Blame the Police Again
- "We look forward to a complete and thorough review," the family said in a statement released through attorney Jeffrey Singer. "We wish to learn why our daughter was not given access to mental health care while she was revealing erratic behavior to the Chicago Police Department at the time of her arrest and while in police custody as is required by the department's policies and procedures."
For all the heat we gave (and will continue to give) the Superintendent over the sign controversy, we did give him his props over the Meeks incident. He conducted a thorough investigation and properly cleared the Sergeant of any wrong doing (at least as far as the profiling - the naughty language rap was a bit much).
Just for starters on this incident, do we know that phone calls from this woman's family got anywhere NEAR where she was locked up? And then there is the fact that we are simply not trained to be able to reliably recognize subtle clues that might lead to a proper diagnosis of mental illness. As a bi-polar individual, perhaps this woman was on the downside of a mood swing when she was arrested and then leveling out or on the upswing when she was bailed out at a completely different station with officers who never saw her on the downside. Probably the only people who saw her for more than 60 or 90 minutes were the people working the female lockup at 51st Street - no time at all to be able to make any kind of judgment as to her mental state or capacity.
So here's to hoping that the arresting officers, who may have had her for all of 90 minutes to process her, the transport officers (if they were different) who had her for maybe 40 minutes tops, and the lockup personnel who may have had her for 6 to 8 hours (but only checking on her every 15 minutes) while her prints cleared don't get caught up in some witch hunt.
And god help us if we have to start releasing prisoners only in neighborhoods that match their skin tone and transport people to bus stations, taxi stands, train depots and airports to get them out of the City.
Just for starters on this incident, do we know that phone calls from this woman's family got anywhere NEAR where she was locked up? And then there is the fact that we are simply not trained to be able to reliably recognize subtle clues that might lead to a proper diagnosis of mental illness. As a bi-polar individual, perhaps this woman was on the downside of a mood swing when she was arrested and then leveling out or on the upswing when she was bailed out at a completely different station with officers who never saw her on the downside. Probably the only people who saw her for more than 60 or 90 minutes were the people working the female lockup at 51st Street - no time at all to be able to make any kind of judgment as to her mental state or capacity.
So here's to hoping that the arresting officers, who may have had her for all of 90 minutes to process her, the transport officers (if they were different) who had her for maybe 40 minutes tops, and the lockup personnel who may have had her for 6 to 8 hours (but only checking on her every 15 minutes) while her prints cleared don't get caught up in some witch hunt.
And god help us if we have to start releasing prisoners only in neighborhoods that match their skin tone and transport people to bus stations, taxi stands, train depots and airports to get them out of the City.
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
69 Comments:
I work with coppers who are b-polar. Big deal.
That was bi-polar
or just bi
"And god help us if we have to start releasing prisoners only in neighborhoods that match their skin tone and transport people to bus stations, taxi stands, train depots and airports to get them out of the City."
Uhm, move to reconsider! Some of us crackuh yuppies own in the south loop/near south side now, and would appreciate if only people like us were releaded from mcd.
The arresting officers talked with her parents before she got taken to 002. Her parents talked to several different officers in 002 while she was in custody, all of which I hear has been verified through phone records.
I have no idea what the culpability is, if any, but it sure sounds like the parents definitely talked with several officers at a couple different locations. But is it our responsibility? I don't know. Probably not, but I bet the jury on the civil trial is going to say it is.
Witch hunt is probably too strong of a term here, but I'm very happy to have been RDO when all of this went down! Lot of very nervous people in 002 right now. Everyone's waiting for the hammer to drop. Sounds like 008 is none too happy either.
Terrible shame, but let's put the blame where it belongs, on the animal that raped her. She get's released from Area 3 and this is a non-story from start to finish!
the city will just settle the suit no worries for officers in that regards.however will be interesting if some people catch some time
whoever's name is on the i-bond has some explaining to do
12:28 are you soft in the head? the I- bond consists of a 30 second meeting in which you tell the arrestee his court info and they are sent on there way
Blame the po-po ? Come on, where's the outrage over what happened to her at the hands of the beast? Where's Meeks, Jackson, etc.? No where. Fuck them and this shit-bird infested city.
Once again, dule will get a free ride and the police will pay somehow.
Can you see it? We will have to evaluate people now and correctly diagnose their condition before release.
