Chicagoist: CPD Making Fewer Arrests Under Weis

dan l

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:07:14 -0600

When the police officer got back to the scene, he used excessive force, and pepper spray, (but) the dog was just relentless and wouldn't give up." There's no ACLU for dogs or mountain lions.

fed up

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:01:04 -0600

Harrison District officers in the 500 block of North Lawndale Avenue witnessed three dogs attacking a little boy about 7:50 p.m., according to police News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor. NBC5's [...] reported that the dogs' owner lived next to the vacant lot, and the property is gated, but the pit bulls escaped and attacked the boy while he was playing with his friends. The child's brother tried without success to pull the pit bulls off of him. "The dog wouldn't let go, they just locked down," said witness Lawrence Balark. "Another kid was able to run and flag down a police officer that came back to the scene. When the police officer got back to the scene, he used excessive force, and pepper spray, (but) the dog was just relentless and wouldn't give up." Wow the police save a boys life from an attack by three pit bulls but a typicaly chicago ghetto mutt says they used excessive force on the dogs. And the hard working chicago media puts these stupid comments on the air. Yeah it's ard to believe that the Chicago police aren't aggresive.

cpdcoppurr

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:14:50 -0600

Thanks Chicago Guy for so eloquently stating what a day or week in the life is of a Chicago Police Officer. You hit the nail right on the head. Bravo to you!!

matilda

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:27:01 -0600

Furthermore, I am willing to bet you have never been sued for doing your job, and doing it correctly at that. You would be wrong, actually. Granted, the stakes involved for me were likely less than faced by a cop, but I have been through this. My apologies for reading too much, or for putting words into your mouth. I didn't mean to. Thanks for the clarification. I have known a few cops over the years, and one or two were close friends. I have been in ride-alongs, and have at least a little taste--as much as civilian can get, I guess--about a cop's life.

Chicago Guy

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:33:17 -0600

matilda: I never mentioned anything about not liking my job. If you are basing your entire post on the part where I asked whomever takes me up, to explain to my family why I would spend so much time doing something I don't care about, you missed the point. I was being fecicious. I would have to be out of my mind to spend so much of my time on something I didn't care about. The fact that I need to explain myself is particularly disheartening. Furthermore, I am willing to bet you have never been sued for doing your job, and doing it correctly at that. When "I signed up" to "serve and protect," I must have missed the part that says: "Upon signing up, you are hereby willing to forfeit your home, your savings, your vehicle, your children's education funds, and any other assets even after following all rules, laws, ordinances statutes, general orders and direct orders fom superiors." Furthermore, if you think I was complaining about my job, I wasn't. I was merely pointing out things that most people do not see, hear, know or want to know about. There is very little glory in policework. It is the furthest thing from TV.

dan l

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:54:36 -0600

And while you have a difficult job, you are not the only person in this city who works his/her butt off for modest pay and for crappy bosses and customers/clients/whatever. I bet you he's the only one who has to wear a vest to work though.

matilda

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:51:00 -0600

Chicago guy: You don't seem to like your job. Nothing wrong with that. But perhaps you should find another line of work or another department. And while you have a difficult job, you are not the only person in this city who works his/her butt off for modest pay and for crappy bosses and customers/clients/whatever. I hope your health does improve quickly, though. That must suck more than I can imagine.

