Chicagoist: Chicago Cop Accused of Attacking Bar Patrons

lamgray

Mon, 19 May 2008 15:19:25 -0600

UTV: Most likely b/c drunken cops activities were off-duty and did not occur within one of the CPD offices. . .while ticket cop was in direct violation of his duties while on the clock (He didn't give the tickets while on duty, so an on the job violation). It would be the same at your workplace. If you didn't do your job correctly, they can fire you for it immediately. But, if you were arrested for assault and battery while defaming your companies name. . they would have to investigate and find illicit proof of the violations. In this case, I presume he'll have to be found guilty before they can terminate him.

Chicago D

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:28:33 -0600

Julia, Maybe, and I am not sure about this, but maybe it would help destigmatize it if officers started seeing career hits (or terminations) for behavior that can be modified or avoided by the employee assistance program. In other words, the stigma is less than the stigma of having your career sidetracked. That job has got to be incredibly stressful, which is why they do mental health screening to get in. Do they keep doing mental health screening once you are in?

JuliaPorter

Sun, 18 May 2008 22:01:00 -0600

That's true, smussy, but it would be better to get them mental help before drinking becomes a viable coping option. It's obvious there are huge problems within the department, but for the good guys who just want to do a good job, it's incredibly, inconceivably stressful. There is an employee assistance program, but it's not widely used. Of course, that's partly due to dept-wide stigma against mental help, and I certainly have no idea how to fix that.

smussy

Sun, 18 May 2008 17:29:57 -0600

matty: if they're drunks, it would be better to get them to an AA meeting or treatment than a shrink, imo. however, if they're not ready to quit, then firing them is the first and best step. consequences are often the first step in getting someone to see they have a problem. and even then, they may never do so.

Ingrid

Sun, 18 May 2008 17:23:06 -0600

"UTV: Forgive me if I seem ignorant, but why is it that the guy who stashed a bunch of traffic tickets was canned immediately, and the drunken, fist-swinging cops take longer to get rid of than beg bugs?" I think the answer to that question is because in our world, money always trumps human life. i.e. you can steal or embezzle a huge sum of money and get 20 years, but yet a murderer can get only a 2 year sentence.

UTV

Sun, 18 May 2008 16:27:01 -0600

Forgive me if I seem ignorant, but why is it that the guy who stashed a bunch of traffic tickets was canned immediately, and the drunken, fist-swinging cops take longer to get rid of than beg bugs?

Ward Up

Sun, 18 May 2008 16:22:00 -0600

Get rid of this guy. Jerks like this make things worse for the public's safety by eroding trust in all officers. That part about the bushes is as disturbing as the fight. Is he some kind of midnight gardener?

matty

Sun, 18 May 2008 13:02:34 -0600

I wonder if alcoholism is playing a role in many of these beatings. Cops need better mental health facilities and it would be a start to get them out of the bar and on to the shrink's couch.