Problem #3 - "Merit" Promotions
Third in a series of writings about some problems we see facing the Department.
Here's a hot button issue. Merit. Or as one of our readers likes to point out "Merit." Can anyone define "merit?" The dictionary defines merit as:
Here's a hot button issue. Merit. Or as one of our readers likes to point out "Merit." Can anyone define "merit?" The dictionary defines merit as:
- any admirable quality or attribute
- deservingness
- deserve: be worthy or deserving
All well and good. However, how does one attain this deservingness? What can anyone strive towards in order to attain a "merit" spot?
No one knows. Or at least, no one is willing to put it down on paper. Getting shot in the line of duty? That's sometimes good for a "merit" bump. Some truly heroic act of saving lives or quick thinking or any of a number of scenarios we could name? Sometimes, but not that often at all. Very rarely. Blood relationships to certain bosses? Certain political families? How about [insert the sexual pejorative of your choice here] certain bosses? Don't worry, we won't be naming names here - but it happens way more often that way than through heroism - trust us.
No one can tell the people with no clout, no relatives, no desire to sleep their way upwards how to get that "merit" spot. There is no set number of arrests, no set amount of court time, no quota of DUI's, parkers, movers, or whatever type of actions that one can hope to undertake in order to merit a "merit" spot. And the fact that the City can arbitrarily decide to promote 30% on undefined rules has contributed to some of the worst disasters in supervisory history.
Think about it. Look at it. The core of any good organization is it's front line supervisors. In the military, it's your NCO's. In the Department - well, we'll let the comments speak for themselves. Fire away.
No one knows. Or at least, no one is willing to put it down on paper. Getting shot in the line of duty? That's sometimes good for a "merit" bump. Some truly heroic act of saving lives or quick thinking or any of a number of scenarios we could name? Sometimes, but not that often at all. Very rarely. Blood relationships to certain bosses? Certain political families? How about [insert the sexual pejorative of your choice here] certain bosses? Don't worry, we won't be naming names here - but it happens way more often that way than through heroism - trust us.
No one can tell the people with no clout, no relatives, no desire to sleep their way upwards how to get that "merit" spot. There is no set number of arrests, no set amount of court time, no quota of DUI's, parkers, movers, or whatever type of actions that one can hope to undertake in order to merit a "merit" spot. And the fact that the City can arbitrarily decide to promote 30% on undefined rules has contributed to some of the worst disasters in supervisory history.
Think about it. Look at it. The core of any good organization is it's front line supervisors. In the military, it's your NCO's. In the Department - well, we'll let the comments speak for themselves. Fire away.
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
88 Comments:
This bullshit happens in civilian jobs as well.
We all know who these people are: relatives, neighbors, friends, the brown nosers, the rats who put the knife in YOUR back, the Pufferfish under a desk, the snitch, etc.
It ruins it for the rest of us and many times, we have to work harder...
Merit means race bias.........That is the CPD definition......everybody knows it and nobody will do anything about it. To be promoted up the ladder "meritoriously" without ever passing a promotion exam is embarrassing...both to the department and should be to the recipient. New CPD rule....one merit promotion per career!!!!!!!
It's not just the merit promotions, its also the bosses who make the test giving out the questions to their favorites.
And the shit bosses who let their favorites sneek away for hours each shift to study.
The shit bosses who create phantom positions for their pets so they can study.
The house mice who sit in the lunch rooms all day studying (who also prove to all of us on the street just how inportant their inside jobs are).
What has always amazed me is the way the merit bosses actually beleive that they deserve it.
To be sure there are a few good ones but very few.
Basically they are the capons who learned early on never to rock the boat. Never make a decision that might be criticized, and above all, follow the Dept.s line in all matters even when it is clear to everyone else that it is wrong.
The idea that we will have poeple who get promoted by merit, who didn't even bother to take part two of the test, should speak volumes about how this system works.
There are no merit promotions, they are clout promotions. Call it what it is.
they (or we) should make public the activity of those promoted by clout.
I see no reason why their names should be kept secret, SCC.
If they accept the promotion, and the pay, and the authority over us, simply due to daddy or felatio, then why not call them out?
Surely the paycheck will heal any wounds.
It's not just about promotions, clout runs everything.