Chicago Guy

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:33:51 -0600

Ok, since many of you know how to do a policeman's job, I have a proposition... Come show me how to do my job. Follow me for 1 entire week. You can start by meeting me at the district station on MY first day of the week (it might be a monday, it might be a friday) in the afternoon or early evening. You will ride in the squad car with me for 8 hours a day, for 6 days. If I am required to stay late, which is more than likely, you will also. Hopefully not too late though, noot because I don't care. Rather, I don't want the bosses accusing me of milking that Criminal Sexual Assault report, which we were assigned with 30 minutes to go, in order to accumulate overtime. You will also go to court with me, which starts at 9am, to prosecute the people that have been arrested in an attempt to salvage YOUR neighborhood, not mine. You may be able to get a quick nap in before going back to work. Then maybe, in between answering 20+ calls for service, you can point out a ruffien to investigate. After a protective pat-down, name check and a field interview is conducted we have to release him, because our investigation has indicated he is not in violation of any laws or ordinances. Then, in approximately 3 months, you can be a witness to the complaint he has filed claiming verbal abuse, harassment, and physical abuse, claiming he was thrown headfirst into the squad car, which never happened. Maybe we can arrest a pissbum for drinking a 40 on the public way. When we do make that arrest, you may be required to come to Federal Court in 12-24 months. I, not you, will most likely be sued. The upstanding pillar of society will claim that the whole case was concocted. Hopefully the jury will not find me liable for punitive damages totalling $20,000, again. That is right, again implies it has happened before and most likely will happen again. Hopefully during the week, we are not involved in any serious auto collisions. If we are, I pray, nobody steals my weapon, then gives it to a thug acquaintance to sell. Because more than likely if that happens, there will be witnesses and those involved will be caught. Unfortunately, for my fellow officers, detectives and myself, we will most likely be sued and there will be a finding of punitive damages against us. Why, you say? Because that person did not disarm me, then steal my weapon, or so that person claims. That person was attempting to save my life. We conspired to "put a case" on this hero, who claims to be a nurse, but has no responsibilities greater than changing a bed pan. If you think I'm making these cases up, it is not even "the tip of the iceburg." Do a little research, you will see for yourself. You will also learn not to believe anything in the mainstream media. Any Takers? Don't forget to pick up some adult diapers for the times we will be flying into a gun fight at extremely high speeds. My only request is that you explain to my wife and children, why I spent less than 24 hours at home during the whole week for something I don't care about. Unfortunately this offer is not good for a few months. I was injured on duty, and required surgery. I will hopefully be back to work by late winter or early spring. Does anyone know how to get the creditors to stop bothering me? The city is not paying my medical bills, like they are obligated to.

fed up

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:22:56 -0600

I dont think the police are dogging it they are simplely following the new rules. The new boss is willing to throw them to the wolves to score political points. When was the last time the sun times or trib wrote a story with a nice picture about someone making a false complaint against a police officer. At least 5 employees at my workplace have been arrested in the last year. None of their pictures have been in the news and our boss didn't suspend them. It happened when we were off so our boss doesn't care. Chicago D you tie one on tonight and go bitch slap the barmaid you make bail and go to work on Monday and no omne will care. (it is still wrong and stupid). The city has admitted being about 400 police short of there budgeted strength. What is interesting though is the budgeted strength of the police dept has shrunk considerable over the last 10 years. Because of this shortage most police districts are in a status of no cars available for long periods of time at night and weekends. Yes you do see them in restraunts they get lunch and breaks. Are most industries doing more with less yes they are but those industries dont have every reporter and Rev jumping up and down about every mistake whether real or imagined. Here's something for all the goo goo liberals to think about whats wrong with society that a less aggresive police force causes crime to go up. Why can't people not committ crime if they are not being stopped and frisked when they walk down the street. Maybe it is societys fault. The police are allowing the citizens of Chicago to show they can behave without being aggressivley policed and the citizens of Chicago are failing.

dan l

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:48:02 -0600

So why pretend to be surprised when the police collectively decide to put in a half ass effort? I shouldn't even give you that benefit. It's probably due to the grossly understaffed nature of the department anyhow.

dan l

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:46:51 -0600

I don't really think the property owning middle class have a problem with the police. By which, of course, I exclude yuppies and the Reverends. Face it: When it comes to you and your deep south side intellectual kin, any excuse to bitch about the police is enough. So why pretend to be surprised when the police collectively decide to put in a half ass effort?

