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It’s now clear that the City Council questioning of police chief Jody Weis Tuesday had two purposes: (1) to send a message to the world, and particularly that small slice of it known as the International Olympic Committee, that Chicago’s leaders are going to crack heads and take care of this unpleasant gun violence problem (or at least make sure it’s banished from downtown); and (2) to allow the mayor to make a pointed argument—delivered via his handpicked police chief and surrogates in the council, who would not act on an issue like this without Daley's knowledge and consent—that the real source of this mess is an overly aggressive push to discipline police officers.
This second matter is the one most likely to impact the daily lives of people in Chicago.
"I have heard from many officers that there is a degree of timidness--that people are not maybe as engaged as they should be because of fears of lawsuits, fears of [complaints registered] being put against them by criminals and by other folks who are just trying to impugn their integrity," Weis said, as quoted by the Sun-Times.
We’ve heard this argument many times before. “I understand there may be a few bad apples in the bushel, but there are gangbangers and drug dealers in the neighborhoods who learn how to file complaints against officers,” the 47th Ward's Eugene Schulter said in a hearing just last week that gave alderman an opportunity to tee off on the Independent Police Review Authority, the agency charged with vetting complaints about cops.
Schulter/Weis/Daley make a disturbing argument, but it’s certainly not the full story. Some thugs may actually file complaints to taint good cops and, as a result, undermine the process for disciplining not-so-good ones. Then again, it's also possible that some cops may actually rack up complaints from honest citizens concerned about their conduct.
From April through June the IPRA closed its investigations into 672 cases that involved either allegations of misconduct, reports of an officer discharging a weapon, or other “extraordinary occurrences” such as a suspect dying in custody, according to the authority’s most recent report (which can't be viewed on all browsers). The vast majority—at least 523—didn’t result in any finding against the officers. In fact, in 230 of these cases the person who filed the complaint refused to sign an affidavit, an assertion under oath that the testimony is true. This figure could underscore what Daley, Weis, and the aldermen are ranting about: if gangbangers are indeed filing frivolous complaints about cops just to screw with them, they’re probably not going to follow up by taking a trip to IPRA headquarters to sign affidavits.
And another 86 cases were closed after investigators ruled the allegations were simply “unfounded.”
Still, at least 203 were “not sustained,” which essentially means the evidence wasn’t substantial enough to prove misconduct or innocence.
And I can tell you from firsthand experience that it’s not that easy to file a complaint--and it’s far less easy to prove it’s justified.
A couple of years ago I was on the Red Line headed south of the Loop when a couple of cops stepped onto the car and immediately approached a teenager and asked for his ID. He provided it, and one of the officers glanced it over and then put it into his pocket. The kid demanded to have it back; the cop told him he’d return it when the kid got off the train—which, the cop said, would be at the next stop.
Sure enough, we pulled up to the 47th Street station and the officer shoved the teenager off the train, pushed him over to a support beam, and ordered him to put his hands up. As we pulled away, the officer was kicking the kid in the legs.
Maybe I don’t need to say this, but I will: I respect and admire the thousands of officers on the force who help keep me safe every day I’m in this city, and most of those I’ve interacted with appeared to be serious about their jobs because they cared about people they’d never met. But this cop’s behavior was way out of line. I wasn’t the only person who thought so—our train car was buzzing about what had just happened. So I took down the names and phone numbers of four or five others who’d seen the whole thing and put in a call right then to the Office of Professional Standards, the IPRA’s predecessor. I was told they’d look into it.
A few weeks later an investigator got in touch with me and asked me to come down to their offices on the south side. I hadn’t gotten the officer’s name or star number, and OPS couldn’t figure out which cops might have been on a southbound CTA train at the time of the incident, so the investigator needed me to take a look at the photos of a bunch of officers.
I had to take a half day off work to make the trip down there, wait awhile, wait some more, then finally get escorted to the desk of an investigator who pulled up a bunch of photos of officers on her computer screen . . . only to determine what you might expect: there was no way to look at someone’s head shot and honestly say yes, that’s the guy I saw once, several weeks ago, from several yards away, most of the time with his back to me, seemingly harassing a teenager who didn’t appear to do anything other than act like a teenager.
Many weeks later I received a letter from OPS in the mail. The complaint, it said, had not been sustained. The case was closed.
Our ongoing problems with violence demand action, including vigorous public debate. But I wonder if engaging in baldly political displays shows any respect for Chicago Police officers or the citizens they try to serve and protect.
July 16th - 7:57 a.m.
We will see how many Westside/Southside Chicagoans, Miller(MillerCoor) will Hire. Go to :http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/ to see how you get hired at MWRD or just like Boeing , all the hoopla and tax credits for NOTHING!!! We the taxpayers pay for this bull-shit! The 300 jobs will go to Jerry Joyces -Bill Daley-Pat Levar-Dick Mell-Tim Degnan-people.Most people with NO CLOUT, like usual ,will not benefit. In regards to Jody. You can't put a Federal Agent in Charge of one of the most Corrupt Police Departments in America and expect to clean it up in a year.It took the G 100 years to finally understand the Mob and it still is alive and well under Daley.
Dane Placko is #1
July 16th - 7:59 a.m.
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/
Sammy
July 16th - 8:09 a.m.
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/
Coco,
Everyone should look at this FOXNEWS report . Than they will know why people are killing in the streets. NO JOBS, because they all go to the people with CLOUT!
Hey, Frankie......
July 16th - 12:13 p.m.
What about the Budweiser division owned by the Jesse Jackson family????????????.
Name:
Email:
Comment:
I am: A Bot Sent To Spam A Living Being With a Valid Comment
Mick, your biased panties are showing.
Your article is another fine example of a 'journalist' deliberately omitting most of the relevant parts of the issue being 'reported'.
I say 'deliberately' because the only other explanation for what you've written is that either:
1-you're too lazy to do the research
or
2-too stupid to recognize the truth when you see it
or
3-too dishonest to report the truth, when the truth doesn't conform to your opinions
or
4- all of the above
The lazy part would be because you've failed to read the blog:
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
The stupid part would be because you've read, but failed to comprehend
The dishonest part would be because you've read, understood and don't like what you've read, so you omit every bit of truth, other than those bits that serve your purpose, and distort those few bits of truth you don't omit.
