Chicagoist: Interview: The "Second City Cop"

secretsquirrel

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:35:38 -0600

Rule the world when seiser steps down -- Do you really need to feed that cheap president of the idiots ego? If that is your president it is easy to see why things are so screwed up.

JayDeeMv2

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:39:03 -0600

Actually their wasn't. I got caught up in a situation that was blown out of proportion and instead of handling things like adults someone involved thought calling the police and making stuff up would be a better way to handle things.It's a very long story and I don't feel like putting info like that on a publicly viewed blog. But the events that took place completely changed my opinion of police and I lost total respect for that profession immediately.It's not about facts or being able to "investigate" situations and make good judgement calls.It's about who happens to have more friends willing to lie for them when the police show up.I was considered guilty as soon as the cops showed up and spent months dealing with some b.s. court case and not having one opportunity to tell my side of the events.Even though I was able to provide my own witnesses,provide proof that things were made up I never had a chance. And don't even get me started on the cop that broke my nose...after I was in handcuffs and not resisting arrest.And don't even get me started on what happened when I got to the police station and the shit they tried to pull to get me sign documents. FUCK THE POLICE!

JP2

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:15:57 -0600

--the entire case was dismissed because of-- While your comment about police brutality is well-taken, I take from this quote that there was a case to be made against you. Which makes your vague version of events somewhat suspect. But this isn't really about you and criminals generally, so I digress.

tamalechica

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:06:07 -0600

Rucker, that's interesting and not surprising given that certain types of people tend to go into police work. No doubt those that cannot pass certain type of exams would never make it into the Academy. I doubt most of the public has much of an idea of how much training cops go through before they become cops. Another thing is the dead body issue. Most of us never see a dead body unless it is at a funeral, but cops deal with them a lot and they are usually in various stages of rigor or deteroration, except maybe in the cases of fresh suicides, the nature of which I doubt would lend themselves to a pretty sight. And the smell... And you're right, it's not just the stuff that can be taught. A lot of times situations would arise that require dealing with the people aspect. I've dealt with cops during two family tragedies. The compassion and kindness our family received from the patrol officers were unbelievable and unforgetable. Of course it didn't make the 10:00 news, since it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Would love to get more info on "media days" - wish there was a way to PM you but apparently not.

rucker

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:25:17 -0600

Spav1 The CPD has on numerous occasions hosted "media days" at the police academy. During these events members of the media were given instruction/training on police tactics and then placed in various simulated scenarios identical to those police recruits are required to successfully negotiate. The performance of the media in these scenarios left much to be desired. In numerous scenarios the media shot innocent bystanders and in some cases the victims. Now for the sake of time I will preemptively address your next response which I am sure will be something to the effect of the media just needed more training. I concede more training would probably address many of their shortcomings. However there is one aspect to being "the police" that cannot be taught. It is the courage and conviction it takes to do the job. Firemen have a saying that what makes them different is that they run into a burning building that everyone else is running out of. I agree I don't think everybody has what it takes to do that. I also don't think everybody has what it takes to chase an armed gang banger who just shot someone into a dark basement by themselves.

rucker

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:32:55 -0600

rucker

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:32:12 -0600

JayDeeMv2

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 15:52:06 -0600

I didn't read anyone else's comments so if someone said this already I apologize... FUCK THE POLICE! I was a victim of police brutality during the winter of '03. I had my nose broken after I was handcuffed and was threatened with more physical violence if I didn't sign a consent to search. I didn't sign shit and the cops went into my home anyway. Good thing for me too because the entire case was dismissed because of an "illegal search and seizure".

walkaway

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:39:36 -0600

Spav says: "On the other hand, if I wanted to go to the Police Academcy, I could easily get to the rank of detective." If you want to declare that journalism is more demanding, you may want to learn to spell, or use correct grammar. Unless you're a (how did you phrase it?) "fucking retarded reporter".

Spook

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:21:53 -0600

Fed, its the way of the revolution my friend, I've got fellow travelers all over

fed up

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:23:15 -0600

Spook I am shocked to hear you are friends with police ofc's. What will this do to your rep. Whats next backing Bush's tax cuts or buying a BMW?

Spook

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:33:45 -0600

O.K screw it Fed I'll toss you another boon. Actually two of my Chicago Five O friends, one who's brother is also Five-O seem guardedly optimistic about Wiese after he addressed their roll call, which is unheared off. But remember Paul Vallas, as soon as he really started turning things around Daley kicked him out of Chicago and replaced him with a howdie doody Hack

fed up

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:33:07 -0600

Thank you spook and a early TGIF toast to you all.

