ChicagoClout

I would also like to comment on the new story of Mr. Harper. Mr. Harper is a very well known hard-dedicated worker in many areas of Chicago. He was a very important expect with the Harold Washington administration and when you view the funeral and rotunda wake for the late Mayor Harold Washington, you will find Mr. Harper working hard and diligently throughout the whole services. Mr. Harper has been working with children of disabilities and cancer for over 15 yrs he give his own volunteer time in giving them hope, reading, art, and other form of communications. I was so sad to hear of such an ordeal happening especially to him since all of Chicago knows how well and how hard he has help hold that department up. If he can't get his prompts, then may God have mercy for the others workers of the Chicago Fire Department.

I would like to thank Chicagoclout for helping to bring this information to the surface. I have tried to get help from Aldermen who wouldn't even return my call or after meeting with them on these issues, would not get back to me with responses. I have talked to the Fire Commissioner who knew that I have been working out of title for over 8 years and was my former Director of Training and when he became Fire Commissioner gave me his word that he would help to get me in the right position. I was given a desk audit twice, I was refused the first time because I didn't have the Bachelor in Computer Information Systems as required but I did have the over 5 yrs. experience. After that audit review, I attended DeVry University and graduated with honors in Compute Information Systems and during this time, another outside worker was brought in to work in that position of Computer Application Analyst now called Programmer and I had to train him about the work performance. He left as being the second person to leave this position and the duties was put back into my job performance because I now have the experience and the education but not the title. This position brings in training reimbursement fund money of 1.5 million every year. This money is brought in each year by me alone acting in a programmer's title that is not my title. The department along with the Human Resource department has written the duties of the programmer's title into my title of Admin. Asst. III title. There is not one Admin. Asst. III as a city worker that work in Business Objects and writes reports all day and installs software, train and prepare other workers to work with FMPS, produce Adhoc reports, etc. I have proven my work abilities to this department in its entirety and this year alone has accumulated over 330 hours of compensatory time. I have never been late in over 20 years and always at work an hour early from 6:00 am til 3:00pm to 7:00pm at night consistently. I have contacted the Mayor's Office about this, Aldermen, Labor Officials, Unions etc., is this how hard working , dedicated employee are treated? May the Lord help our Political City Officials.

It has really been sad still knowing how the Chicago Fire Department and the Managerial Staff there are treating Mr. Harper. He has tried to get out of that department and they have black-balled him and made promises only to keep using him. Mr. Harper has paved the way and helped many firefighters, chiefs, Lt's, etc to get certified when the department didn't teach or put the materials that were needed to help firefighters and all others to be certified through the State Fire Marshal. Mr. Harper has helped many of us with the Hazardous Material Operations and Hazardous Material Tech process that is in effect to the present. Without Mr. Harper hard work and expertise, many of us would not have qualified for the 5% that is being granted to those members who has passed these courses. We as firefighters and officers have had to call on Mr. Harper many times for help and he took the time to help us be it was after his work hours or before and the reason I write this is because I am one of those members that has needed his help and knowledge in many forms, many of which the department didn't let us as uniform members know that which we should have been told about. It appears that the most dedicated workers are the least to be promoted in that department. I feel bad because they are representing me and all other uniform members and it is sad because everyone inside and outside the department knows of Mr. Harper's great work. I hope all my fellow firefighters and members read this and also send comments that it may help this dedicated worker get his promotion as he so much as earned and deserve many years ago. My company prayers are with you Mr. Harper and hope some department that appreciates you will sweep you away one day.

I just read your story about Mr. Harper and Mr. Harper should have left that department years ago. For many years, Mr. Harper has been the only person running the records department by himself. That department use to consist of over 14 civilian members and all of which are gone and Mr. Harper had to run that department by himself. It is an embarrassment to the Chicago Fire Department that they would treat someone who is not a uniform as a slave. Did they not hear, "Slavery Is Over". That man has earned his prompts and has paved the way long, long ago. I know this because I use to work there with him in the middle 80's and know what he was doing then. We all know how he is overwork and has really felt sorry for him. To the Commissioner and Deputy Fire Commissioner, "God Don't Like Uckly." Every dog will have his day.

For many years, I have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Harper and I must say that he is a very dedicated hard work man. He has given the Chicago Fire Department over 100 percent plus in their short-comings. He has earned that update years ago but the department won't do right by him, I don't know if its personal but I will say without him, many firefighters, Lieutenants, captains, chiefs etc would not have been certified as should all due to the hard work and effort Mr. Harper has put into this work. We all within the department know that he is working out of his title because of the two individuals who use to work in that title as Computer Application Analysts I use to do the same exact duties but not nearly as well as Mr. Harper. I was there when Mr. Harper received his Employee of the Year Award and far beyond what he should have received and that was the proper upgrade. Good Luck to you Mr. Harper, I hope you find a better department that can appreciate you, we need more employees like your kind and it was a priviledge working with you.

Everyone within the Chicago Fire Department throughout Chicago is aware of the great work that Mr. Harper has provided with the Chicago Fire Department but with the racist Director of Training there and the Racist Commissioner that has now been placed into these positions, not to forget a very prejudice and unethical unprofessional Labor Relation Commissioner that is taking up space and collecting a paycheck doing nothing but harrassing members of the fire department is so immoral that this are the people that makes us look bad as great firefighters, lieutenants, batt. chiefs, etc. Mr. Harper will never be placed in the proper position for his great work that he has given so dedicated to the Chicago Fire Department unless he were as those who has been promoted to higher positions and those were members that slept with other management and officers to get where they are now, not because they earned to be where they are. Therefore, let the truth be made known that if you aren't sleeping with the enemies within the Chicago Fire Department, you will never get promoted to any position. We the members of the Chicago Fire Department who have worked so closely with Mr. Harper pray that he will one day be blessed to be granted another position within the City of Chicago and promoted to where he should be, he's smart, very well educated, and has a great personality and we all knows that he works professional well with others. God will prepare a table before your enemies Mr. Harper and he will deals with those mention above members, so we will keep praying for you and with you. Keep the Faith.