How many members of the Marine unit don't have clout?
Didn't a former navy seal fail to qualify for that unit a few years back?
There were a few war tested heliocopter piolts who wanted in on the chopper unit. Wouldn't you know that they just finished sending a guy out for training (and paying for it) to get a license.
We had a new Sgt who was going to get dupmed to midnights due to man power shortages. The phone call was made, and off to a unit he went (oddly, the Sgt plays hockey...)
Clout is everything, and they make no attempt to hide it. They do, however, insult the hell out of us by calling it "merit".
The whole "merit" thing is so discouraging to the no clout cop. All it takes is one time when the good hard working cop see's a fellow cop that is lazy, dumb, and scored ridiculously low on the test, but has clout get promoted instead of/ in place of him and i guarentee that copper will see the light. No more busting his ass out there. That's why most of the old timers have given up. What is the point? They've seen the process, know how corupt it is and choose to just collect the paycheck. I don't blame them one bit and until the system changes, including all the clout babies going to units instead of the hard workers, i will be physically at work every day... that's about it.
Why is our union not doing anything to clearify what merit means?? Everyone would benefit from knowing exactly what you need to be a merit pick and also what goes into and how the tests are scored. All we get is a number with absolutely no rhyme or reason on how they came to. No answers to check to see how you did, no copy of your answers and the right ones to compare the two. I mean come on, the system is arcaic, we need some new blood, some fresh ideas and updating in this department. I'm totally done with our current management and union. I will vot for a pencil if it is the only running against the current regime.
I am not completely against merit promotions as I think the testing process is flawed- however I think transparancy would go along way. How about promoting 30% "Provisional Sergeants." Everyone knows who they are, and they have no protection as sergeants for say 1 year. If the department is so convinced they will be a benefit, they have a year to show it. If they are found to be incompetent they are returned to PO status. Maybe a higher minimum of time on the job too for merits. Just an idea.
speaking of undeserved merit promotions, has anyone else heard that the sgt's taking the first part of the lt's test did not receive a copy of their answers as required by the new contract. maybe i'm a little paranoid but somehow i doubt that was an accident. my guess is that there must be some real stupid sgt's taking the test that someone downtown wants to give a meritorious spot. now, with a violation of the contract, the dept will be forced to pass everyone for the first half and everyone with a phone call becomes eligible...yet again, promoting incompetence, and in this case, extreme incompetence
I read this post, and ironically the list for the Lambert Tree / Carter Harrison ceremony came out today. I would say that receiving this award would constitute worthiness to get the "merit bump" as you so put it. Also, perhaps receiving the Award of Valor, under heroic circumstances of course (because we all know that some people get it for being on the right paper, or having been buddies with the person submitting it) might deserve you to get it.
I would say that Al O'Connor and Rick Plotke would be the front runners for it. Good luck to all those being considered for it and for being in the right place at the right time. Its because of people like this, well you know, don't want to say it and jinx the dept.
make it more defined.
who made it by 30%
who nominated them?
how many times have they been nominated?
who many merit promotions has this person recieved?
so on.....
release the test answers, release the promotional list !!!
its all legit right, where is shakmen.
Its all B.S.
Another fine example of "Merit" ..A recently returned Iraq war veteran interviews to be on a joint terrorism task force, who also happens to be fluent in Arabic and has an intelligence background with a top-secret security clearance..You guessed right, "sorry no more openings officer."
Soon after a Bosses daughter with maybe 4-5 years on the job gets the spot, with no specific skills or training at all and a take home car too!
This happened maybe 2 years ago. What a bunch of B.S.
No Racial Profiling - Not in this Department - Not EVER...unless you're looking for a meritLESS promotion!
SCC and the rest of you typewriter commandos:
Are each of you saying that if you were put in for a merit promotion that you would turn it down? Just due to the nature of the job, all of our accomplishments tend to be glossed over. I would take a merit promotion. I suspect if each of you readers answered honestly, you would too.
12:07 AM (LEOMemorial)
I respectfully suggest that on some issues, you remain silent. I take exception to your first and final paragraphs. If the CPD was a Fortune 500 company, it would have filed for bankruptcy long ago. Shareholders would never tolerate the gross incompetence in the overall "leadership" of the CPD.