So, presuming none of these 3 things are true, that you're not lazy, that you're not stupid, that you're not dishonest, and that you've written this article with a deliberate purpose, what, then, is that purpose?
You omit the fact that cops want citizen's complaints to not only require a sworn affidavit to be taken seriously, (because these complaints ARE serious and have serious consequences for the officer against which they are brought), but also that, if it is determined that the person or persons who have sworn that what they've alleged to be true is, in fact, NOT true, that they, the person or persons who signed the affidavit, be prosecuted for perjury. Not an unreasonable requirement, given the serious nature of a sworn affidavit.
In layman's terms: Don't swear to tell the truth and then tell lies.
Your personal anecdote is a good example of ignorance in action.
You do not know anything about the 'teenager', but presume that he was doing what you were doing, ie., using the CTA to get from point A to point B.
And that the actions of the officer(s) were for no good purpose that you could see or understand. ("But this cop’s behavior was way out of line.")
And the fact that many shared your opinion, ("I wasn’t the only person who thought so—our train car was buzzing about what had just happened."), just shows how ignorant most citizens are and how little they, as you, understand that, just because YOU don't know what the fuck is going on around you, doesn't mean that those employed to protect your ignorant asses are as clueless as you are.
You fail to describe this teenager in any detail.
What did he look like?
How was he dressed?
Did he have any tattoos that you could see?
Was he wearing pants and, if so, did those pants have pockets, and, if so, how many and where were they located and what did he have in those pockets?
Was he wearing a shirt?
And, if so, was the shirt he was wearing loosely fitted and did the shirt have pockets and how many and where were they located and what, if anything, were their contents?
Did you recognize this teenager?
Maybe the officers did, maybe the officers knew who this teenager was, knew he was a 'known gang member' or had a record of pickpocketing on the El, or strong arm robbery, or snatch & grab thefts, or drug addiction, or drug dealing, etc....
Maybe what you observed as "...the officer was kicking the kid in the legs." was the officer using his foot to encourage this 'teenager' to spread his legs farther apart, as the 'teenager' assumed the position for the officer to SAFELY pat him down.
Did you attempt to determine what, if anything, was discovered by the officers?
Did you attempt to identify the teenager, to determine if there was, indeed, a 'good' reason for the officers' actions?
Or did you do what your article clearly and strongly implies you did, jump to the conclusion that the officers were doing something wrong, all because what you saw. the little that you saw, led you to believe that "...this cop’s behavior was way out of line."?
I could go on for another 1,000 words, but I'll leave you with this question:
Will you do the research to determine the age, gender and race of the following:
1. Who has been the shooter in every killing by firearm in this city in the past 10 years?
2. Who has been the shooter in assaults with injury by firearm in this city in the past 10 years?
3. Who has been the offender in armed robberies with a firearm in this city in the past 10 years?
4. Who has been the offender in the sale of prohibited substances in this city in the past 10 years?
5. Who has been the offender in forcible rapes in this city in the past 10 years?
6. Who has been the offender in strong arm robberies in this city in the past 10 years? (pay particular attention to strong arm robberies committed on CTA property)
7. Who has been the named 'father' on birth certificates of children born to women who have been, and/or are currently, receiving Public Aid relevant to said children?
8. Of the named 'fathers', what is the average history of these 'fathers' meeting their financial responsibilities, as defined by the court, concerning their status as the named 'father'?
9. How many male, black teenagers are known gang members?
10. How many female, black teenagers are known gang members?
If you want to bring up the employment issues relevant to the above, knock yourself out.
If you want to explore the connections between any of the above and the policies of this city's mayor, aldermen and their relationships to community 'leaders', religious or other, go to it.
If you want to investigate the use and misuse of the vast amounts of taxpayer dollars, city, county, state and federal, we'd all be interested in reading about what you discover.
But, when you post an article that could, for all of it's lack of honest effort at telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, be one written by a Sun-Times, Tribune of broadcast media hack, it is, to say the least, disappointing, coming from one of the Chicago Reader's editors.
Maybe I expect too much integrity from the Chicago Reader.
"....one of the most Corrupt Police Departments in America and expect to clean it up in a year."
You ARE referring to the upper level mis-managers, merited clout monkeys all, aren't you? You know, the patronage and nepotism hacks?
And the frauds being committed by all of those mayor's and alderman's hacks, right?
Like the fact that there are 13,500 officers budgeted, yet there are less than 10,000 actually employed and less than half of them are working beat cars, when they have a working beat car to work in?
Which means that even if those less than 5,000 officers were to work 7 days a week, no days off, and had the vehicles, since there are 3 watches, the most we'd have is less than 1,700 officers patrolling this city on any given watch.
And that's not taking into account IOD, FURLOUGHS, LOA, LD's, etc.
What's the city's population now?
Are you familiar with the term 'house mouse'?
You present yourself as having intimate knowledge of the workings of the MWRD, do you think the CPD is any different?
C'Mon, Framkie Cnote, bless us with your intimate knowledge concerning all of the machine's various criminal enterprises, aka city and county governmental departments.
Or is the time not yet ripe for so thorough a revelation?
1--Among your many presumptions is the assertion that I don't read
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/. And I'm pretty sure I understand what's said there.
2--I'm happy to hear any specific tips you have that would help shine more light on any of these issues. You can email me at mdumke@chicagoreader.com.
3--The rest of your comments/questions/arguments speak quite clearly for themselves.
Ah, Mick, it's a sad day, indeed, when an editor of the Chicago Reader has to, apparently, lower himself to the level of the lazy whores at the Times, Trib and, as always, the broadcast 'news' hacks.
E-mail you 'tips'?
When did you get so lazy?
As for your being "...pretty sure I understand what's said there.", well, then why did you choose to write the above article in the manner you did?
And, yes, "The rest of your comments/questions/arguments speak quite clearly for themselves.".