Chicago D

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:34:17 -0600

Dan, You are kidding yourself if you think the problems with the CPD are all 20 year old allegations and innocent bar fights. You can bitch all you want about those topics, but the fact is that if the CPD is dogging it and they start losing the respect of the property-owning middle class (i.e. their neighbors) that will *really* become a bad job.

dan l

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:23:10 -0600

No no!!! Let's do more stories about the "corrupt" chicago police department when one of the coppers gets into a bar fight with a couple of lincoln park day traders!!!!

dan l

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:22:24 -0600

I know! Here's how we get the police to care again!!!! Let's have the Reverends and the chicagoist reader go more bwa bwa bwa over an area 2 dick who may or may not have 'tortured' the scum of the earth back in 1985 and pretend like it's important today!!!

dan l

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:18:42 -0600

I hate to point it out, but the silly red line liberals that are pissing and moaning about the "police not doing enough" would - more likely than not - be the same people who would bitch when the police vigorously do their job. I live up in Rogers Park now, unfortunately. The neighborhood blogtards do everything short of starting a fight with the coppers. Hell, they'll even get in the cops way for the express purpose of having a "citizen journalist" story to report. And then, they'll simultaneously complain when the cops don't show up for an anonymous "dice game on the corner" call.

Chicago D

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:55:03 -0600

Chiflyguy, I am humbled at your recollection. It is a Terry search, not a Mapp search. You are 100% correct. Professor Nowak would be so disappointed in me. Still, lawsuits and complaints do not follow from every interaction. Sometimes it is enough for the police just to stop, roll down the window and ask people what's going on. No lawsuit, no fuss, no muss. At the end of the day, I cannot abide people dogging it as described in this article. I also cannot believe that any police officer thinks they are doing themselves a favor taking 5,000 fewer guns off the street. That is cutting off your nose to spite your face. If the job at the CPD is so terrible, the cops ought to find other positions, instead of whining on Second City Cop and slacking while at work.

chiflyguy

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:40:35 -0600

Actually, I think you're probably referring to Terry v. Ohio (not Mapp). Mapp talks about the admissibility of illegally obtained evidence. Terry says that an officer may stop and frisk an individual of they have "reasonable suspicion" which must be based on "specific and articulable facts." But enough with the legalese... my point is that if a well-intentioned officer does not believe that their superiors will support him (or her)during the inevitable lawsuit, will allow their name to be dragged through the media with little defense, or will settle with the plaintiff for a few hundred thousand in taxpayer dollars just to shut them up, then I can't entirely blame the officer for not putting their entire career/home/family in jeopardy, all based on a "suspicion" that may or may not be correct.

Stealth

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:50:09 -0600

I got the definition from a police glossary created by a cop. If you find fault with it, blame him. I assumed that was part of the oath they take. Police Glossary

Chicago D

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:48:46 -0600

Chiflyguy, First, in your example, Mapp may allow a stop. Supreme Court and all that. That being said, I agree that the oath is not the biggest reason that this is a disgrace (if true). The implicit trade-off between decent society and the popo is that the police will serve and protect, and decent society will respect them individually and en masse, as well as support them. I think that decent, law-abiding people are generally very supportive (and forgiving) of the CPD. It appears that the CPD may not be living up to its part of the bargain. Also, see the personal pride etc. that I discussed above. Finally, with regard to police pay, I disagree with Ingrid that it is not very much. Most police officers are not threatened with bodily harm most of the time. In fact, some never really are. $59,000 a year two years out of college is pretty good. 20 vacation days is only too little if you live in France. It is close to as many as any American worker gets. Full reimbursement for education is an infinitely better deal than most people get. The trade off is that in some neighborhoods you are in a war zone (although your pay and bennies are all better than a soldier's). Frankly, if that were a bad deal, the CPD would not be able to hire officers. As far as I know, that is not a problem.

chiflyguy

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:11:45 -0600

@Stealth: Your argument as stated in your post is flawed. Let's say I'm a CPD beat officer who sees a character who looks a little "suspicious" in my opinion. Not doing anything illegal, no weapon in plain view, but my years of experience tell me that there's at least the POSSIBILITY that this person may be up to no good. If I decide to keep driving (or walking), rather than stopping and questioning this individual, how does that equate with NOT "supporting the constitution of the United States and Illinois?" In fact, it could be argued that stopping this individual would do the complete opposite- violating his constitutional rights. The fourth ammendment. Illegal search and seizure and all that.