Your statement that "...we have to work harder..." implies that the CPD is somewhat legit. The fix is in. The careers of many of our most talented officers are doomed by insurmountable competitive obstacles. Insiders know that CPD personnel policies are crooked as a corkscrew. Clout, political patronage, nepotism, cronyism and thinly-veiled bribery have destroyed the morale of the CPD.
Unless you are intimately familiar with the facts, you comments diminish your credibility, Renee.
12:38 AM
Nice try, sluggo. The City would like us to perceive this demon "affirmative action" as the culprit in EXAMSCAM. Not so--just the City's "smoke and mirrors".
Under analysis, the fact is that many of our most outstandings officers of ALL ethnic backgrounds are denied advancement. Make no mistake. While I condemn reverse discrimination, aka "affirmative action", the City is merely using this outrage as a pretext to covertly promote and assign their favorites, regardless of race or gender.
Clout is "equal opportunity" corruption which is anathema to a meritocracy. It is mediocrity, not excellence, which "manages" the CPD.
O'Connor Without a doubt. Plotke Please He's in over his head at the range already. He's another "Hockey Player" The department should explain how the merit system works. How Capt. L. Martinez (011, now 021 I think) is such a great copper that he deserves merit Det, Sgt, Lt, and then was "promoted" to Capt. How bout you puff, puff, pass. Save some for the rest of us. One bite of the old apple please. That seems fair and the city shouldn't fight that. Hello UNION do something, anything. Let's list all the people that have never passed a test yet somehow are bosses. Some I'm sure are deserving... but lets be real here, the vast majority of the merit spots are filled with CLOUT HEAVY IDIOTS.
I don't believe there should be any "merit" promotions to sergeant . Merit promotions to be limited to non-supervisory postions such as ET or detective is fine. How many times have any of us came across a situation and knew more about what to do than a sergeant on the scene.
UNRELATED, but did anyone see that article in the Sun-Times this morning about 6 cops facing dismissal for various offenses including THREATENING fellow officers? I notice that one name seems to be glaringly absent from that list despite the fact that he threatened a whole desk crew in 019 when his shit-head son was pinched with a pistol? I guess bosses are above the rules & regulations...
MERIT PROMOTIONS WOULD BE FINE IF THERE WERE "MERIT" TO THEM.
MERIT, BY WEBSTER'S DEFINITION:
1 a obsolete : reward or punishment due b : the qualities or actions that constitute the basis of one's deserts c : a praiseworthy quality : VIRTUE d : character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem; also : ACHIEVEMENT.
I COULD NAME A FEW, BUT THEY ARE NOT HEAVY.
Listen to this..............Effective immediately, all P.O.'s that have (20) C.R.#'s in a 5 year period will no longer be allowed to work tact/gang........just heard this now and it makes me sick! Alot of good cops are gonna be dumped cause of bullshit or are about to cause they are on the bubble with 1or2 away.....BULLSHIT! Have fun City of Chicago cause you are about to enter the dawn of NEW AGE policing. You know, yes ma'am, yes sir, verbal judo crap!as the bad guy spits at you punches you kicks you and you gotta sit there and take it cause well you are awful close son to getting 20#'s.Not fair my friends, not fair! Absolutly horseshit! Looks like there are gonna be ALOT of openings in 006,007,008,010,015,025. You can pretty much lump in the whole south side cause everyone beefs about everything with the exception of 011 and 015 of course cause its just like working in the south side there too. I cannot believe the direction we are going in.....sad, very very sad.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has established professional standards of excellence for agencies which would minimize if not eliminate such outrageous abuses by the City of Chicago.
For obvious reasons and without rational explanation, the CPD obstinately refuses to seek CALEA accreditation.
Unless and until the City of Chicago satisfactorily and unequivocally defines criteria for their unconscionable perversion of the word "MERIT" in writing, there should be absolutely NO "merit" promotions whatsoever.
Furthermore, we need all the help we can get (and then some) from U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, attorneys Michael Shakman, Noelle Brennan, the news media and concerned citizens.
It has become obvious that the FOP and the PBPA have no intentions of seeking reforms in this deeply-entrenched outrage known as "the Chicago Way".