And it won't just be the mentals. A hype high on heroin is a danger to himself as is a crack head right after smoking a rock.
The stupidity never ends
Dule? I meant "duke".
12:57:27 actually no, the po who gave her the i-bond officially is the last one on paper to see her. so they are going to look at that po
If I remember correctly, Illinois requires "a threat to others or to themselves" to be petitioned for involuntary confinement for mentals. Has the law or GO changed in the last few weeks???
I hear that the entire incident was "caugt" on tape....and she better be very careful what she is alleging because me hears that her story is FAR from the truth....this one should be interesting....stay tuned....
being off medications and exhibiting symptoms of mental illness qualifies as being a danger to yourself, at the very least you would have to call for an ambulance to take that person to a hospital
2:51 define mental illness? Is a dope, gambling, type A "anal", thrill seeker, liberal democrat, or such a "danger to themselves" because anytime you drove down Milwaukee, Irving Park, Cicero or the entire 007 district, you'd be petioning everyone out there.
Unfortunately, this city and this Department is completely driven by lawsuits. Some of the stupidest rules we have have been established because of lawsuits. We are no longer the police, the city doesn't want us to be the police. We are babysitters, counselors, mediators, etc. Our Department has completely lost it's focus.
being off medications and exhibiting symptoms of mental illness qualifies as being a danger to yourself, at the very least you would have to call for an ambulance to take that person to a hospital
5/28/2006 02:51:06 AM
Sorry but that is not true. Harm to yourself means "I'm going to kill my self...I'm going to cut my self" And harm to others means " I'm going to kill you.....I'm going to cut you." Be off meds is not a valid reason to take away someone's freedom and put them in a hospital.
the term that is used is "danger" to oneself or others. for example, being off your meds and sinking into a delusional state were you then run into traffic where the possibilty exists that you get run over-harm to self,or a car has to swerve out of the way and crashes-harm to others
WILL SOMEBODY FINALLY TEAR THAT LAST BUILDING IN TAYLOR DOWN. IT WAS SAID IN THE SUN-TIMES THAT THE WOMAN CAUSED QUITE A STIR IN THE BUILDING WITH THE YOUNG MEN BECAUSE OF HER STUNNING GOOD LOOKS AND THE FACT THAT SHE WAS WHITE. DID ANYONE LIVING THERE CALL THE POLICE WHEN SHE WAS BEING RAPED BY THAT ANIMAL IN THE VACANT APARTMENT? NO THEY JUST LAUGHED ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE WINDOW. I SAY BURN THE SUCKER DOWN WITH ALL THE RATS INSIDE....GOOD LUCK TRYING TO GET A CONVICTION ON THIS ONE, JUST BLAME THE POLICE BECAUSE IT IS ALL OUR FAULT AS USUAL.
3:21:14 verbatim
405 ilcs 5/1-129.mental illness."mental illness"means a mental,or emotional disorder that substantially impairs a person's thought,perception of reality,emotional process,judgement,behavior,or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life,but does not include a dvelopmental disability,dementia or alzheimer's disease absent psychosis,a substance disorder,or an abnormality manifested only by repeated criminal or otherwise antisocial conduct.
(source p.a. 93-573, eff.8-21-03)
I hear that the entire incident was "caugt" on tape....and she better be very careful what she is alleging because me hears that her story is FAR from the truth....this one should be interesting....stay tuned....
5/28/2006 02:49:39 AM
SHE isn't alleging anything! SHE'S still in a coma. And the things on tape don't help the police any, believe me!
two stories going here....the TMA taped her interaction....not the other girl!
How many times have the police received a phone call from somebody with information about somebody that contains lies just to see the person get messed around. People lie to the police all the time in hopes to get others jammed up. How are we to know who the person on the other line is who they say they are or that the information is truthful.
Yes if this women was acting as if she could use mental health screaning, we would bring her to the hospital. On the other hand, sometimes some coppers want the head so bad, they overlook the need for mental health evaluation and ignore the signs. Tac does it all the time. We will hopefully find the facts.
we as the police are there to help those in legitimate need. our job is to protect the helpless. i hope the po's who locked her up did so because she was acting normal.i hope the turnkeys put her in a cell when she was acting normal.i hope the po who bonded her out and the rest at the desk let her leave the station acting normal. if not they have to look at themselves and wonder did i do what a copper is suppose to do
ch 405 ilcs states reasonable belief of "IMMINENT DANGER TO SELF OR OTHERS".