They do indeed.
And yet, somehow, I doubt that you're hearing what I'm saying.
Here are a few tips:
Answer questions 1 - 10.
Write an article on what you discover in your quest for the answers to those 10 questions.
Then investigate the subjects of my three "If you want to..." invitations I offered for your consideration.
You're the journalist, aren't you?
You chose journalism as your career and profession, didn't you?
You didn't get into this business just to make a buck while sucking up to the power brokers, did you?
You buy your own groceries, don't you?
And cook your own meals?
And chew the food you eat yourself, right?
Then why this pathetic request for me to do your work for you?
P.S.:
As for "Among your many presumptions is the assertion that I don't read
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/.
well, you also apparently don't read the comments you respond to:
"So, presuming none of these 3 things are true, that you're not lazy, that you're not stupid, that you're not dishonest, and that you've written this article with a deliberate purpose, what, then, is that purpose?"
How about answering this question?
You want a tip?
Here's a tip:
"The district I work in ran around 350 officers on the Strength Report 10 years ago. This is a hard number because I saw those reports.
These days the same district runs around 270 officers. Ten years ago we had 2 man cars on everything and all cars were manned. today it is all one man cars.
Were did those 80 officers go? The alderman never noticed but it was beat realignment without calling it that. Just run under strength and steal the bodies for other units, SOS and then TRU etc.
Also the City leaves the department run under strength and under budget and it is a way to plug budget holes. consider this, 10 officers is about 1 million dollars in the budget, 100 officers is around 10 million, 1,000 officers is around 100 million, 1,500 officers is around 150 million dollars.
That is why the department is running under strength. The former brain trust either told the Mayor, or were told by the Mayor, to do the job with less because there were budget holes.
It isn't much of a mystery, that is it. Every department has their own shortages. Run shorthanded and perform under budget or the Mayor will get someone who will do your job with no complaining.
I am surprised no reporter has gotten hold of the Strength Reports from around 10 years ago and from current times. These reports will tell the tale and show exactly how many bodies the department has.
You can bet the mortgage that the department will not get up off these reports without being forced to do so. You can also bet that these reports are shredded exactly on their retention period and not allowed to linger.
7/16/2008 08:32:00 PM"
Courtesy of:
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
You're Welcome.
I welcome tips (like all journalists) because I fully acknowledge that I (like all journalists) rely on information from the true experts out there.
I, like you, have a point of view. That doesn't mean I don't want to see it challenged.
Thank you.
Read the blog:
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
Honest cops, and there are many, want to "solve the problem(S)", and are TRYING to "solve the problem(S)", but one of the major root causes of the problem is that citizens keep reelecting these lying, thieving, cheating, manipulating, greedy, ruthless, scheming, arrogant motherfuckers year after year after year.
Citizens fail to register to vote, don't bother to vote even if they once did register and, when they do vote, either cast their votes as if elections are popularity contest, a fucking horse race or a chance to win the patronage lottery.
Rarely do citizens decide who to vote for based on who will truly serve the public interest best and most intelligently, most honestly, most efficiently and most effectively.
Ctizens vote for candidates that are of the same race as they are, the same religion as they are, the same gender as they are, the same national origin as they are, the same political party as they are, etc., etc., etc.....
Citizens who don't vote, be they registered, not registered or at one time registered but are no longer, and that is 50% or more of all citizens qualified to vote, are the ones who have failed miserably to be part of solutions to the problem(S).
Here's some food for thought:
"The root cause of our problems lie in the dishonesty of our elected/reelected government officials.
And who elects/reelects these dishonest citizens?
The majority of citizens?
No, because the majority of citizens who meet the qualifications to vote are not even registered to vote.
A conservative estimate of this number approaches or exceeds 50% of those qualified, qualified being defined as:
1. A citizen of the U. S. of A.
2. 18 years of age or older
3. A resident of a given electoral area relevant to a given elected office (Legislative, Judicial and/or Executive & City, County, Township, District, State or Federal)
The remaining less than 50% of the population who are registered can be divided into 2 distinct groups:
1. Those that benefit from, and thus support, the incumbent office holders
and
2. Those from whom a majority of the above benefits are derived, (through taxes, fees, fines, etc.) and who don't substantially benefit from said incumbent office holders
Add the large group that are not registered and you end up with the following percentages:
50% of all citizens who don't vote
50% of all citizens who do
Of the roughly 50%, at most, who do vote, 50% of those rarely show up to vote on election day.
Thus, roughly 25% of the total number of citizens who could vote are deciding, by voting, who our elected officials are.
Since, at most, a candidate needs 50.1% of the total votes cast for a given elected office, it can be seen that, at most, all a candidate needs, be he/she an incumbent, seeking reelection, or a challenger, seeking election, is for approximately 12.51% of the total number of citizens who are qualified to vote to vote for them.
In round figures, that's about 1 out of every 8 citizens needed, primarily by the incumbents, to register to vote, show up to cast their votes and vote for the incumbents.
Take a guess at who those 1 out of 8 citizens are.
And think about what the 7 out of 8 citizens are not doing. (not registering, not voting or splitting the votes they do cast amongst multiple challengers, many of whom, when necessary, are shill candidates put on the ballot for just that purpose)
You'd think that the many who foot the bills that benefit the few would be motivated to figure this out and do something about it, namely:
REGISTER TO VOTE
VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION
HAVE NO DOUBT, VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT
You'd think......"
The problem(S) to be solved, and there are many, require THE CITIZENS to THINK, and TO VOTE.
When citizens fail to think but still vote and/or when citizens think, but don't vote, and/or when citizens don't think and don't vote, this is the result.
Because the small minority of citizens who do think are thinking about how to take advantage of the many citizens who don't.
And they don't care about any color other than GREEN.
And I'm not talking about environmentalists.
re Thinking like a cop:
Since this blog is set up so as to allow us, the readers, to post pretty much anything we can type by simply clicking on the 'Save Comment' button, (understanding, of course, that there is no guarantee that our posted comment will remain posted), how about you share with us your ideas on what the problem(s) are and what solution(s) to those problem(s) might be?