Spook

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:24:17 -0600

Sure Fed who I am to deprive you of a dream this "balmy" Friday afternoon

fed up

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:02:48 -0600

A little bit spook. Hopefully it has the same effect as a federal takeover without the black eye for Daley(Not that daley doesnt deserve one). The police are the same as other city Departments sewers water streets and san. It doesnt matter how hard you work or how smart you are what matters is what organization you belong to or who your related too. So let me dream that the feds are going to clean up the city a little maybe they can attack crook co. goverment next.

Spook

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:56:28 -0600

"CPD was taken over by the feds without a consent decree or media attention." Your being tongue and cheek right Fed Up?

fed up

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:32:27 -0600

Cer, J-fed is a federal takeover, the clout and patronage got out of hand and the CPD was taken over by the feds without a consent decree or media attention. Hopefully, the ship can be turned around but this is what you get when "anyone" with a phone call can get hired or promoted.

Spook

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:37:48 -0600

Cer, any Gangster who presides over a 6 billion dollar criminal enterprise with numerous front operations to keep citizens for the most part blind and complacent- like Karl Klockars, can’t be dumb!

Sonny

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:26:03 -0600

>>No. Untrue. ANYONE can be a cop. Incorrect. Not Everyone can be a cop.

cer

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:23:36 -0600

Anyone suspect Daley brought in a Fed, J-Fed, because the Feds are crawling all over his office? Little ironic or what!?!?!

Spook

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:14:10 -0600

Hey Karl Klockars, I love your quote....SSC "taking on clout and the power structure of Chicago the CPD from the streets on up" You just insulted the few people in this city who are trying to take on clout and the power structure! Ohhhhh and "Since the start, they've been blogging about the CPD with anger, honesty, sarcasm, sensitivity and humor." Exactly! Which is why they jumped to the defense of Abbate and defended the cops who threatened the reporters who tried to cover Abbate's court hearing, while letting Abbate out the back door. Oh and what they called the victim was if not "sensitive" was "humorous" right? Oh and the defense of Jon Burge! Not just one poster but all of them. This is what's wrong with Liberals, spineless cowardly and secretly waiting for their chance to be part of the "in crowd" Give me a republican over a Goo Goo Lib any day!

Sonny

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:07:43 -0600

>>I'd just like to know when Chicago cops are going to be held to the same standard they hold us to? Mainly, when are Chicago cops going to stop running red lights & stop signs when not on an emergency call? They even do it in their private cars when they get near certain police stations. Thats an uninformed opinion you speak from. How do YOU know that they arent on a call. Its not all Lights & Sirens you know. Sometimes you need to get places quietly. CPD is held to a higher standard and subjected to more stress than you could possibly imagine. Oh and not everyone with a medallion or a band is a Cop so take what you see or you think you know with a grain of salt.

matilda

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:01:35 -0600

"If you follow these simple rules I don't think you will have any interaction or contempt for the police. " Another way of saying if you are guilty, you should have nothing to worry about. A bullshit argument that no citizen who really valued freedom would ever make.

Navin

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:51:24 -0600

I have never in my life required police service. If you follow these simple rules I don't think you will have any interaction or contempt for the police. They are just an essential civil servants no different than snow plow drivers, firemen, teachers and other government servants. Last I checked snow plow drivers, firemen and teachers couldn't deprive you of your liberty and rights if they were having a bad day. I've had my rights violated by a cop who was obviously having an 'off' night or personal issues and I've had at least a couple macho cops deliberately break the law in the bar I work in and then give a look like 'you wanna say somethin' about it? you know what's gonna happen to you'. FWIW there are plenty of good cops out there but your argument that simply keeping your nose clean will keep you out of trouble is B.S. Again kudos to all the honest and fair cops out there, as we know any criticism of the jagoffs leads to assumptions that you are somehow against cops.....o' hai ward up!

Vermin

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:55:19 -0600

Is this one gonna get more comment than the guy on the bike who got killed? Viva SCC!!! I read SCC daily with a grape drink in hand along wit some Flamin' Hots!

plumbum82

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:17:14 -0600

I think you have to take every cop on a case by case basis. A sweeping "Cops suck" attitude is narrow-minded to say the least. When I was 13, my great-grandmother was murdered. It was a small town, and someone breaking into an old lady's house and stabbing her 47 times was a pretty shocking event. And, wouldn't you know it, the small town cops bumbled and stumbled and made general fools of themselves. Hell, they even called in a fucking psychic. Fast forward 14 years later, and a State trooper got bored one day and decided to break open some old cold case files. He puts a couple of pieces together, figures some stuff out using police techniques that should have been followed in the first place, and viola... they found one of the guys who did it. It was a teenager, and him and his friend just wanted to kill someone for the thrill of it. So, yeah, I got a bad attitude about some cops. But you can't deny there are some great ones who will do their job and well, too.