Whatever.
It's all the police's fault.
One more shithead gets away with rape and (soon to be) murder and one more mental is off the streets. Now everyone can be happy in their selective roles.
Now we can focus on important things like updates on The Sopranos, American Idol and "24"
...while Rome burned.....
One less mudshark!!!!
If I recall right from lopsided media report's it was other arrestee's that claimed there was something wrong with her, go figure. She may not have been BiPolored out. If your not familiar with bipolar and manic depression behaviour you may not recognize it. Yes we have employee's on the job with the noted illiness's. Is it possible other things were going on with Ms Calif. aka stoned? Why didn't her parent's have the airline tic. waiting for her if this played out the way the media claimed? They were upset enough to allegedly contact the police. She was allegedly arrested for trespassing, didn't CTA sign complaint and call PD? You cannot detain an individual unless they are a physical threat to themselves or another aka mental. After CPD bonded her she may have been instructed to wait for her parents, she was free to leave and wandered off looking for hangout's and she found them.
2:40 and all others who said this, you are absolutely 100% correct.
If a judge were to determine who is a danger to themselves, there is no way the standard would in any way include consideration that she might walk over to that nearby public high rise, and might go inside voluntarily, and might get thrown off the 7th floor balcony.
When anyone here or anywhere is considering the standard for involuntary committment, remember that the courts are the ones responsible for having so many mentals out on the streets. Including those who WE ARE CERTAIN are a danger to themselves and others.
Like any judge in Cook County (or anywhere) would have found HER suitable for involuntary committment! If she was eligible, than more than half the residents of public housing and Englewood would already be in straight jackets.
No matter. The only person we should be looking at is the criminal who assaulted her. If the question is why are mentals running around on the streets, than ask the family and the judiciary at large. If WE had our way, these people wouldn't be running around. But our hands are tied.
The mope crim. claimed she jumped out the window. Have you noticed we have no one defending us thru the media anymore? Is FOP still operational, I still see deduction's on my paystubs. Until this is fully investigated police should have someone who say's at the least all the fact's are not in. Why is the wolf freely on our backs? Pattern since 02 and getting worse. No one else has noticed this inactivity?
I made some of my best pinches while off my meds. Acting irrational? Funkin'A right-the minute I stepped into the tact office for bullshit tact role call. But then again I didn't wear fish net stockings and a see-thru top as I meandered into the projects like the valley girl!
We still insist that free PROZAC be dispensed at all roll calls.
No Kool-Aid, thank you.
I DON'T CAREM!!!!!!!!!!
I will only say that if the family knew she was nuts, and they HAD her out in California, then why didn't THEY take better care of her? If she was a danger to herself, they should have had her treated out there instead of letter her exotic dance her mentally ill way across the country.
Like with Becker's homeless guy, no one gives a poop until they come in contact with the cops from the City with Deep Pockets.
Maybe the family should accept the responsibility. Be a nice change of pace, owning up to your own mistakes.
Since when are we responsible for every mental we arrest. If this person was so unstable why was she alone in Chicago? Her parents should have done more.
Bunch of ignorants fucks.
From a civil liability perspective, regardless of what the parents did or didn't do, and regardless of whether we are trained in mental health issues or not, we as the police had a responsibility once we took custody of this woman not to leave her in a worse position than in which we found her. Even if this woman was not mentally ill, she was a tourist, not familiar with the city, much less not familiar with the projects or the kind of people who live there and might harm her, and we had an obligation to her to see that she was safe and not put in harms way. Particularly, since someone called the District, whether 008 or 002, this woman should have been taken for psychiatric evaluation or at least detained long enough to allow her family to fly in from L.A., or placed with the Dept. of Human Services.
You all need to remember, she was originally arrested for nothing more than talking loud on her cellphone. She could have been issued an ANOV and allowed to proceed on her way if even that were necessary. She could have been assisted to obtain her ticket at Midway (extreme, yes, but sometimes necessary). Whatever was done we were obligated once we can into contact with her to prevent her from coming into harm.
The City is going to pay big for this one and somebody is going to take some serious time whether it be a W/C or an individual officer. Then again, the Dept may close ranks and not discipline anyone and deny all responsibility while the City negotiates a monetary settlement with the family. That is the most likely scenario.