Stealth

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:54:58 -0600

When cops are going to have their livelihoods and careers threatened by pandering politicians and back-stabbing superintendents, WHY ON EARTH would these cops continue to police aggressively? Why? BECAUSE THEY TOOK A FUCKING OATH SAYING THEY WOULD!!!! From a Police Glossary: "Sworn Member: A member of the Chicago Police Department who takes an oath to support the constitution of the United States and Illinois." Again, are they special conditions that allow them to shirk their responsibilities? If so, put it in the oath so at least we know how far they're willing to go and why.

fremo

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:37:16 -0600

Ward, old sport...let's get to the bottom of something. Define, in your own words for me, LIBERAL. GO:

matilda

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:31:33 -0600

There is no excuse for cops to dog it. If people want a different job, they ought to pursue that other job. Absolutely. Some jobs simply require a greater level of dedication and honor than others. Now, I dislike how Daley has dragged out this contract process, and I can understand the poor morale, but there is no excuse for these public servants to inject apathy into a job that, often, determines whether someone lives or dies. Cops often demand a deep respect for their difficult and vital job, as they should. But cops also must always work for that respect; they cannot take it for granted. And Ward, it is not clear to me that the toggle switch has "be a bar tender beating lunatic" at one pole, and "dog it and just 'get through your shift'" at the other. Perhaps there is a middle area that we could expect cops to aim for (pun intended). Said much better than my fumbling attempt at the same idea.

Chicago D

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:21:42 -0600

Fedup, We don't have unions and contracts at my job. Pure at-will employment. Somehow, we continue to do our best work, and get paid for it. Strange. There is no excuse for cops to dog it. If people want a different job, they ought to pursue that other job. Police work is not really all that easy to get into, and people make a lot of decisions to become cops. If they regret them, they ought to look for more appropriate employment. There is *no* excuse for dogging it. And Ward, it is not clear to me that the toggle switch has "be a bar tender beating lunatic" at one pole, and "dog it and just 'get through your shift'" at the other. Perhaps there is a middle area that we could expect cops to aim for (pun intended).

fed up

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:13:12 -0600

I wonder if the chicago public school teachers would show up for one day without a contract? no they wouldnt the garbage man would not pick up garbage, streets and san woldnt work the CTA threatened strike and recieved a new contract. The police and fire have been working without a contract for 16 months. Guess what at my job we wouldnt work one day with out a contract. Daley says there is no money (there was money for all the unions that are allowed to strike). Gas prices have gone up food prices up, sales tax up, property taxs up guess what there salary stayed the same. Yes they get crapped on by everyone the only time you see a cop is if something has gone wrong or you are in trouble not the makings of a memorable experiance. I know alot of police they do not trust the new boss and do acknowledge that responding to calls and protecting the city is there job and they do it, but stopping someone who is suspicious, well society has decieded that can get them in trouble so they dont do it. It is easier to write a report for the person how just got robbed than to stop someone who is suspicous and be accused of racial profiling or harrasing someone. Do we need more police yes do they deserve a fair contract yes Do the mayor and city council care NO the cops and firemen can't strike so there is no reason for the city to care.

jimbo

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:27:51 -0600

Nice post, Ward. You know things are getting out of control when people start getting shot in Lincoln Park.

