In early July, Hoosier Nation rallied in support of Officer Jerry Piland, standing up to Al Sharpton, Indy's Black race hustlers, and the Indianapolis Star. Piland was at the center of the "police brutality" controversy this Spring in in which a Black youth who had been attempting to incite a riot violently resisted arrest. The local media and the leaders of the Black community paraded around pictures of the teenager's bruised-up face and demanded that all the officers be fired.

Police Chief Ciesielski, buckling under the local and national media spotlight, hounded by the Black community, offered up one officer, Officer Jerry Piland, for termination.

• Piland followed police procedure.
• Piland has a spotless disciplinary record.
• Piland was awarded the 2008 Rookie of the Year award.
• Piland is fully supported by the Fraternal Order of Police

Officer Piland has been singled out because he's White and the kid is Black. Indianapolis's Black community thinks that they can bully our politicians into putting one more White man in the unemployment line…and they're probably right. But we at Hoosier Nation are fighting back, and we need your help:

On September 2nd, the Civilian Merit Review Board will be reviewing Chief Ciesielski's request to terminate Officer Piland and could potentially reinstate him. We can help persuade this board by offering an outpouring of support. Please take a moment to send a friendly letter asking them to set politics aside and do what's right.

Please address your supportive letter to:

ATTN Bill Owensby

Fraternal Order of Police

1525 S Shelby St

Indianapolis, IN 46203

Here is a downloadable Word document to use as a template, though we encourage you to personalize your message.