We all need to learn a little more sensitivity to the needs of the public. Our job is public safety, first, last and always. It isn't just about catching bad guys. Its about protecting people regardless of gender, race, ethinicity or sexual preference.
What many of you have expressed on this website about our "responsibilty" is merely a denial of responsibility, an alibi as to why we shouldn't be held responsible. You have blamed the family and worse, blamed the victim. Few of you have recognized that we as police have ultimate responsibility. We cannot avoid that and continue to call ourselves police.
You liberal puke. The bottom line in this incident and most others is that people need to be responsible and accountable for thier own actions... nobody else. The police are not responsible for every social ill. Sometimes when bad things happen nobody is at fault. In this case the mutt who raped and threw her out the window is at fault... nobody else!!
I love this blog. Everytime someone makes an articulate, and intelligent argument, they are immediately attacked by the blind meatheads.
Hey, at least "Liberal Puke" was a refreshing change from the usual accusations of being a "boss" or "desk job".
Hey, to some of you jagoffs that posted on here, if your mother, wife girlfriend, daughter gets turned around going downtown and ends up in the "war zone," I guess, according to you,it's not up to me to go out of my way to direct them out of the area, advise them of the danger of where they're at, call you and tell you where to come and get them, stand by with them until you get there. Hey, fucknuts, they're responcible for their own safety and wellbeing, eh? Let them wander the Duece,Englewood, ect and figure their way out..Maybe ask one of the "helpful residents" to direct them...It would have been really going out of their way to hold her until the parents got there, instead of letting an unstable, white, girl from the other side of the country into a viper's den..Remember, jagoffs, that it could have easily been one of your relatives, friends in that situation..
If it was a black exotic dancer from CA would you say the same? Or should she just know better??
Same if she was black and from Ca. and not familiar with the savages around the corner from the Duece, shit-for-brains..You must either be a troll,shithead or northsider to make that comment, asshole..
RE: 9:43
Yes, in a perfect world we would have the time to help everyone as you described. I don't know where you work, but it must be like Mayberry. I never have the time to stay down on some bs job because someone needs some extra special attention. I understand what you are saying, but you also have to remember that you can't really help someone that doesn't want to help themselves. I am not going to waste time on some crackhead or mental who refuses to take their meds. They know what the problem is, they refuse to do what will help them, so why should I be responsible now??
Although there are people you come across on this job that you feel for and really want to go the extra mile for to help, I will never assist some moron in an airport get a plane ticket so I feel better that they arrived home safe. If they are displaying signs that they are possibly irrational or mental, why would you help them get on a plane??? So the plane has to make an emergency landing to arrest them when they lose it in the air and scare the hell out of hundreds of other citizens?
Keep dreaming...I think that is great that you are so dedicated to the job and still think you can make a differance and save lives, but I would suggest leaving Chicago to work in a small suburb if that is what you want to do. That way I don't have to worry about you saving some pathetic loser while I need you for a 10-1.
9:43, while your heart is in the right place, you are totally off.
Since the courts emptied the asylums, the streets are filled with these people. These people come into contact with the police every day. And if we took the time out to usher them through life, there wouldn't be a police officer available to do any police work.
Further, you are grossly stereotyping based on color and race. Why would you suggest being let off in the 2nd district is so much more dangerous than being let off in the 8th district?
Finally, this statement of yours sort of makes me believe that you aren't on the job whatsoever.
"Particularly, since someone called the District, whether 008 or 002, this woman should have been taken for psychiatric evaluation or at least detained long enough to allow her family to fly in from L.A., or placed with the Dept. of Human Services."
It really is that clueless.
Although I am a Sox fan, thought this was kind of funny.
http://www.spankwad.com/
northvssouth
To 5/29/2006 10:55:47 AM'
Yeah sure, my mother, wife, daughters are going to be accidently turned around and wind up in shitville. Go back to your CAPS office asshat. Go cry and wave a hanky for the pig. Clueless joke you are.
Further, you are grossly stereotyping based on color and race. Why would you suggest being let off in the 2nd district is so much more dangerous than being let off in the 8th district?
__________
Grossly sterotyping? Sorry, but she wasn't raped and left for dead after a 7th floor freefall in Norwood Park, now was she.
Go back to your CAPS office asshat.