matilda

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:01:24 -0600

Ward: Well, the reality is that the cops--not just the CPD but in other cities-will have to find that fine line that allows them to be aggressive but not abusive. Whether you like it or not, that is the nature of a lawsuit-mad society, the reality now. People--cops and others--should quit whining about it and just get on with the hard, long work of changing the culture. To the liberals of the City of Chicago, you reap what you sow. That is crap on varous levels, including the implication that the cops are right in just doing a lower level of work despite their duty and their honor, doing a lower level of work to piss off the percieved do-gooders who allegedly favor criminals over cops. If cops don't want to serve, find a new deparment or new job--don't cry about writing off the city because of some percieved political bias or whatever you are trying to blame this on. Believe me or not, but I support long sentence for violent offenders and vastly increased penalties for the mere act of belonging to a criminal street gang. I support more cops, and paying them more, and taking a tougher stance toward even minor crimes.But I also don't want our police to be thugs in uniform. Why is this always presented as an either-or choice? Certainly, there are other ways to go about this without supporting either a lawless city or a police force that beats the crap out of everybody in the name of law enforcement.

Ward Up

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:45:16 -0600

Some of us, me included, wrote on these pages, back when Cline was superintendent, that the groundswell AGAINST aggressive policing would lead DIRECTLY to less aggressive policing and thus an INCREASE in the murder rate. Got it? People have DIED because of the cop-bashers, the phony reverends, and Superintendent Weis. When cops are going to have their livelihoods and careers threatened by pandering politicians and back-stabbing superintendents, WHY ON EARTH would these cops continue to police aggressively? To the liberals of the City of Chicago, you reap what you sow.

matilda

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:35:54 -0600

No, you (the grand you, the all-encompassing you, group address, not just you the specific) are not. You want lower taxes, even though taxes are already low. Good point, and thanks for not including me, because I actually menat it. I guess I have known enough cops over the years to realize that good equipment and higher morale benefits us all. But while many, many cops would like to beat Abbatte, the CPD--the uniforms, the brass, the political flunkies--has always gone out of way to protect the bad ones, even ones less bad than Abbatte. And then the CPD wonders why more people don't respect them. This is not about pushing around some gangbanger who was stupid enought to flash some dope or mouth off--you know, just a slap that would hardly hurt my grandmother--but really protecting the corrupt and the thuggish police members.

Scooter Libbby

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:39:37 -0600

If most cops can't stand garbage like Abbate, then why did the cops in the 25the District protect him at his first court hearing from any video being taken of him? They even illegally blocked off a private parking lot whose owner had given the media permission to shoot from there. The watch commander & several other cops were removed because of that.

Kaonashi

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:30:46 -0600

Cops who are upholding the law and are doing what they are supposed to be doing (ie: their job) as opposed to harrassing and shaking down the very people that they are sworn to protect aren't worried about being investigated; it's the assholes that are worried. And maybe they should be. There are Chicago cops who go above and beyond what they should, who protect the innocent, work the not-so-nice areas and work within the community. They see the worse sides of human nature on a daily basis and they STILL do not become jaded to the point that they start generalizing people because they believe in the motto "We serve and protect." In my opinion those cops should be rewarded and have parades given in their honor. Sadly, these cops don't make the news that often. Instead, it's the gang-informing, bartender-beating, drug-selling POS cops you see all of the time, and the "We protect our own" attitude most cops have makes things worse.

Ingrid

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:25:58 -0600

Chicago D, Maybe I am being a little unfair, but I can only go by my personal experience. I guess not all of them can be as smart about the job as Andy Sipowicz :) But I do think that they get bum raps. If you ever watch the news when a cop is pro-active he gets vilified by the community. If the cop holds back, then he gets vilified for not doing enough and gets accused of not caring about the community. And I don't think that a mid range of $50,000 is enough to risk one's life for on a daily basis...and I also think that 20 days of vacation is not enough either...especially for inner city cops who have to deal with the dregs of society all day or night long. btw...anyone ever see the movie Serpico? I just saw it for the first time around a year ago. I'm sure the level of corruption that was portrayed in that movie doesn't exist anymore, but I'm also just as sure that there are many,many cops who cover for each other. (and I do know that most cops cannot stomach Anthony Abate and most cops would like to see Drew Peterson hang by his thumbs) but honorable men like Serpico, I'm sure, are a rarity on any police force. This is why they need to be paid more, or at least get way more bennies.