Here’s a crazy idea:
Merit Promotion Accountability Meeting (MPAM)
When some boss wants to nominate someone for a promotion, require that person to stand before his/her peers just like at the DOC meetings and explain why this person should get promoted. The boss can read the person’s statistics/resume of qualifications to his/her peers and then get laughed off the stage when he/she cannot explain why his/her nominee has zero activity, has numerous sustained CR’s, medical/IOD abuser, or attempted to cash a $1,000,000 check at the credit union. I would actually attend these meetings for a great laugh. If these bosses are “accountable” for crime, they should be accountable for who they promote as well.
I know that something like this would never fly, but it’s just an idea from a lowly blue shirt.
I gotta go cash a check; I just got my $2,000,000 check in the mail from McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on my crotch. Stay safe out there people.
what supervisor is unaware he is going to be served with papers in a Federal civil rights trial as a defendant for implementing a plan to garnish (wrongfully) a patrolman's wages while he was on furlough? Guess who it may be hint: sergeant in a great unit. He is M/2/ about 40
I see a problem with a percentage for meritorious. That simply encourages blanket promotion. Instead of a percentage, each District Commander should get one pick, and thats it. No more. Nothing from headquarters...how do they know who is good and who isn't beacuse there is no policework at headquarters. 25 meritorious per TEST (plus the various unit commanders pics), not per class. Meritorious is suppossed to be for officers who are qualified, but that cannot test well. Unfortunatley, now meritorious get the bump up from bosses they have never even worked for.
---- This bullshit happens in civilian jobs as well.
We all know who these people are: relatives, neighbors, friends, the brown nosers, the rats who put the knife in YOUR back, the Pufferfish under a desk, the snitch, etc.
It ruins it for the rest of us and many times, we have to work harder...----
Not to minimize the civillian aspect, but here a bosses action can cause you to get sued or fired. Ive worked civillian jobs too, and there at least the boss knows SOMETHING about the job. Here, there are bosses who HAVE NEVER EVER WORKED THE STREET, who are supervising other bosses. We have all seen examples of horrible supervision, where the crapola hits the fan until a bigger, respected boss shows up, (usually with a cigar in mouth and dog at side), to fix the mess by saying to the other boss..."go away. I got it"... I'll take a bad boss at a board meeting over a bad boss at a police shoot or 10-1 any day....
Somebody tell Renee to stop trying to make it sound like she is the "police" -- what is this "It runits it for the rest of use . . . we have to work harder."
Renee, you are not even a civilian employee of the Dept., and I dare say you don't know crap about being the police except in your fantasies. . . get a life - your own possibly.
ALL OF THE COMMENTS TALKING ABOUT CLEARLY DEFINED RULES ARE RIGHT ON.
I MADE SGT. (NOT MERIT) ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND AT LEAST THREE MERIT PROMOTEES WERE DESERVING. IN MY VIEW AT LEAST. ONE OF THEM WAS THE MOST HIGHLY DECORATED PO EVER, WITH THREE LAMBERT TREES AND EVERY OTHER AWARD. OTHERS WERE THERE BECAUSE OF THIER MINORITY STATUS BE IT RACE OR GENDER. THESE TYPES OF PROMOTIONS ARE B.S.
DEFINE MERIT NOW
DEFINE IT
WHY DONT THEY JUST DEFINE IT
WHATS THE PROBLEM
THE ANSWER:
MERIT IS AN EXCUSE IN MANY CASES TO PROMOTE THE FRIENDS OF BIG SHOTS, THE SAME BIG SHOTS WHO GOT THIER JOBS BY BEING HOOKED UP.
AND THIS GOES FOR JOB ASSIGNMENT AS WELL
I SAY STOP HELPING THE CITY AND HELP YOURSELF
STOP GENERATING MONEY
I REPEAT
DONT GENERATE REVENUE
Merit(clout)promotions are the reason we see so many female P.O.'s falling all over the bosses! We see it in every district. The term "she's the bosses girl" is common and very sad. Eliminate clout promotions and you could probably cut the number of female P.O.'s chasing bosses around in half.
Whats so sad about it?
Put your hand in a bucket of water, pull it out and the hole thats left is how much they'll be missed. New blood on the teams isn't the worst thing in the world.
Let's keep it real!