____
Ha ha ha...the rallying cry of the truly pathetic, Rambo-esque meatheads on this job. Go get your one rock pinch and save the world, toughguy.
"Yeah sure, my mother, wife, daughters are going to be accidently turned around and wind up in shitville."
Of course not! They already know their way around those areas! Tell me, when you kiss your wife, can you actually still taste ghetto cock on her lips?
To: 5/29/2006 12:23:06 PM
With that stupid statement, YOU showed that you never worked the ghetto, as you would have seen people getting off the wrong x-way ramps, wrong turns. You outed yourself, cunt. Now go back to writing old ladies movers for expired plated and bus stop parkers in 017,018,016, or whatever do-nothing place you work,you whiney gash.Oh, by the way, if one of your family ever does get lost in co-co puff city, mention your post, so we can send them to 5135 for the party, prick.
Grossly sterotyping? Sorry, but she wasn't raped and left for dead after a 7th floor freefall in Norwood Park, now was she.
___________________________
Back at ya. Is every murder victim in Chicago killed in 002? Are there any murders in 008, and by the 8th district station in particular?
Knowing the answer to this, where exactly should mentals be driven so that they aren't killed in your perfect little world? Lake Forest?
But I'd guess to say a W/F would stand a better chance of making it to the bus stop after leaving 016 than 002. All they had to do was keep her in the lockup for a couple hours until the parents got there, goof. Now go back to driving the D/C to his favorite bars up north.
A couple of hours? How many more after 24? And do you have any belief whatsoever that they actually had a ticket to fly out from LA?
For your information it usually takes a couple of hours to get from O'Hare to the south side after your plane lands, and thats if you know where you are going. Think baggage claim, rental car pickup etc. This is all without any evidence that they had a flight.
No matter, your "heightened" protection request is all based on grossly stereotyping the girl and the neighborhood. You want to rid the streets of mentals? Bid into 002, 007 and 009 and have at it. You obviously aren't a PO or you'd know how absolutely hopeless this is, and how many of them are running around.
But its not really about that for you, is it? Its all really about a little blonde white girl in a scary black neighborhood. Crawl back under your desk.
I guess if you refer to 5135 as "neighbirhood." You ought to crawl back under your desk, because you evidently never worked in any of those Districts. Your post is spoken like a true "Don't have an idea what the hell went on" type. Get your one bagger or parker.
Nice. When you've been presented with questions that show that YOU are speaking out of your ass, than the ole blind statement "you don't know what you are talking about".
Was someone on the way? Was someone just a few hours away?
And yes, 5135 is the last building standing in a complex that defined an entire neighborhood. Not sure why you quoted a misspelling of the word, as if its all you have left. I am fairly certain though that you are not a police officer. Not North, not South, not at all. There is not one person who has ever hit the streets of Chicago for a week who doesn't realize how many mentals are out there, and how futile it is to try and get them committed.
Honest question. Are you a lawyer, or do you work for one?
To: 10:03
I agree that this case is about responsbility and accountability. The police were responsible for putting this woman in harms way and the officers who failed to ensure that she be detained or evaluated should be held accountable. The mutt who threw her off the balcony at 5135 was just doing what mutts have always done. It was the police who had the responsibilty to protect her from herself and others. If she had not been arrested at the CTA stop and had merely been warned and sent on her way and the same thing had happened her, then I would agree that the police officers who came into contact with her were blameless. OTOH, she was arrested, taken into custody, on a b.s. disorderly, and moved nearly 10 miles from were she was arrested and then bonded out and told to find her own way back. Don't know about you but I'm from the 002 District and I'm not sure that I could find my way back to Midway that easily given the construction and lack of familiarity with the El, and buses, etc. Also, no one has mentioned, to my knowledge, whether she had any money for bus fare or not.
Sorry guys but we put her there and whatever happened to her is our fault and we should all be ashamed.
P.S., Since most of you won't go out on the street w/o your guns, why do you think its OK to let a young woman who is lost walk around the same neighborhoods you wouldn't set foot in?
Uhm, because its the same break given to thousands of others over the years who were released out of A/1. Face it, you want special treatment for the blonde white girl. And I suspect its because, after the fact, your firm is hoping for a payday with the city.
Is there really more than one person even posting this nonsense? You have no idea how quickly this city would get overrun if POs owed some special duty to every person with whom they came into contact. Find someone else to sue.