Chicago D

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:11:33 -0600

You know, cops are not that terribly underpaid. Check what a new cop makes. Some of them are in highly dangerous, highly stressful environments, but some of them (probably most of them) are not. $43,000 to start, $59,000 after 18 months, plus 20 vacation days and tuition reimbursement for advanced degrees. http://www.chicagopolice.org/recruitment/recruitment.html I think Ingrid is being a little unfair with the comment about whether cops are smart. Some are lunks, some are not. The ones who last tend to be very good at reading people and diffusing situations. All that being said, there is no excuse for mikely1 was describing, and no excuse for "getting through the shift." Get a different job if that's your attitude. All this bullshit about the drug war and all that is crap. Nobody will convince me that a cop on, Thorndale, for instance, thinks all that as s/he is apathetic.

fremo

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:08:41 -0600

I'd be curious if there was an independent, city wide audit of services and workforces to see just where all the money goes.

mikely1

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:04:58 -0600

CPD doesn't pull people over. I've seen it maybe twice in ten years. They ticket parked cars for street cleaning violations, parking violations and expired tickets. That's it. When it comes to traffic infractions that actually endanger people, they're oddly not as vigilant. You can drive 60 down Broadway or blow through a stop sign and CPD can't be bothered. I have family and friends who are police. The problems do start at the top and the citizens are apathetic. But I've also been let down enough by cops and had enough bad one-on-one experiences with them to be pretty jaded.

Ingrid

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:01:34 -0600

I gotta say, I feel sorry for the city cops. It always seems like they're damned if they do and damned if they don't. That being said, it's not like I'm defending them either...it's the same as teachers, maybe if they paid them better they'd attract better people applying to be cops, because to be honest with you...most cops that I've ever come in contact with seem to be as bright as a box of rocks. Maybe we need more citizen groups like those guys...ack...can't think of their names...I think they were in NYC...they wore berets and they patrolled the streets....who were they and what ever happened to them?

mikely1

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:55:15 -0600

"You shoulda seen what dis neighbrohood was like in da 80's" Said sarcastically by a beat cop to concerned citizens at a CAPS meeting following the random murder of Barry Cunnane. http://www.insideonline.com/site/epage/12206_162.htm

Albanyparkour

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:53:23 -0600

CPD showed up, woke him up, sent him off into the night Should he have arrested him? To what purpose? Another case clogging up the system. Or perhaps brought him into the social services system? That's equally clogged. I agree about the ticketing, but again, the city budget shortfall means cops getting told to write more tickets. Seriously, find me a police officer who just loves pulling people over and writing parking tickets for nuissnace laws and I'll show you a cop who should have his shield and gun pulled.

mikely1

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:44:28 -0600

ChicagoD, I call 911 all the time. They usually give you a hard time for reporting the weed-smoking thugs but I still call and usually just say loitering or "suspicious activity." I also go to CAPS meetings. I'm not apathetic. I've been mugged. And a friend of mine was killed by one of said thugs not long ago. I've called in gunshots and seen no response. I called in an assault in my alley and it took CPD 20 minutes to arrive. A couple years ago I called 911 when I saw a lifeless-looking guy splayed out on my sidewalk. I didn't know if he'd been the victim of an assault or what. Turns out he was 'just' passed out drunk. CPD showed up, woke him up, sent him off into the night, and ticketed a nearby car that already had about 35 ticktes on it. Generate revenue off the taxpayers and ignore the low-lifes and troublemakers.