Vermin

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:31:19 -0600

SCC is my homepage! Ole!!!!!!!

taxpayer

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:07:14 -0600

Interesting article. Going to check out the site. A suggestion for all those people who police out there responding. Why do you care? I couldn't care less about the police and what job is harder; reporter or police (personally I think the police is but whatever). I have lived in Chicago my whole life in a neighborhood that had its fair share of crime but I have never had an interaction with the police. Want to know why? (1)Because I follow the law; (2)I treat others with the respect and dignity they deserve, (3)I drive responsibly and attentively and (4)if I have a conflict I deal with it like an adult and don't lose my cool. I have never in my life required police service. If you follow these simple rules I don't think you will have any interaction or contempt for the police. They are just an essential civil servants no different than snow plow drivers, firemen, teachers and other government servants.

Scooter Libbby

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:49:04 -0600

I'd just like to know when Chicago cops are going to be held to the same standard they hold us to? Mainly, when are Chicago cops going to stop running red lights & stop signs when not on an emergency call? They even do it in their private cars when they get near certain police stations.

JP2

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:41:07 -0600

Ward Up, I think I can provide a few reasons why the accusation is true, though people on the police side don't really like to talk about it so much. First, as SCC and numerous commenters have posted thousands of times, a lot of wrongdoing is by clouted people who are covered until its caught on tape. Clouted as in daddy-is-Shakman-exempt, or mommy is friends with Ginger Rugai, or da Godfather is da City Clerk. Clout gets people hired and promoted, it gets them into do-nothing spots, and it sure as hell protects them from being disciplined. In that system, who is supposed to jump up pointing fingers? Second, and this applies more to police everywhere and not just Chicago, who in the hell do you think is coming to help you when you scream for help in a police radio? This happens dozens of times a day, and it ain't the passers-by who are going to help a copper subdue a mental, disarm an armed offender or chase down a runner in a foot race. Nope, its the same people sitting next to you at roll call. The thin blue line is here, there and everywhere because it is here, there and everywhere. It just is what it is, and if we want the police to act like the police, we have to allow them to trust each other. Therefore, a lot of little things won't even draw a second glance. And once those first ethical lines turn gray in a young copper's eyes, other things can start to lose color pretty quickly.

fed up

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:01:33 -0600

Spav, You love to write about your disdain and willingness to break the smoking laws so I am not surprised you have a Im better than them attitude about police. Sure any one can be the police Im sure the test isnt that difficult (seeing as the city is constantly sued by whatever group doesnt do well on it) But actually having what it takes to actually go out and do the job I doubt it cupcake.

Ward Up

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:16:08 -0600

"...But why is it that the small group of assholes seem to always find protection from the institution at large?..." Matilda, when I saw the above comment from you, I realized that it could apply perfectly to my own environment. I am in the health field and I would like to post your statement on the wall at my work. Anyway, back to the CPD. To any SCC readers who are reading over these posts, please note that there are plenty of Chicagoist regulars who support you cops. We owe you. Be safe and hold your heads high. A lot of us admire you.

leomemorial

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:00:12 -0600

Not 'anyone' can be a cop. especially in this god forsaken city. first of all, between some of these deadbeat chicago residents and the political crap these people have to deal with on a daily basis, let's see how you handle it. second, they have barely any type of equipment and training. our city has one barely functioning police helicopter. last year, my police memorial asked the mayor to hold a department wide terrorism training in the loop. not all beat cars have computers, etc. third, we don't have enough officers on the streets. i could go on and on but i hav a great deal of respect for these men and women. SCC is awesome and gives the officers a chance to voice their opinion and civilians a chance to support them.

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:08:20 -0600

Gorilla, Lets forget about all this o.k.? here have a banna on me! Friends? (bubble over Spook's head)......who the *!@&%$ called PETA on me my for insulting a stupid Gorllia?????? )

magilla gorilla

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:52:35 -0600

i clearly stated that they know the laws and rights of the citizens, which aren't that complicated. they don't need to go to college to learn ethics. you should to try to read a little more closely. your red eye comment was senseless, which is consistent with 75% of the jibberish you post

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:42:25 -0600

"who gives a shit whether or not they went to college or how easy the test was. they're not solving the energy crisis." This should get the Red Eye Ward! Yea police work isn't complicated at all, Monkey!