4:45
UmHMMM your not the police, so you have no clue about established ordained policies and directive order's. You give yourself away. Not only on above comment but through style of transport. You do appear to dislike the police. Where do you come from stating, we are responsible, get a clue. A lawsuit with the city paying out as they always do, proves nothing. If you work for the CPD you better start reading those order's, since they pertain to civilians as well. Bet you didn't know that either.
BOTTOM LINE: How do know she was not familiar with Chicago, how do you know she was never here before? you don't! I lay odd's she was instructed to wait at the station if those calls were actually made or received by the proper district. How many times do the police have to tell you, 4,5,6, times you can't put someone in a jail cell to hold them till someone picks them up. You can't treat them like their a danger to themselves or other's without a direct threat! You sound like a poster for Civil Liberties yet your telling us we should have violated them? What a tootin tool you are! Bleeding Heart's need not apply.
Sorry guys, been the police for nearly 30 years and have worked every southside district in A/1 and A/2 and have been a boss for nearly as long. Our job is to protect the weak from the strong, whether they are blond and blue eyed or not.
You guys seem to want to argue that she got hurt because she was someplace she shouldn't have been or that she deserved what she got because she should have known better. God help you when one of your own gets hurt or killed by some predator under similar circumstances.
Nobody here recently has been saying that she deserved what she got. I'd venture to say if we could go back on the redo machine, each and every one of us would have gone out of our way to help her, knowing what the alternative would be.
The problem is, there ain't enough time in the day for the police to go out of their way to help people. Christ, this shit was TAUGHT to me.
Good rule for emergency employees: go out of your way once a day. Pick and choose wisely.
Other than that, there ain't enough time in the day to help old ladies cross the street, take revenge on bullies for 3rd grade weaklings, escort mentals out to the burbs etc.
And if you were what you say you are, you'd know this. There ain't enough time in a tour to go out of the way for everybody.
And if you worked in 007 for five minutes, you'd know how many mentals are running around. Let me guess, when you were there you spent all day taking rides out to mental hospitals, right? The entire district could spend all day doing that every day, and they'd still be back in 24 or 48 hours, running around and acting, uhm, mental.
Which is to say, I doubt you are what you say you are. Quick: what districts are in area 1? What districts are in area 2? Name 3 district watch commanders from 25 years ago who were retired no less than 15 years ago. And show me the secret handshake!
What many of you have expressed on this website about our " responsibilty" is merely a denial of responsibility, an alibi as to why we shouldn't be held responsible. You have blamed the family and worse, blamed the victim. Few of you have recognized that we as police have ultimate responsibility. We cannot avoid that and continue to call ourselves police.
5/29/2006 09:43:16 AM
I have problems with your statement, and more so with your last paragraph. How in the fuck is this our " responsibilty" or " is merely a denial of responsibility, an alibi as to why we shouldn't be held responsible. " ??? Start at the beginning! A girl, who's parents "love and care" for her, involved in a car accident receives head trauma, therefore causing her to be Bi-Polar/Manic Depressive/Nuts (and the list goes on). This girl goes to college, becomes a stripper, (but you might think its "for a good cause") to pay the bills. Drops out/takes a break from school to continue her career as a garment-challenged entertainer. Comes to Chicago (for the possible reason of stripping here), things go wrong, and cant get back home, gets arrested, transported, printed, photo-ed, bonded, released. At this point, for safety's sake, lets just say she made a "wrong turn" into those "condos" behind the 002nd Dist. Meets some of the nicest people that this city has to offer, because as they all know at 5135; "black folk and white folk, we don’t mix" (I was correct on that quote, wasn’t I?). Now, during these events, she was prescribed medication, and failed to take it! Gets raped, tossed out a 7th fl window, and left for dead...(now I want you, Mr 09:43:16 AM to point out where I went wrong) Somewhere, you say that this Tragedy is "our fault"? or to use your words ..." an alibi as to why we shouldn't be held responsible"... There is sooo much wrong with your method of thought, I don’t know were to start! Was the Offender who tossed her out the window after raping her to blame at all? What about her parents? If she was unable to care for herself, (taking her own meds, not stripping) what were the parents doing to "love and care" for the daughter?. You depict the girl as completely helpless, however she was able to make the decision to not take her meds, to take her clothes off, to come to Chicago, have enough sense of mind that whatever stripper gig she was doing here was going south, and get out of it. A hint for you: YOU CANT HAVE IT BOLTH WAYS! This girl was capable enough to make the decision to strip, come to Chicago for a job, leave when shit went wrong, and try to get back to Calif. Don’t portray her as some sort of helpless saint! I’m willing to bet there are projects that she has seen before, so we can rule out “ignorance”. You need to stop making excuses for her. You are sounding like a panty-waste liberal. If you want or feel it is necessary to “carry the torch” for this girl, by all means, go ahead, but don’t look for sympathy from the majority of us. How is this any of our fault? Our responsibility? Oh, I see, the same way it was the Police fault the girl got killed by the hit & run driver, Some gang-banger shoots another gang-banger is ours too. Why don’t you lump in plague, famine & pestilence while you’re at your pulpit, Claim that’s our fault as well.