At the very least, if you give it a try, you'll improve your writing skills and maybe learn a few things along the way.
"Mick D.
July 17th - 12:51 a.m.
My purpose is to ask questions and engage in debate. What is yours?
I welcome tips (like all journalists) because I fully acknowledge that I (like all journalists) rely on information from the true experts out there.
I, like you, have a point of view. That doesn't mean I don't want to see it challenged.
Thank you."
To start with, it's odd that you find it easy to be forthcoming when you write an article, some quite lengthy, a yet, when you respond to a comment, you seem to be fond of brevity and a lack of specificity.
Is that your intention, to be brief, vague and, presumably, therefore, safe from actually engaging in debate?
"My purpose is to ask questions........What is yours?"
So, what questions did you choose to ask? In your article? In your responses to the comments above?
What is your purpose again?
As for what my purpose is, it is to 'live and let live' in a world seemingly made up of many people whose purposes are to 'live and let die'.
One of the many tools that the 'live and let die' folks utilize is hypocrisy.
Another is pandering to prejudices.
Still another is the mental laziness of others.
And the gullibility of others.
And self-serving greed in others.
And fears of all kinds.
And complacency.
And self-pity.
And vanity.
And the 'not in my backyard' viewpoint.
And the 'it's not my job' mentality.
And the 'it's not my problem, so I don't care' attitude.
And the 'that's just the way things are' and the 'there's nothing I can do about it' apathy.
And the 'They're not doing it to ME, so why should I care' feeling.
Along with the 'Life owes me special treatment' and 'I can't do that, learn that, understand that, etc., point of view.
And the 'I'm not responsible', 'I don't want to be held accountable', 'I can do whatever I want to whoever I want, as long as I want, until I get caught' philosophy.
So, Mick, what are your points of view?
What do you think?
Reading secondcityblog isn't going to solve Mick's problems, especially when the owner doesn't tell people their real name. Anonymous blogs are good for spouting and that is about it.
Sorry, Steve ??????, but your premise that "Anonymous blogs are good for spouting and that is about it." is false.
Anonymous blogs are the perfect vehicle for providing a means to express honest opinions.
In fact, without the benefit of anonymity, most people are unlikely to come close to being honest in the expression of their thoughts and opinions.
Granted, some infantile personalities use the anonymous nature of blogging to 'spout', 'rant', and spew their suppressed in public animosities, but that's what the blog moderator is responsible for moderating.
Not censoring, but moderating, with the emphasis on moderate.
"Reading secondcityblog isn't going to solve Mick's problems..."
That would depend upon what Mick considers his 'problems' to be.
If Mick is truly sincere when he says "My purpose is to ask questions and engage in debate.", then, the:
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/ blog
will be very helpful in his quest for answers and his desire to debate the issues involved in the subject of this, (and many other), article.
If Mick, or you, really wanted to understand what's going on in this city recently, both on the streets and behind the closed doors that are our city and county governments, you, and he, would be asking questions that would lead you very quickly, if not always directly, to their answers.
The anonymous nature of the SCC blog is the only thing that enables the public to have the opportunity to 'hear' what they wouldn't typically be able to hear, cops speaking their minds, without fear of reprisal.
You seem to be, like Mick, intelligent enough to understand that.
The fact that you, and he, aren't posting comments that show that you understand leads me to believe you each have your own agendas and that those agendas have little to do with speaking the truth, whether as a statement of indisputable fact or subjective opinion.
We citizens of this city, county and state have more than enough agenda driven liars to endure in our reelected incumbents.
We don't need journalists and other citizens to add to the mix of hypocritical self-promoters.
If you, and/or Mick, really want to engage in debate, there's not only nothing stopping you, but, here, on this blog, there is everything enabling you to do so.
How about you, and Mick, participating?
How about you, and Mick, posting comments, and responses to comment, that contain some substance, other than knee-jerk defensiveness and avoidance?
How about being honest in your posted comments, as in avoiding deceptions of commission and omission?
How about it?
MY father may need to stand on a big block when he gets up to the podium like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. These runts do whatever they want and attack people that disagree with them. I am sick of Mayor Daley using his clout to insult members of the press. The City of Chicago is broke and Daley and his goons have cleaned the Chicago Treasury down to the last shekel. Mayor Daley should ask Tadin of "Hired Truck Program" to pony up, he has billions of dollars!
7/17/2008 9:28 AM CDT on suntimes.com
Because the many so-called 'journalists' are either too lazy, too agenda oriented or too bought and paid for whores, here's some more truth from that "Anonymous blogs are good for spouting and that is about it." that 'steve' thinks so little of:
"I'll tell you why most of us are 'de-policing'
1) A lot of us are practically forced b/c of manpower to regularly work alone.
Even the day after one of our own was murdered working 99, almost every single car was 99 on our watch.
(But the city cares about us)
2) Our schedule SUCKS!
we have to work six straight days dealing with the biggest scum in the city before our measly 2 days off.
How about 4-10hours, 5 on 3 off, etc.. anything. Give us options.
Those that want to keep the 6straight 8hours can, but the rest of us normal people want/need a different more accomodating work schedule that doesn't stress us the breaking point by that sixth day.
But the city doesn't care about what we want or about boosting our morale.
3) Merit Bosses!
There are just so many now that have been made bosses by clout that it's a slap in the face to us.
How can they expect us to take orders from someone that was a dog P.O. and dumb as hell, but is related to an alderman, sleeping with this boss, etc..
You can't do that without consequences.
Tell me why i should "go get em" for someone like this.
Merit promotions are garbage and should be done away with.
Straight off the list so it gives the un-clouted, hard working beat cop something to shoot for.
At the most 90-10%, not 70-30%. That's 30% of the bosses that are unqualified according the test given that are in charge of our well being daily.
Somber thought.
4) NO BODY HAS OUR BACK.
Policing is such a split second decision profession that sometimes things might not be so black and white. And even when it is, no body backs us up.
For instance, the shooting last week of the gangbanger with the record of weapons charges who was running around with a gun and got shot.