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:40:28 -0600

yea Magilla forget all that law stuff, Monkey!

magilla gorilla

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:35:08 -0600

there are good cops and bad ones. more good than bad. who gives a shit whether or not they went to college or how easy the test was. they're not solving the energy crisis. they know the laws and rights of citizens. whether they chose to obey these laws is another story. cops need to have street smarts to do their job well and they have more of that than anyone on here. although, spook will no doubt claim to have more because he's thinks of himself as such a hardcore urbanite.

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:30:14 -0600

Navin I just read your post!. Do you see see why I'd rather drink with republicans over liberals? At least republicans are honest about their BS. You know Klockars is a Gooo Gooo liberal talking about how great Second City Cop is, because they bothered to talk to him ! You feel me! See why I'm getting all Matilda! And of course Matilda, being all calm on her meds is talking about "great interview Klockars! I want my money back!

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:22:13 -0600

Hey Matilda, here is a REFORM for you, maybe since cops are the first "Lawyer" on the "Scene" of a incedent they should at least have a freak'n college degree! Not to mention the test is designed for a hight school freshman Oh I got reforms for ya!

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:22:05 -0600

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:17:25 -0600

P.s Oh and about the bull sh*t below....... "SCC makes it always interesting to read the no-bullshit take on the inner world of cops. Moreover, it humanizes police in a way that is hard to get when one's only interaction is the occasional speeding ticket......." Kloackars, mayyyyyyybeeeeee if you didn't live in a Hyde Park vacuum you would be able to "humanize" cops from having a couple of the good ones as friends to provide balance. Or go to your beat meeting. Monkey! Instead you fall into the cop Idol worship or Ward Up whoreshship because you are "granted access". Guess you feel all manly mab now, ya Herb! But for your information Second City Cop is mostly a bunch of cops spewing racist sexist homophobic sh*t UNCHECKED! views p.s Hey Kloackars, don't forget to wear you O'bama button! signed Spook Comandante Commentator elect, so show some respect!

matilda

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:10:35 -0600

Spav: It's easier to be a journalist than a cop. Trained monkeys could do half the crap you see in most newspapers, and nearly all the work on TV. Spook: Tell me what specific, realistic reforms you would do for CPD were you da mayor. I saw realistic because I want to make sure you actually have an idea of what it takes to make a big-city insititution operate, and that you understand at least the broader points of budgeting.

Jeff Cagle

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:05:51 -0600

Spav, if you think you could make such a good cop, why don't you take SCC up on the offers they've put out before where they invited citizens out for a ride along on a midnight in some of the roughest districts in the city?

Navin

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:03:19 -0600

The comments on that site are so full of ignorant bullshit and just really vile hatred that it makes sites like the 'free republic' look scholarly. Everyone that's not a cop (especially blacks) is a 'mope', 'shitbird', 'scumbag' or some other less than human pejorative. Basically if the commentors are a good representation of the CPD than you probably want to stay locked indoors and avoid coming into a contact with a cop at all costs. Don't believe? Go to the site and check out the post about Barack Obama or for that matter any post about any story.

Spook

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:00:41 -0600

Gotta love it when Tilda is back on her meds, all calm and collected like a goo goo lib. But Spook being Spook I prefere her angry ranting, Jody Weis might(?) be shaking shit up( not even close to being sure yet) but Second City Cop aint about reform. It might as well be a CPD union mailer. And we see who "Karl Klockars" wants to be like when he grows up cause he thinks he's "cool" But in the mean time, you Kloackars, let me see your WBEZ pledge drive mug so I can throw it at Matilda, monkey!

Spav1

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:56:10 -0600

Not anyone could be a successful journalist. Anyone can be an "average" cop. I bet if SCC worked for the Trib (if he could even get there, more like the State Journal Register), he would be in Classified, or Obits. On the other hand, if I wanted to go to the Police Academcy, I could easily get to the rank of detective.

matilda

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:56:07 -0600

Spav: Even you must know it is bullshit to paint with such a broad brush. Or you don't get out much.

Spav1

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:53:45 -0600

Cops are trained to delibrately lie and cover their own asses so that your rights are violated come a trial. They KNOW the constitution, they have to so they can find all the loopholes and it is disgusting. Since statistically, I am most likely to be killed by someone I know, I will say a quick "thanks, but no thanks" to the cops. I don't need you.