I’m all in for protecting those who can’t protect themselves, but is seems your expectations are 1 police officer turn into a personal bodyguard/babysitter for every 1 person. Or would you rather everyone get a Psych-evaluation before arrest, and waste more man-hours on an already depleted department? Do yourself a favor, and save your breath, we don’t care, nor are at fault in this mess, there was a long line of shit that went wrong before she ever came to Chicago! Like Dorothy said to the lil’ dog ‘toto’: “We aint in fucking Kansas anymore”
Sorry for the long rant...but will continue to call ourselves the "police"!
Let's see the old A/1 was 1,2,3,21,9 and the old A/2 was 4,5,6,7,22, 8. Changed about 10 yrs. ago and 003 went to A/2 and 1 went to A/4 and 008 to A/1. All about the time they closed down the old A/3 at 39th and Cal and moved it to Belmont and Western. Old COs would be Pat Clark -021, James O'Grady - 021 Mosee-003, Julius Watson = 003 , Big Foot Lemon-002, Nolan 004, Corliss - 008, Bell 009, George Sams 003, anything else you'd like to know kid.
Yeah, but whats the secret handshake? OK, OK, I accept that you are old school (though I don't recognize most of those names). Mentioning Corliss is old school in a now-I-got-a-tummy-ache sorta way.
Anyway, sorry you feel that way. I'm responsible for training dozens and dozens of people, and the rule I mentioned was one I was taught: You can go out of your way once a day. Choose wisely. Other than that, just do things by the book.
And its all for the simple reasons that there ain't enough time in the day or flexibility in the Constitution for anyone to do more.
This was the one time. Certainly we can't handle all of the mentals that come our way, all of the curb sitters and pissers and drunks that fill our lobbys. They come and go on a daily basis and we never ask them their names or their stories but we don't lock them up either. At least not as a rule. They avail themselves of the relative safety of the police station. My point here has been that we had this woman in custody, we took responsibility for her safety, and we put her out probably knowing what might happen to her.
Yes, hindsight is 100% and is perhaps unfair. You may recall the incident around 1985 when a couple of PO's from 009 dropped a young male black off in Canaryville after doing a contact card on him at Sox Park. The kid was badly beaten by some of the locals. I believe both officers were fired under Leroy Martin. The female now works for FOP in the office. That was about the time that the Dept recognized that we have a duty to prevent foreseeable injury to persons in police custody. The injury and probable death of this young woman was foreseeable given her mental state and the state of the neighborhood into which she was released. Hopefully we will learn from our mistake.
I'm not sure that was a duty to prevent foreseeable nearly as much as a duty not to be part of the cause of injury when your causative conduct is entirely outside of the scope of your duties.
Releasing the girl from Area 1 was within the ordinary course of business. Doing anything else would have been outside the ordinary course.
Driving a black kid to Canaryville and dropping him off or whatever was entirely outside the ordinary course of business, and just plain mean to boot.
Big difference between what happened in 009 and what happened here, and any lessons derived from that (do not cause harm when acting outside of the scope of your duties) cannot and should not be expanded to cover the present scenario.
As an aside, that female PO was assigned to communications for the looongest time, including at the OEMC. I gotta wonder if most anybody had any idea who was responsible for their safety on the other end of that radio.
BRING BACK HOUSING!!!!!
Have you seen Tilden HS? it's primarily black and in 009's Canaryville. Duke is scaring the shit outta the whites in the community. Tilden has 009 by the balls!!!
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