That's tuff shit.
You want to terrorize a neighborhood, thats what you get, shot.
But now the city and officers are getting sued by the family. Why?
It just burns me up inside. And all the media play clips of the family saying what an innocent person he was.
Get the F out of here.
But did you hear one peep of our supt telling it like it is, what a piece of shit the guy that got shot was.
No, of course not.
5) The media.
As in the last example they'll just put anyone on the news and let them babble any lie they want instead of editing the crap and putting out only the truth.
They are a huge part of the blame to what has happened to this dept and morale.
Every day we get beat up in the media for trying to do the right thing.
We are supposed to shoot gangbangers that are running around neighborhoods trying to kill people.
That's our job.
To keep you safe.
But they just don't see that.
Maybe once a little more "de-policing" happens and they start shooting some of these media people or their family members, maybe they'll start understanding.
6) Everyone expects us to be perfect 24/7. We aren't. We're human.
We go to bars, drink sometimes, and maybe occasionally if provoked far enough by the right assholes, get into fights. The department now is trying to control so much of our lives on AND OFF DUTY that we're starting to feel like hostages. We can't be more than .04 off duty!!?? WTF? This is a job!
We work hard enough for 8 hours in areas most wouldn't dream of setting foot, trying to protect people and now we can't even sit in the yard and have some cocktails on our days off.
This is just wrong.
7) Residency.
Why in this day and age are we restricted by a job as to where we can live.
Doesn't it seem like it would be a basic american freedom to be able to live wherever you want? If i want to live in oak brook and commute in here every day, why shouldn't I be able to?
The housing prices and taxes are getting too high for us to afford to live in decent neighborhoods.
8) Discipline.
You can't hand down a discipline sentencing, have the guy follow it, serve his time, then pull the rug under him after.
It just sends a terrible message to us that in the heat of the moment, if mistakes happen, and even after you admit to them, do your punishment, you can still get indicted years down the road federally.
No one wants to work under these conditions and its showing.
Again we are human and deal with the worst people on earth and sometimes they push you so far that you break and give them a crack.
Ok, punish me, but then let me move on from the incident. It was a mistake, lapse of judgement, but through an 8 hour day we are pushed so far... even to the brink of near death, and we still aren't allowed to make some mistakes here and there?
These are some of the major issues that are affecting us and causing the "de-policing" of the CPD.
This is a road map of things to address.
Start helping us out with this stuff and you'll see a much happier and harder working police force.
But until then, we are fed up and done being the city's whipping boy.
7/17/2008 02:26:00 AM"
If you want to call this 'spouting' and of no use in understanding and answering your 'questions', then you don't want to understand and don't want your questions answered.
Maybe all you want is to stir shit and, for you to be able to do that, there must be shit to stir.
Is that it?
Wow, you are intensely dissatisfied with your job. Maybe you would be better off with a career change.
That being said, half my high school graduating class are cops. Some of their relatives were cops. Many, many CPD are very good friends of mine. You all have an incredibly sh*tty job, for which you're not properly trained. I have never had an incident with a cop on duty (full disclosure, I'm white and don't hang out in high crime areas). I know the goal of every CPD is to get home alive.
My problem with the CPD, and it is the same with every municipal union, is that you support the bad apples. Why can't the Fraternal Order admit that yes, in a department this big we have a few bad apple officers and we want to get rid of them? Instead, union officials stand in front of mics and state that officers caught beating people on tape are victims of a witch-hunt.
Witch-hunt? Come on! Chicagoans are dim, but they're not brain-dead.
The problems with the public's perception of the CPD will continue as long as the Blue mindlessly support their own. Ironic that every cop I know loathes the fact no one will finger a shooter, but when it comes to their own profession they're as mute as the dead.
Revolutions always start with the people on the street. CPD officers shouldn't look to brass or government to fix their shields, they should look to themselves first. If you expect politicians to fix the police department, you're deluded.
Ah, michael, so sure of yourself and so far from reality.
No wonder your cop 'friends' don't share their true opinions with you; they know it's a waste of time.
Let's see how many pieces of bullshit we can find within your short little post:
"Wow, you are intensely dissatisfied with your job. Maybe you would be better off with a career change."
Intensely dissatisfied? That's putting it mildly. Disgusted is more like it. And not with the job, but rather with all the above, previously mentioned bullshit and all of the bullshit enumerated in the articles and comments available to the public at:
http://secondcitycop.blogspot.com/
Would I be 'better off' with a career change? Maybe.
But then, I didn't choose this career because I'm a self-centered prick; I chose this career to help people, something that the politicians claim they're doing but rarely actually are.
How about you, michael, what career did you choose?
"Many, many CPD are very good friends of mine. You all have an incredibly sh*tty job, for which you're not properly trained."
Your first sentence is proven false by your second sentence.
If you were 'good friends' with 'many, many CPD' officers, then either they never talk to you about anything concerning the job or you're a lousy listener.
And if you've expressed your opinion to them on how improperly trained they are, they must be fond of you for other reasons than having a high regard for you intelligence.
"My problem with the CPD, and it is the same with every municipal union, is that you support the bad apples."
Sorry, michael, but, if you'd read the blog, you'd have never typed and posted these words.
Try reading it.
"Come on! Chicagoans are dim, but they're not brain-dead."
They're not?
Then what explains their failure to rid this city and county of the consistently reelected crooks that make up our city and county governments?
When 50% of citizens who are qualified to vote aren't even registered to do so, and when 50% of the ones who are registered don't bother to vote on election day, I'd say that is ample evidence of brain death.
Perhaps you are one of the few who benefit from that.
Are you?
"The problems with the public's perception of the CPD will continue as long as the Blue mindlessly support their own. Ironic that every cop I know loathes the fact no one will finger a shooter, but when it comes to their own profession they're as mute as the dead."
Not anymore.
Thanks to SCC.
Once again, your claims are rendered invalid.
"...the Blue mindlessly support their own."
Read the blog.
"....but when it comes to their own profession they're as mute as the dead."
Read the blog.
You're confusing the whore media's lack of honest reporting with cops behaving hypocritically.
