Chicago police officers don't exactly have a perfect track record. Actually, the force is beginning to look like they are using the script from Training Day. Torture, drugs, weapons, intimidation, etc. We understand that there are over 15,000 officers on the force, and most of the recent problems involve a small number of cops, but things aren't looking good.
Obviously, the national headliner is the bartender beating by a liquored-up, off-duty officer. The video has almost reached the height of internet phenomenon. Anthony Abbate has been charged with a felony, and the department is moving to fire him, but even something like this, involving a single officer, may not be as insular as it seems. There are reports of threats and bribes to Karolina Obrycka not to go to the press. And today, on-duty Grand Central District officers shielded the media from Abbate as he left the court house and ticketed media vehicles, apparently under a Captain's orders. Superintendent Cline says that the Captain has been demoted.
Next on the list is the beating of four businessmen by six off-duty officers in December. One of the businessmen had facial reconstructive surgery, and another had several broken ribs. The worst part is that the cops were called by witnesses of the beating, but the responders were waived off by the off-duty Sergeant involved in the beating.
And now there is another allegation that a 73-year-old woman, Delores DeLaRosa, needed emergency brain surgery after she was pushed to the ground by Chicago police officers. The officers were at her home about the registration of two dogs DeLaRosa allegedly owned. A lawsuit was filed in Cook County on Tuesday.
Despite announcing faster handling of misconduct allegations, is it too little too late?
Image via Jeff Cagle.
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I think it's high time that the CPD improves their psychological testing for new police officers. Like if you're a batshit crazy, racist, power-hungry douche, you shouldn't get hired. I hope all 7 of these cops get thrown in jail and subjected to endless beatings by inmates. Cops in jail probably don't have an easy time.
Bad Cop- No Doughnut!
Bad Lieutenant- "stick out your tongue!"
A very, very minor clarification- the ticketing of the vehicles occurred yesterday. The dept has said they will nullify those tickets.
Having said that, the action the police took yesterday (shielding Abbate from the media and ticketing legally parked vehicles) was nearly as upsetting as his actions were. Every cop I know personally was horrified by the video, but to see the way they fell in line behind him? Was the same as endorsing his behavior.
it is not just a matter of improving psychiatric testing prior to getting on the street- it's also a matter of mandating psych testing at regular intervals AFTER they're on the street, regardless of performance. Being a police officer is a job that would mess with ANYONE'S mind, and even the most sane, good-hearted cops are exposed to things every single day that can create unacceptable attitudes and behaviors. Look at the picture at the head of this article- police in riot gear tend to make Chicagoans think of police brutality. But imagine being the one IN the riot gear, facing down an angry mob. The only people who wouldn't be affected by that are the ones who are so fucked up, they shouldn't have been allowed on the job in the first place.
Recent events are clearly unacceptable, and as people come forward, others who have also been victimized will be emboldened to come forward as well, so it's doubtful this type of news will slow down anytime soon. But rather than assuming the police are all brutal monsters, we should be looking at ways to regulate and yes, support them, so that the good cops stay that way and the bad cops are picked up more quickly.
I agree, more psych testing after they're hired, of course. they have to stop protecting their own.
Where is Mayor Daley on this? He is very quiet! Well we can all be assured all the Daley Cops got all the promotions and are responsible for this madness. Should Kline be removed from office? Heads should roll for this, Burge Cops run the CPD. This will cost us millions and millions.
In my opinion, those psychological tests for cops are overrated. You don't think those tests can be manipulated by an applicant who decides to select only "good" answers?
Maybe intelligence testing for their supervisors would be more appropriate.
"...we should be looking at ways to regulate and yes, support them, so that the good cops stay that way and the bad cops are picked up more quickly."
No, they need to police themselves. They haven't done that. Fuck 'em. The "bad cops" didn't go bad just for one night.
The amount of power they have should disallow the "few bad apples" excuse, because the damage that a few can do is extraordinary.
This is also not a case of a "few bad apples" trying to protect and provide preferential treatment to the worst of the CPD.
