Police union may picket City Hall during Olympic visit

The Fraternal Order of Police may picket City Hall next week on the day that International Olympic Committee evaluators arrive here to assess Chicago's chances in landing the 2016 Games.

The FOP is thinking about conducting informational picketing April 2 to protest the Daley administration's recent decision to pull an offered raise of 16.1 percent over five years. The union also is upset Mayor Daley came to Police Supt. Jody Weis' defense after the FOP gave him a no-confidence vote last week.

"There was an attempt to dismiss the seriousness of the message," FOP President Mark Donahue said.

Donahue said no date is locked in for a protest.

But one likely day is April 2, Donahue said. That's the day IOC officials arrive in Chicago to spend four days being wooed by Olympics organizers here. Donahue denied a protest is being timed to embarrass Daley in front of the IOC evaluators.

Police sources said they doubted officers would come out in force. In the past, officers have been reluctant to incur the mayor's ire by participating in such protests, the sources said.

A group called No Games Chicago has announced on its Web site that its members are welcome to gather April 2 at Federal Plaza, 50 W. Adams, to rally against bringing the Summer Games here. The group says money used on the Games could be better spent on hospitals, housing, schools and public transit.

Contributing: Lisa Donovan