But I think you know that, being a hypocrite yourself.
"Revolutions always start with the people on the street."
Yeah, we know. We deal with the 'revolutionaries' every day.
You wouldn't know about that, since, by your own statement, "I'm white and don't hang out in high crime areas", you acknowledge you don't know shit about being the police. Yet you have so much confidence in your opinions about what it's like being the police.
Is there a word whose definition is 'a person who believes they know everything about what they know nothing about'? Besides the word 'idiot'?
"If you expect politicians to fix the police department, you're deluded."
Read the blog.
We don't expect anything but bullshit from the politicians and our expectations are never disappointed.
As for fixing the police department, again, Read the Blog.
That is, of course, if you can manage to pull your head out of your ass.
"If you were 'good friends' with 'many, many CPD' officers, then either they never talk to you about anything concerning the job or you're a lousy listener.
And if you've expressed your opinion to them on how improperly trained they are, they must be fond of you for other reasons than having a high regard for you intelligence."
Yes, they tell me lots of stuff about their job. About being lied to. Not getting days off. About how paper work sucks. Lots. I listen to all of it. I said the job is sh#tty, 'cause it's thankless and bureaucratically mind-numbing. I think police should receive better training not because I hate cops, but because I know many of my friends were overwhelmed early on in their career. Better training=better morale=better police.
Or do you think police are superheroes who just need to get put on the street with a gun and bust skulls?
"They're not?
Then what explains their failure to rid this city and county of the consistently reelected crooks that make up our city and county governments?
When 50% of citizens who are qualified to vote aren't even registered to do so, and when 50% of the ones who are registered don't bother to vote on election day, I'd say that is ample evidence of brain death.
Perhaps you are one of the few who benefit from that.
Are you?"
I do not work for the city or county, nor does my job involve patronage.
You are very cynical about the people you 'serve and protect'. Maybe you shouldn't be doing it? Or does your Batman complex make you believe the city will be worse without you on the beat?
Fighting crime is exhausting and complicated. It requires police to use violence. It should not give anyone in Blue the right to use violence whenever they please. Your inability to admit this basic fact makes me believe that you're most likely not very good at your job, either.
Again, no one wants to read a professional, anonymous blog from someone who clearly hates their job. If you suffer the delusion that every beat cop is a caped crusader and does no wrong, you are part of the problem.
Quit the force, build your cave, and fight crime your way.
First, I want my friends to come home safe. Second, I want citizens to come home safe. Third, I want accountability. All in that order. No where in that do I find any of the professional prejudice against police your paranoid mind sees.
August 9th, Bud Biliken Crap. If you have to work it, make sure YOU close off every possible access point and run these nomads as far north and south as you can. Make it's horrible for them to get around. Make it just as much an inconvenience for them as it is for you. Every child that is lost, their parent/gaurdian should get locked up for neglect or something. Make this the most miserable place to be this year. Pissers and drinkers, locked up. Weed, locked up. Fail to clear the corners, reckless conduct or mob action. INCONVENIENCE IS THE KEY.
The poster, of course, is anonymous. Does Blogger let everyone put a blog up? How 'bout the KKK? I would just love to report this kind of thinly-veiled institutional hatred.
Some brilliant civil-rights attorney could get a hold of that and make A LOT of money.
Maybe I would have more sympathy for the bad apples at the CPD if they didn't OPENLY post their hate where anyone can find it.
Even Stevie Wonder.
So, you choose to look for and quote one of the many honest and accurate comments, one as politically incorrect as YOU take it to be, and you think that you're being honest in doing so?
The Bud Billiken Parade is on August 9th.
Google it to find out the route, then come on down to the south side and see for yourself.
Don't deny yourself the experience of staying after the parade ends and celebrating with all the other attendees.
Then come back on and share your perspectives.
As for "You insulting me is really gonna get me to read your blog. And insulting me is really going to make me want to share personal information with you.", if you were really interested in learning anything beyond your already decided opinions, no amount of personal 'insults' would deter you from doing so.
Thin skin and city life don't make for a pleasant day to day existence.
And, if you didn't get it, I wasn't insulting you, just observing and commenting on what I've observed, which, by the way, is what I've been trained to do.
If the shoe fits, wear it and if it doesn't, don't cry about it hurting while you were trying it on.
"Or do you think police are superheroes who just need to get put on the street with a gun and bust skulls?"
Always the first choices of the willfully ignorant, to exaggerate, to distort, to fabricate and to avoid.
If your friends weren't smart enough going in to know that the best way to learn is to keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut, if they didn't have the up-bringing to come onto the job with some street sense, or the instincts to know the difference between resolving conflict and exacerbating conflict, maybe they picked the wrong career path.
I only have YOUR version of their perspectives, which ain't worth shit.
The fact that you choose to speak in detail about that which you have, at best, second hand, conversational 'knowledge' and absolutely no first hand, actual knowledge or experience proves just how worth-less your opinions are, on a subject you really know nothing about.
There's so much bullshit in just these two comments of yours, it boggles the mind.
As for 'bad apples', you, my young and ignorant fellow, have no idea what a bad apple really is.
No idea.
"You are very cynical about the people you 'serve and protect'. Maybe you shouldn't be doing it?"
Not cynical, realistic.
And are YOU going to volunteer to take my place?
IF, not WHEN this mumbling midget of a mayor ever chooses to hire anything close to the 4,000+ officers we're short right now?
Or do you believe that 13,500 active officers bullshit number?
If you'd done anything other than search for a comment on the blog that served your grammar school desire to 'win' the 'debate', you'd have found numerous ones that point out what we know, and live with every day, (and that the politicians don't want you to know), that, though the city budget taxes you, the citizen, for 13,500 officers,, there are less than 10,000, probably less than 9,000, and almost half of those aren't patrolling the city's neighborhoods.
Since there are 3 watches, 4,500 divided by 3 equals 1,500 max.
Minus several hundred IOD, RDO, SD, PD, ETC., and you, the citizen, are lucky if there are, maybe, 700 officers patrolling the entire city on any given watch. IF there are enough operational vehicles available. A BIG IF.
