’s resources.
Deep bench of dedicated labor attorneys. A dedicated attorney is assigned to YOUR chapter (not shared business agents), with the full team available for bargaining, arbitration, discipline defense & complex cases. Matches or exceeds management resources.
Far fewer attorneys than MAP. This is critical: MAP's deep bench means it can deploy attorneys to multiple incidents simultaneously, while a union with limited attorneys cannot.
Attorney + experienced LE Board member assigned to every chapter. MAP drafts and prosecutes unfair labor practices and grievances on behalf of its chapters. Street-level insight + top-tier legal firepower. "Help Those Who Help Others."
Limited support due to a small number of attorneys. In many cases you receive a business agent, not a licensed attorney. Management always has a lawyer at the table — so should you.
24-hour Critical Incident Hotline (630-905-0663) — direct access to a board member AND an attorney when it matters most. MAP will send a lawyer directly to the scene. Critical incident attorneys are Force Science Certified and highly experienced in use of force and criminal law. MAP provides separate attorneys for the officer involved in an OIS and for witness officers, ensuring no conflicts of interest. Line-of-duty death/disability benefits.
Emergency number listed on their website. Nowhere does it guarantee a lawyer will respond to the scene.
MAP employs a full-time dedicated lobbyist in Springfield. When MAP sees a problem affecting officers, it acts — drafting and passing real legislation that protects members. Proven achievements include PEDA protection and expansion, and preventing municipalities from terminating officers based upon disability, and Tier 2 advocacy. MAP can point to a track record of legislative wins that directly benefit its members.
It is unknown whether they employ a full-time lobbyist. Other police unions place little to no emphasis on proactive lawmaking for the benefit of their members. When problems arise, they are not at the table in Springfield fighting to fix them. MAP is.
Track record of winning complex arbitrations, grievances, and constitutional challenges, including amicus curiae filings before the Illinois Supreme Court. High-stakes police and public safety labor experience.
Unknown.
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Our labor attorneys will analyze it and provide specific, actionable recommendations on how it can be improved immediately in your next negotiation — at no cost to you.
I was hired by the Bolingbrook Police Department in August of 1979 and served in many capacities throughout a 31-year career, retiring in 2010. In 1984, I was approached by then-President Joseph Andalina with an opportunity to join the newly formed Metropolitan Alliance of Police (MAP). I welcomed the offer and the chance to be part of a true grassroots organization.
Over the years, I have held the positions of Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary, and currently serve as President. During my tenure as President, M.A.P. has expanded its legal team to include four in-house attorneys, bringing our full legal staff to 13 highly skilled labor attorneys.
The growth of our legal team and support staff has been essential in upholding the founding principles of the organization. Every chapter retains dedicated labor attorneys who guide members through every stage of contract negotiations, from initial bargaining through ratification, and continue representing them afterward to ensure the Collective Bargaining Agreement is fully enforced. MAP’s renowned legal defense is also included in our member monthly dues. MAP is there to protect our members and provide peace of mind to ensure our members can perform their duties in a difficult, ever-changing society they have sworn to serve and protect.
Under this expanded team, we have also added a dedicated analyst who provides consistent, data-driven support to our attorneys during contract negotiations. Together, we serve more than 5,500 members across 10 Illinois counties.
While M.A.P. has grown from a grassroots organization into a recognized leader in the public-sector labor movement, the thing I am most proud of is that it has never lost its grassroots approach to serving its members. We are always evolving to suit the needs of our members, and that commitment will never change.