Albanyparkour

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:35:25 -0600

And perhaps the CPD would have less of a problem if it did not so aggressively protect its bad apples for years and years. Do you know any cops? Every one I know would love five minutes in a dark room with Anthony Abbate, a stun gun and no cameras allowed. But individuals are not a culture. The culture is corrupt, yes. Who is to blame? Us. We elect politicians who promise more cops and more jails and getting "tougher" on crime. More pressure on cops to "perform" as opposed to police. Cops don't serve and protect communities, they don't have the time to between making quota, er...performance standards, on tickets, shaking down low level drug fiends (useless) and surfing in a bureaucracy that thrives on inertia. The militarization of the drug war has turned cops from civil servants with a job to do into nothing short of soldiers in an endless, pointless, front-less war. If police weren't being asked to curb people's tenancy for self-medication they could focus on actual crimes and have socially responsible interactions with the public. I am willing to pay more taxes to hire more cops; buy them better equipment; and give them a bonus for having to live in this expensive city. No, you (the grand you, the all-encompassing you, group address, not just you the specific) are not. You want lower taxes, even though taxes are already low. You want safer streets, but can't be bothered to participate in your community. You want tougher sentences for petty criminals ("Tough on crime!") who just end up coming out better criminals, with records who invariable make the streets less safe. You want better cops, on the cheap. To demostrate my point about who is to blame I offer this: Apathetic citizens = totally useless. and in the same post. If they are witnessing criminality bit not addressing it, they are breaking both their contract and the public trust. We have seen the enemy and he is us.

Stealth

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:28:07 -0600

Should be "Are there..." of course...

Stealth

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:27:06 -0600

If a person doesn't want to "serve and protect", then don't sign up to serve and you won't have to protect (your own ass). Are their conditions on "serving and protecting" that we don't know about?

Chicago D

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:05:25 -0600

Just out of curiosity, why not make the anonymous 911 call on the weed-smoking thugs on Thorndale? Then it is not a self-initiated stop. Apathetic citizens = totally useless. "And why should they?" This is all backwards. A cops job is to stop criminality. They ought to do that whether it is self-initiated or not. This concept that they are "getting through the shift" appropriately is just erroneous. If they are witnessing criminality bit not addressing it, they are breaking both their contract and the public trust.

matilda

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:53:02 -0600

And why should they? Because it's the job for which they are paid, perhaps? Don't get me wrong: I am willing to pay more taxes to hire more cops; buy them better equipment; and give them a bonus for having to live in this expensive city. But dignity and honesty requires us to do the job for which we have signed up, don't you think, even if morale is, understandably, in the crapper. And like it or not, cops are not like other workers: They have willingly signed up for an extremely difficult form of public service. No one force them. And while conditions are much more difficult than other jobs--and the pay is not the best--cops do benefit from being able to retire much, much earlier than the rest of the workforce and, generally at least, better pension plans that most workers I've ever met or read about. And perhaps the CPD would have less of a problem if it did not so aggressively protect its bad apples for years and years.

Albanyparkour

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:35:09 -0600

"People are doing just what they need to get through [their shifts] and not any extra." And why should they? So they can be vilified in the media, who would rather write about a hundred Anthony Abbate's than one good cop? Or killed by some methed out goon over a red light stop? Manpower is at a critical low and Weis' policies are deck chairs on the Lusitania. The city isn't serious about reforming the department to clear about the bad cops or support the good ones. Just let it slide officer.

mikely1

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:08:24 -0600

This is obvious in the evenings lately on Thorndale. Gangbangers sitting on parked cars, smoking weed. CPD rolls by and tickets the cars parked at the expired meters. Totally useless.

Tower18

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:56:27 -0600

"People are doing just what they need to get through [their shifts] and not any extra." It's amazing that someone who represents police officers can say that without feeling any guilt whatsoever.