If you really want to know what your tax dollars are NOT being used for, Read the Blog.
And the above is just the tip of the corruption ice burg, just in the CPD.
If you would read the blog, you'd know this and more.
You can, however, continue to feel free to keep your head in the sand, (or up your ass, your choice), because YOU'RE the person most at risk to be a victim of crime, not me.
And the next time you dial 911, make sure you share all of the thoughts and feelings you've expressed here with the officer who shows up to help you, BEFORE you tell him or her why you called for help in the first place, dude.
I'm sure he or she will appreciate your thoughts and feelings and give them the respect that they deserve.
I grew up on the South Side, my friend, and I've heard every Bud Billiken joke of which a mediocre intellect like yours can articulate. I know the route. I've been to the parade.
In fact, my father owns a small business on the southwest side and I spent much of my developing years making deliveries in high-crime areas like Pullman, Pilsen, Englewood, and the West Side. And you know what? I encountered more #ssholes when I grew old enough to visit the bars on Western Avenue.
I didn't choose to be a police officer because it is a job I don't want. I don't want to be a lawyer. Or a doctor. None of those jobs appeal to me.
You CHOSE to be a police officer. And you think you know everything about how to be one, with no added training, just because you grew up like Charles Bronson. I call BS on that, my friend. In fact, I doubt you would enter any of the neighborhoods you patrol without a bullet proof vest and radio. Big man you are. My hero!
Yet I did that every day when I was 16.
I end my debate with you. You've dug yourself a hole so deep on this thread only your fellow morlocks could accept you.
I will stand beside my friends and other brave police officers. I will forever be ashamed that hateful cretins like you somehow get a badge.
Sorry, michael, but, since there were no jokes made by me about the parade, or what follows it, your choice of accusations concerning my "mediocre intellect' is specious, at best.
As for "I did that every day when I was 16.", when was that? And what were you delivering? And what time of the day did you make your deliveries? And were you alone when you did so? And where, exactly, were you making these deliveries?
I ask because you imply that you were either not at risk or that you were so brave as to face substantial risk. Also, making deliveries there and living there are two different experiences. But you know that.
Why no mention of the issue of manpower shortages? Manpower shortages that are already paid for, to the tune of $150,000+? Where is that money going, since it's not being used to fully man this department, let alone used to maintain an adequate fleet of vehicles?
You certainly don't know and didn't bother to ask or comment. Doesn't this part of the 'debate' interest you? Or are you stuck on being politically correct and politically ignorant?
All you've done, in your 'debate' is to behave as the ostrich you are.
"I end my debate with you"?
Pal, you didn't even begin a debate with me.
You are the person whose taken this conversation 'personally', and reacted as you are accustomed to reacting to anyone who disagrees with you and challenges you to make your case.
And what do you choose to do?
Quit while you're behind.
Is this how you solve all the problems you encounter in life?
That's right, 150 million tax dollars per year that are budgeted for officer's salaries and are NOT used for officers salaries, because there are no officers hired to work and be paid those salaries.
So, the question remains: Where is that money? What is it being used for? And why are citizens, AND POLICE OFFICERS, being put at greater risk because there are no where near 13,500 actual officers on the job?
Mister "to the 1st degree' is back!!!
When did INS let you out?
Or are you blessing us with your cutting wit from a tent in the middle of the desert?
Say hi to your camel for me.
We know.
And, difficult as it may be to believe, this is just the beginning.
Daley's personal whirlwind has just started to pick up speed.
By the time it gets noticed by the media, it will barely be a cat 2.
Before it's over, Daley will wish he was in New Orleans during Katrina.
And so will a bunch of his pals and buddies.
So relax, sit back and enjoy the show.
It's been a long time coming.
July 15th - 10:08 a.m.
You guys won't give it up. I still say we are in better shape. Mayor Kilpatrick has been indicted and probabily is going to jail. Can you Chicagoans make the same claim,about Daley getting indicted.We have a honest States Attorney who will indict politicans unlike your States Attorney. Daley steals land away from people to on bogus Airport and Olympic projects. Your city is broke also, but your politicans cook the books and bullshit Chicagoans that everything is fine. Detroiters don't have to sell parking meters,public Gargaes ,and lease Airports, like you Chicagoans do. I feel like saying to Detroiters if you Don't like Detroit move to Chicago,and live under Warlord Daley.
July 17th - 1:10 p.m.
BTW, here's some of the enlightened comments you can find at this dude's blog:"
"While an editotial in today's Trib cited SCC, they neglected to condemn the CLOUT that has degenerated the CPD into one gigantic clusterfuck. Could it be that the Trib and other local media actually condone endemic clout babies and incompetent political hack bosses corrupting and demoralizing our entire police department? It's the Chicago Way--and the Fourth Estate doesn't give a fuck.
Ergo, oblivious and apathetic Chicagoans will get the police force that they truly deserve.
A vigilant media has a compelling moral and civic obligation to alert the citizenry that Daley's "management" of the CPD is as crooked as a corkscrew.
Excellence, integrity, ethics, honor, courage and (lack of) leadership are now meaningless. Perception is everything.
So sad. Pathetic. And all but hopeless.
7/17/2008 10:13:00 PM"
Is that 'enlightened' enough for you, michael?
The quoted comment below refers to the one I quoted in the post above labeled:
"And
July 17th - 9:48 a.m."
Both are from the SCC blog.
"To 2:26am - excellent post, wish everyone in the city could see it and understand it, but then most of the sheep& criminals(that means politicians too) wouldn't get it or it wouldn't support their agenda.
Regarding numbers, it's disgusting and dangerous to you officers and we citizens that you don't have at least 13500 and that scumbags are hiding it. They should be fired for mismanagement and sued for endangering us all. I'm just an ignorant citizen but it seems to me that there should be many more police than currently budgeted for - maybe 16500 since population of criminals seems to have grown, while good citizens who work are leaving because of corrupt policies and civility disintegrating. Less police is the wrong way to trim the budget. The criminals running this city are wasting all the tax money.