If it was a few bad apples, where is Abbate's mug shot?
If it was a few bad apples, why aren't the police officers involved in the Jefferson Tap incident named?
I have been extremely suspicious of CPD ever since I briefly dated a cop a few years ago. He was nice, but something seemed really off on the first date. On our second date I met a bunch of his cop friends, and they all turned out to be racist, homophobic, sexist, violent, drunk driving menaces. And all of these men were sergeant and above. Needless to say, I got the hell out of there ASAP and told Mr. CPD to never call me again.
don't forget about the stabbing/shooting incident outside of Deja Vu involving the off-duty cop last month. the "details" of that one haven't exactly been leaked...media reports, only quoting those who knew the cop, painted an entirely one-sided picture.
It has been said that the only difference between cops and robbers is which role they decide to play.
The police are a subculture that mere psychological testing won't change. I don't really think there's much anyone can do about their behavior except prosecute the hell out of it and reinforce the good behavior.
I had the same experience dating a cop (just a couple of dates).
I don't think anyone would go to bat for Abbate, but let's see what happens with the other two cases before we rush to judgement. And before all you transplants decide to spew anti-cop rhetoric, think about how you're defammating the 99% of the cops that are good people. Think about that. And think about that the next time some strange man follows you home from the L or you're wife hears something in the home while you're not there. Think about that for a minute. And after you do, I hope you realize how foolish you sound and how wrong you are about cops being the stereotypical racists that should have been casted in the movie Copland. Really think about that. Scumbags like Abbate should be locked up. But let's see what these little weasel-y scumbags (the two traders and the manager) from Jefferson Tap did to provoke a fight. Let's see why these guys just decided to come forward now, after someone else, if they were so in the clear. Really people, get off of your little woe-is-me fuck authority bandwagons because 99% of those cops are good people and without them, you wouldn't be able to live your lives you little whitebred motherf-ckers.
see, it doesn't take much to provoke a cop or cop-apologist and have them get all violent and stuff. thanks, 'notfrom...' for showing the true colors.
maybe abbate can become a stroger hospital security guard!
@ notfrommichigan....
Your point of "let's see what these scumbags did to provoke a fight" is entirely moot. As officers of the PEACE the rotten pigs should not have been in a fight, period. They should have called in ON DUTY officers to handle the situation.
The only weasels are people like you (cops presumably) who attempt to cover for other cops who do what is undeniably wrong. Any other person would have been in jail that night, as should those pigs have been.
In the end you try to sound intelligent, & make a point that to you sounds just. But to the rest of us you sound like a simpleton, racist, rogue cop. Someone give this guy a ticket to clueclue land. You're a fucking dipshit.
notfrommichigan - Please. I've lived in this city for more than 20 years, half on the south side, half on the north side. I've never perpetrated any kind of crime, worked to support myself since I was 17 and put myself through school. Nevertheless, I've had several, not a few, SEVERAL negative experiences with police in this city. These negative experiences have been mitigated by virtually no positive ones. In MY experience, cops are petty and arrogant, ALWAYS looking for a reason to externalize their anger. They are rageaholics. They know ordinary citizens can't stand up to them, which makes them complete cowards to boot. Cowards that travel in packs, which just makes them a gang.
99% are good people? Where do you get that mularkey from? If I had to put a number on it, I'd say that AT BEST half of all cops try to do their jobs the right way, all the time. Granted, that's better than the "good old days" when corruption was taken for granted.
Myself, on three occasions I've been on the wrong side of a crime. When the police came to "help", on each occasion, they either treated me with contempt or apathy. Instead of looking to solve a crime, they look to minimize it, extinguish it for fear of having to do some real work.
Unless of course you run afoul of them for whatever arbitrary reasons that come to mind. That's when crossing the street gets you a night in jail, after being kicked by four of them while being dragged on the ground by two others. Act annoyed at being grabbed by one after you had the temerity to accidentally walk too close (like two feet away...), get intimidated, cuffed and threatened with arrest. There's more, but I only have so much time.