Karl Klockars

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:51:04 -0600

@Matilda: Thank you. The SCC has an email address on their blogger profile, which was the one I corresponded with. I suppose I'll never know 100% whether or not they have an email answering service, but the tone and style matches up. And like I said at the top...I don't think I really want to know who's behind the curtain. @Spav: You may have a point buried in all those caps letters, although the converse is also true - anyone can be a reporter/journalist, with training. Here's the bigger question - can they be a good one? Also, for the record, I think Jody Weis is shaking shit up. Sometimes that "new broom sweeps clean" adage fits.

matilda

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:48:20 -0600

Ward: Good points. Very good points. But why is it that the small group of assholes seem to always find protection from the institution at large? That seems to be a major problem. For the record, the vast majority of my experiences with CPD have been positive, but I've seen, experienced and read and heard enough from trusted sources to question the institution. Just so you don't think I'm a Chicago cop hater: I would be willing to pay more city taxes to give cops a much needed raise, especially since they have to live in this expensive city. But I would also demand more accountability.

Spav1

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:35:23 -0600

@simplecreature: No. Untrue. ANYONE can be a cop.

Ward Up

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:31:39 -0600

Cops get criticized unfairly in a majority of cases. Most cops are decent, hardworking people. The flawed system does not reward hard work. Instead, kissing up to phony reverends is rewarded. No wonder there are some lemons in the department. I'll stick with the fact that the vast majority are not lemons, but heroes that go out there and make this city safe every day. In fact, CPD makes it safe so that some of the above commenters can go about their lives. Don't hamstring cops by showing disrespect and hostility. Save that for the few jerks. It really is a small group within a much larger and mostly well-intentioned force.

matilda

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:04:27 -0600

"if someone hates cops and/or has a negative opinion of them then their opinions are more often then not based on their foundational hatred and anti-cop issues." Maybe. Or, maybe it has to do with the decades of shit from the CPD, and the institutional failings of the department over many years. Granted, most cops in Chicago, and elsewhere, are likely dedicated public servants, and god knows they don't get paid enough. But if the good apples regularly go out their way to protect the bad, then something is very wrong. CPD and its backers often like to blame the public and media for the lack of trust in the city's police force but I think that's a silly, cynical view. CPD needs to look harder at itself.

tamalechica

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:59:41 -0600

Great interview with "the SCC." We all know that cops see a lot of things on an almost daily basis that most of us would reel from if we saw it once, as the SCC reminded us of. I think he's right on though, if someone hates cops and/or has a negative opinion of them then their opinions are more often then not based on their foundational hatred and anti-cop issues. Most people don't know cops on a personal level and often have this superioristic attitude about them. When I was in Fortune 200 corporate world I'd hear some pretty snotty and snide remarks, and comments from people who felt it necessary to validate how cops were so uneducated, etc. while disrespecting them. There are a lot of cops who have an education, at least a bachelor's degree, but often their being on the street so much easily makes that seem irrelevant. At the end of the day, when you're the one who is a victim of violent crime and in an emergency, that first call we make isn't to our pastors, our business colleagues, and our fun loving trendinista friends, but to the CPD.

matilda

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:59:16 -0600

The SCC guy/gal/whatever often is an asshole, and the SCC is wrong on that point, Spav. In the past, reporters often would be more willing to look the other way, and, generally, were less ethical. And the cop shop, as well as other institutions such as law, politics and sports, was much more an "boys club" where everyone patted each other on the back. Again, this is all a general observation that likely simplistic. I've read my share of police reports, and I would love to see the majority of cops even try to write a clear sentence. Doesn't mean cops are dumb, only that many are hopeless as writers. That said, SCC does offer an insightful point of view(s), even with some of the hillbilly, racist commets.

simplecreature

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:58:05 -0600

The answer is ANYONE CAN BE A COP WITH PROPER TRAINING. Spav1: "Hey look at all those trees!" Simplecreature: "Yeah, it's a beautiful forest" Spav1: "That's not a forest, it's a bunch of trees!" His whole point was that being a cop takes something more than just training, and he's dead right. I know reading came late to you Spav1. Try sounding out the big words next time.

Spav1

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:44:36 -0600

Decent interview. It for me hits the nail on the head why people HATE cops with his fucking retarded reporter versus police "could you do my job" example. The answer is ANYONE CAN BE A COP WITH PROPER TRAINING. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. Also: Woodward and Bernstein exposed the HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. This makes them "the good guys"; not the people who ruined politics with their intrusiveness. Asshole.

matilda

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:33:38 -0600

Karl: You are easily the best interviewer on this site. Nicely done. That said, how were you sure you were actually talking to the real SCC?