The city is turning into a zoo and needs more zookeepers. Protection and incentives are necessary to convince anyone to take on this difficult and dangerous career.
You/we don't need State police or National Guard. We need an appropriate number of real Chicago Police Officers who are allowed to do their jobs and be protected from bogus claims and lawsuits from criminals. It's ridiculous to think
outside agencies could understand our streets better than you. The emperor isn't wearing any clothes, but Daley insists it's Armani!!!
I hope the politicians responsible for keeping the police understaffed and the judges and lawyers who perpetuate this mess, will burn in hell with the blood of any innocents lost through this on their hands. They should look in the mirror and understand their responsibility in the murder of Officer Francis (God rest his soul). They should be ashamed.
I'm so happy this blog exists so we are allowed a clear view through the corruption, since media, govt.& bosses only care about money and power. They are not doing their jobs and don't care about a safe future for our children.
You are human beings who face danger for us and deserve a good quality of life, respect and all of the rights that the ACLU fights for, for terrorists, illegals and gangbangers.
Thank you, each and every one of you, who keep us safe. I fully support your slowdown, it's the only way, so far, to try to save the real police so you may protect us in the future.
Thank You and God Bless and Protect you all.
- just a working mother
ps. I threw up a little in my mouth when Jody Smiley Pants said we need
tougher gun laws. We citizens need our constitutionally protected arms against criminals. Hopefully he meant that gang bangers caught with illegal guns will really have to go to jail for a good long while (working on a chain gang, so they don't want to go back), and we citizens are allowed to have legal guns for a change.
7/17/2008 07:46:00 PM"
How about this one, michael?
Are we getting any closer to your pre-conceived opinions of reality?
"I encountered more #ssholes when I grew old enough to visit the bars on Western Avenue."
I'll take running to an asshole in a bar over over an armed gangbanger/drug dealer any day. Typical lib...don't identify the problem, just point out other problems to try and distract peoples attention.
Pat O'Connor is the same alderman that has routinely violated Shakman and nepotism--just ask Forest Claypool about his idiot relatives at the Park District.
Phat Pat O'Connor has more relatives on the city payroll than Rich Bradley or Fred Roti.
The Feds are looking into Phat Pat and his wife "Barbara" over taxes and how "Barbara" is so successful in real estate in the 40th ward. No conflict there though.
If you are historians the father of Phat Pat the alderman and his do nothing equally fat brother Rob O'Connor covered the mob ghost payrollers. Corruption runs in the family and is a family afffair.
The Feds and the media are now looking into 40th ward member Terrence J "Lyin" O'Brien the President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation of Greater Chicago for illegally taking campaign donations from Brendan "Baldy" O'Connor and got him a lawyer job at the MWRD over more qualified lawyers and minorities as a patronage payback for Brendan Baldy O'Connor running against independent Commissioner Patricia Young. As a payback to Brendan O'Connor a mediocre lawyer and an even worse candidate who came in 6th in the 2004 race he got his easy job as a lawyer at the MWRD and also a payback white collar patronage job to his new committeeman 40th Ward Regular Democratic Committeeman Phat Pat O'Connor. The Feds and the media are onto the MWRD for Brendan O'Connor, patronage, nepotism, contracts, Hired Trucks and much more.
It is also interesting that Terrence J "Terry Lyin OBrien" O'Brien got summer jobs for the kids of his donors. What the story didn't say is that Terry Lyin O'Brien has 100 (that is right 100 where the Commissioners only get 10 to 20 per Commissioner) that he doles out to politicians. Watch for Rutan violations and a law suit from the BGA.
That is freakin ridiculous
Does he know Dick Devine from North Side Machine politics?
Does he know Dick Devine from North Side Machine politics?
The Article: A staffer from The Reader is on the CTA, quietly perusing the Birkenstock sandal ads when two cops talk mean to someone and boot him off the train. They were touching him, and pushing him and kicking his legs! "I must rise UP and file a complaint! Those mean, bad men!", says the Reader guy.
With next to no info, the Reader guy files his self righteous complaint, for the people (natch). He's not really sure what he saw, but he draws on Hollywood, TV cop shows and the wise words of his shrink that violence in any form is so unnecessary, so he is immediately convinced it was "...way out of line..."
Staff time is spent trying to determine the officers' identities. But since the information Reader guy has defines the very word "vague", and after wasting the taxpayer's cash in OPS time; they close it. Dissapointed, he writes an article. Now he wastes everyone's time.
The comments commeth: It is a mystery to this day what Reader guy expected.
But when the cops point out stuff he is agast.
Perhaps he realizes that he had no idea what he really saw, or that he has no concept of police work, or that sometimes really bad people walk among us, and that when bad people walk among us they usually do not dress like Disney crooks. (You know, the husky guys with the striped shirts, black jackets, thin masks covering their eyes, black hats, usually carrying a big bag with a dollar sign on it?)sometimes, they look like teenagers.
He fires back: Hes a journalist! He just wants discussion!
More things are lobbed at Reader guy; so out come the real guns. Cops protect bad cops! (Reader guy saw that on TV. and in many movies) Cops are racists (same sources) Cops are stupid! (more media: did you know they ALL profile?) Their blog is crude at times! Finally, when all else fails, a KKK reference! Take that! Chai tea, anyone?
------------------------
Sorry to burst into your fragile bubble world, Reader guy. Your own prejudices are showing, as shown by your embracing of stereotypes; your credentials as an 'inquiring mind' are invalidated by your agenda; your grasp on the realities of urban life is not what you think.
The overwhelming majority of cops are out for the really bad people -- you know, the ones those guys (who you were SURE were out of line)keep away from you and the other good people. Those guys.
Policing is a difficult calling, but most civilians see it as a simple matter of eating donuts and acting mean. sigh.
Its safe in your fragile bubble world, over all. And I have one thing to say to that:
"you're welcome."
And if you disagree with me sir, then you are worse than Hitler.
Nice synopsis.
Don't expect Mick to respond, he's a deep thinker, so it takes awhile for him to make his way back to the surface.