Especially not enough time to detail the dozens of run ins friends and acquaintances have had over the years. All of them are ordinary citizens with jobs and families too. Or at least they grew up to have those things. If only I had a couple of hours to type out all of the abuses and harassment we all received as teenagers. Ah the golden years. Cops seemed to be drawn to a group of African American teens with one White exception. Not that my friends were immune when I wasn't around, oh lord no. Think I'm making it up? Think again. Cops wonder where all the bad attitudes come from, why they are seen with suspicion, even hatred? Just reaping what generations of other cops have sown. It's a shame too, because I'm sure even good cops who have all the best intentions are lumped in with their thuggish brethren. See, cops victimize other cops.
And then there are their absurd defenses, the most precious being the constant bleating about how dangerous the job is. While true to an extent, cops are far less likely to be seriously injured or killed on the job than numerous other professions. Our military and firefighters are real heroes who put their lives on the line as a matter of course. Hell, cab drivers, late night cashiers and delivery people are at greater risk than cops. Yet who defends them? Where are their special breaks? Cops habitually run rampant on our streets, do actual police work then they feel like it and not when they don't, and back each other no matter how egregious the offense. If the "good" cops want the public to respect, not FEAR but RESPECT, them again, they better start getting proactive in weeding out the faction that feel they are above the law.
Yeah, you're right. I'm both a cop and an apologist for my brethren. You make the blanket statement that they're all pigs, but call them the "rotten pigs" who should promote peace. Here's another one. The guys at Jefferson Tap were looking for a fight. It's in the Sun-Times. They called the cop a "pussy" (it's in quotes asshole) because they made a joke about his dad (who just died). Read it transplant. Read it. Okay, now that you've read it, it is also alleged that the "businessmen" said "we're going to own this place after this is over." Say whuh? Hmm, who was looking for the fight?
And no, these cops should have walked away from it all. There's no excuse. But please, ask me how many times I've seen some drunk do something - pinch a girl's ass, start a fight, whatever - and there happens to be an off-duty cop there. Sure, when the cop says something, 99% of the people apologize for being an idiot and walk away. But there's that other 1% of people (much who think it's their time to shine by starting something with a cop.
And no, I'm not a cop. But I am sick and tired of people beating up these people because of the actions of what one asshole does and how many people make blanket statements. All I say is, next time something happens, maybe you shouldn't call the police if you feel so strongly that they're all scum. They might just be the ones to save your life.
NOT A COP
As a "loop businessman" (i.e. I work for someone else in the Loop) and someone who has a slight bit of common sense, I know better than to pick a fight with off-duty cops when I drink at a bar. First, I don't want to be on the business end (pun intended) of a butt kicking, and second you don't mess with people who are nearly impossible to haul off to jail. Play with matches and you just might get burned.
A big difference exist in beating up a woman for not serving you drinks and smacking around a few guys who deserve it. Putting them all in the same boat is ridiculous.
The guys getting their ass kicked, then coming back and threatening to sue the bar are the pussys
Why doesn't the media show this tape? Probably because it shows these pussys getting a deserved beat down.
i think anyone who has worked in a bar/club can give you some stories about the cops who drink too much and who if they weren't cops would get kicked out or have the on-duty cops called on them. but the people who own and run the bars and clubs in this city are already so intimidated by daley and his boys in blue [and sometimes white - and yes, i know it's weird to lump them together since they all hate daley], so bad behavior by cops is tolerated and any action taken is done so quietly, since the bar/club people are so damned afraid the cop will have the place closed or some building inspector will show up later and find some violations, or hell, that the cop will take out his weapon [yes, i've seen that happen].
are there any good cops out there? of course there are. the cop who was killed recently while taking some white castles in to his home where his wife was waiting for him was, from all we hear, a tough but good cop. Cerriale was a good cop. All day and night there are cops who chase down robbers and dope dealers who are good cops. And there are good cops who hang out in bars, too. they just don't get drunk or flash their badges/weapons. but the thugs like abbate and the dopes at area 5 who ticketed media vehicles as well as the captain who gave the orders to do so, as well as so many others, including people who drag out the old 'who's your wife/girlfriend gonna call when she hears footsteps behind her' argument in defending the thugs and drunks just piss on all the good that the decent cops do.
