Busy day - Open thread
Be sure to read the posts from over the weekend. We are going to be busy most of today, so we're putting up this open thread for the time being. We'll probably post new stuff after sunset.
posted by SCC at 6:54 AM
Monday, July 25, 2005
Contributors
Previous Posts
- The end of the AFL-CIO?
- Damn! It was hot!
- Units and manpower
- A challenge! Say something nice
- Rumors! We've got ...well
- When in doubt, an open thread
- UPDATE - Tomorrow's Headlines Today
- Pic of the Day
- More bombs?
- Tomorrows Headlines Today!
7 Comments:
How do I send you my eMail that is currently circulating both inside and outside of the CPD. The subject is Sen./Rev. James T. Meeks "Racial Profiling" allegation against the unidentified European-American sergeant assigned to the Fifth District.
Great Blog Site!
(Sgt.) John Northen (Ret.)
Chicago Police Dept.
eMail: jwn4@yahoo.com
Disregard my comment above in favor of eMails I forwarded to you.
"NorthSide"
(aka: John Northen)
AN OPEN LETTER TO REVEREND & STATE SENATOR JAMES T. MEEKS c/o Mr. Don Lemon, WMAQ-TV dated July 22, 2005.
Mr. Don Lemon
WMAQ-TV
Dear Mr. Lemon,
Again, I appreciate your prompt return of my phone call this evening concerning the allegation of "RACIAL PROFILING" by Rev. Meeks. I am not acquainted with any of the principals involved in the incident which occurred in the 11500 block of S. Prairie Ave. on Wednesday evening, July 13th. Indeed, my only source of information is based on media accounts.
However, this I do know:
(1) Any allegation of "racial profiling" by police is highly inflammatory and must be investigated as a priority. Any adverse action taken by police based solely on race is unconscionable.
(2) According to Chicago Police Department (CPD) General Order 01-04, II, A, "racial profiling" is defined as "any...law enforcement action that is based SOLELY (caps mine) on the...race...of the targeted person."
(3) Virtually all of the residents of the neighborhood in which this incident occurred are African-American.
(4) At no time did Rev. Meeks allege that the European-American police officer used RACIAL epithets or offensive comments concerning African-American people.
(5) Notwithstanding, Rev. Meeks publically declared that the citing of the driver for multiple traffic violations was solely based on racial animus on the part of the European-American sergeant. Local media coverage, including Channel 5, reported the incident as "racial profiling" with absolutely no corroboration of this volatile allegation by complainant Meeks.
(6) You reported on the evening news that there would be continued coverage of "RACIAL PROFILING" incident on Sunday's "City Desk" broadcast.
(7) In our abbreviated phone conversation this evening, you, in effect, indicated that any interracial dispute between police and a disgruntled citizen(s) could be described as "racial profiling". This is absurd.
After college graduation, where about a quarter of my buddies were African-American, I served my first three years in the CPD's all black Fillmore District (011) during a tumultous period of rioting and extremely high crime vplume, particularly violent crime including the line-of-duty murders of more than 24 police officers city-wide. Due to demographics, my prolific record of felony arrests were exclusively African-Americans. Perhaps a tenth of these arrestees would make comments to the effect that "you honky pig mother f*****s just love lockin' up us (racial expletive)". To a lesser extent, some arrestees would call my black partners "(Uncle)Tom mother f*****s to the pit of (his) soul". Since I had no issues with racism, I cfoncluded that such obscene and unprovoked rants were the last resort of desperate and frustrated scoundrels. The overwhelming majority of Fillmore residents were decent, law-abiding folks. Indeed, I worked under the command of my all-time favorite police boss, Cmdr. George Sims and I credit my partner, A'Roterick "Ronnie" McLaughlin with saving our lives from a would-be cop killer. I am still in regular contact with a then 13-year-old boy nicknamed "Corky" who I "adopted" as "my little brother". As his role model, I am very proud of "Corky". He is now a proud husband and father serving as a detective sergeant with a major metropolitan police department.
You now ask how is the last paragraph relevant to the subject. During our phone conversation, you stated that the Meeks affair may be "your (my) problem". I categorically resent your implications, Mr. Lemon. There are those who summarily brand a person as "a racist" for merely taking issue with demagogues who perpetuate racial devisiveness with bogus charges. Based on media accounts, the Rev. Meeks' unsupported "racial profiling" complaint is grossly egregious and irresponsible. The European-American police sergeant deserves a public apology.
If you still dispute my comments, feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Sgt.) John Northen (Ret.)
Chicago Police Department
eMail: JNorthen@yahoo.com
NOTE: Aside from Mr. Lemon, I welcome a direct reply from the Rev./Sen. James T. Meeks.
Let's see to it that this "open letter" sees the light of day outside this department. Copies to all.
What happened to a 10 hr day?
Sharky, I love you but read your contract. This proposal is well within the guidelines for starting times as agreed to in every contract since collective bargaining has existed. Your starting time can be moved by TWO hours. Every police officer should obtain a copy of the contract and read the dam thing. This will eliminate most problems.
that's great that they can do it, but what is the reasoning behind it? and who the hell would want to work a late car on midnights now????? not like that was a real coveted spot before, but now it really sucks.
most guys i know on first watch sleep in shifts, few hours after work and a few hours before (and of course a few hours during)...good luck getting to sleep when you get home at 10:00 every day. if it were me, i would say fuck it and head right to a bar to kill the morning, go home and beat the dog, take a nap and go to work for the rest of my miserable career until i finally decide to suck someone off to get into a unit
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