Should those 'businessmen' been slapped around a bit for acting like a-holes to the cop who just lost his dad? Sure. As a matter of fact, traders as a rule should probably be smacked around a bit from time to time, as ... forgive me for painting with the broad brush here, they tend to be much bigger jerks than any profession. But you know what? The cops should have known better. And would it have been so bad for the responding cops to take the 'businessmen' away and let them spend a few hours in one of those shiny new lockups around downtown?
By the way, i'm no anarchist, i've lived here all my life, even have voted republican from time to time. Maybe its because i have had cops in my family for the past 50 years or so that i get so pissed off at both the 'all cops are pigs' crowd and the 'you don't like the cops - you're an asshole' philosophers. Cops have to put up with a lot of shit [including a mayor who could care less about them], but is it too much to ask that they remember that they should be role models and act accordingly?
I don't condone the whole ticketing thing either James. What I hate is this whole thing where just because some fat woman beating asshole named Abbate attacks some poor defenseless female (at least when you compare her 5'3" frame to his ), everyone lumps everyone together like they're one big pud-pulling patch of Carolina Blue, ready to go out and fuck up anyone who gets in their way. You mentioned Ceriale, which is good. You mentioned the guy who got shot off-duty with a sack of Whities. That's good. You should also mention Brian Strouse and John Knight, two cops who were also MURDERED by bullets. Why? I don't know. But they were murdered by Mexicans and Blacks. Do their families go around, as a result, saying "100% of all blacks and Mexicans are thugs." Of course not, because to make such a claim is complete and utter bull. The black guy down the line calls all firefighters heroes, whereas the cops are just racists. He's been on the wrong side of the law three times, blah blah blah. What the hell does that mean? Yeah, I guess some people run afoul of the law accidentally and others do their time and return reformed. There are even people sent to jail in a case of mistaken identity. But three times? Kind of says something, right? Of course, it says that all cops are assholes.
By the way, I AM NOT A COP and I'm actually a progressive. But let's not generalize everything. This isn't 1968 you transplanted wein-bags.
All cops are definitely not pigs. They've been there when I needed them. They've been accommodating when they could have given me a parking ticket. They also call people who are not cops "civilians." They don't think civilians are the same as they are. When you are an "other," you're at risk. They also have weapons and are pretty much given a free rein. So some of them get tanked and beat people up. I've seen cops drive the wrong way down streets, sit talking in their squads facing opposite direction and blocking traffic, make false claims when they stop a motorist, and such. These kinds of incidents make me very aware that I should not F_ck with a cop because they can make me bend to their will. That's not condemning all cops. That's a fact of life, and the reason that a lot of people obey the law.
notfrommichigan - Learn to read first. It shouldn't take world class reading comprehension skills to understand that I was the victim of crime on three occasions, yet was still treated like shit by Chicago's "finest". Really, maybe you should be a cop, since you apparently skimmed my post and responded with the typical angry kneejerk lack of comprehension characteristic of a true boy in blue. It's telling that you assume I'm Black.
Of course you can't refute the substance of what I said, "blah blah blah", because it's the truth. It's the truth that thousands and thousands of Chicagoans have experienced for decades. The police themselves know it's the truth, that's the nut of it. It's just disingenuous cheerleaders like yourself who go out in public, hangers in hand, talking a bunch of BS about what glimmering knights of justice Chicago cops are.
Supt. Cline has resigned. Where was the mayor during all of this? Will he speak out now beyond the "Cline is a fine police officer yada yada..."?
In general, most folks in a neighborhood could tell you who the good and bad cops are. This is why it would be a good idea to have neighborhoods elect police officers in the same way we deal with judges. It'll never happen certainly, but it's worth talking about...