Allowing CPD bosses and politicians to make inexplicable, subjective and confidential recommendations for promotion and assignments is analogous to appointing foxes to guard the chicken coop.
Tracking career Part I felony arrest incident activity and the native intelligence of candidates, as determined by standardized I.Q. scores, should be controlling factors in the promotion process.
While I am a college graduate, I will be the first to acknowledge that there are many potential hires with a mere Catholic high school diploma that would make some two-year city junior college (<60 credit hours) "graduates" appear dumber than a box of rocks.
The Daley administration and the police force are all about fatuous perception and form with little or no substance.
Integrity, professionalism and excellence can not exist in a corrupt vacuum. Predictably, morale is non-existent.
CPD "MERIT" = CLOUT!
Case closed.
"If the CPD was a Fortune 500 company, it would have filed for bankruptcy long ago, blah, blah blah."
What are you talking about? There are many companies out here that tolerate blatant discrimination, Fortune 500 or not. They don't go bankrupt or have outraged "shareholders." They look the other way and/or settle lawsuits out of court to make it go away quickly and quietly. It's the same garbage whether it's a private company or government! What SCC wrote applies to many of us out here, cop or not.
Sometimes you have to think outside of the box...
Royko wrote a book called "CLOUT" years ago. Perhaps some of you who seem so surprised by the goings on in the City of Chicago and the CPD should go find a copy and read it. This aint new people. It was here long before I became a police officer and will be here long after I am gone. No matter where you work you will run into it. It is a fact of life. Quit crying over it and makes some friends.
Merit promotions are here to stay...get over it. I don't see the Dept. doing away with them anytime in the near future.
Yes, some clout children are made.
But I've also seen some very good leaders become good Sgts. who have done this Dept. proud, who would never have moved up without being submitted for meritorious consideration. Don't forget, lots of buttheads do extremely well on tests, but in actuality are lousy leaders when pressed into leadership roles. Somehow, I guess (I would like to believe) that it all evens out. Unfortunately, too many officers simply fail to prepare well for the tests. A large number of people I've seen bummed out after the results came in really didn't spend adequate time studying for a change of career. Most are not honest enough with themselves to admit it, but you can't prepare for the tests and hang out at the bars nightly, or work numerous side jobs. I've seen a lot of people "bringing the orders" to court, only to fall asleep in the back rooms as soon as they sit down, never flipping a page. And for those of you who continue to believe the false rumor that "meritorious" is synonomous with "race jumping" the line, think again. More white males have been "made" meritiously than any other group. Clout always wins out, as they say, and blacks on this job have very little of it.
What happened to Matthews would never have occurred if the Cmdr. involved had been white. Can't say I know all the circumstances, but it just wouldn't have happened, at least not before an investigation had been completed.
Doubt that one would have even been initiated.
SSC, you still posting news?
Residency and cops in today's USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-10-02-residency-rules_x.htm
There were a few war tested heliocopter piolts who wanted in on the chopper unit. Wouldn't you know that they just finished sending a guy out for training (and paying for it) to get a license.
--------------
Helicopter??? I havn't seen that thing int he air since March....
If they are found to be incompetent they are returned to PO status.
___________________
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH
3/4 of the GoldStars would be back humping a wagon if that was the case!
Anonymous said...
SCC and the rest of you typewriter commandos:
Are each of you saying that if you were put in for a merit promotion that you would turn it down? Just due to the nature of the job, all of our accomplishments tend to be glossed over. I would take a merit promotion. I suspect if each of you readers answered honestly, you would too.
10/03/2006 08:56:58 AM
__________________________
NOBODY who JUST puts in for a merit promo gets the promo. NEVER.
If you do not have anyone TELLING you to put in, pls stop emabaressing your self.
Why don't one of you reporters that read this Blog ask the Super if he is going to file charges against Cmdr. Matthews for what he did in 19. How about it guys, ask him. We would all like to hear his reply. Lets see if he got the NUTS to fire the Bastard.
Anonymous said...
Listen to this..............Effective immediately, all P.O.'s that have (20) C.R.#'s in a 5 year period will no longer be allowed to work tact/gang........just heard this now and it makes me sick! Alot of good cops are gonna be dumped cause of bullshit
________________________
Why do you want to be on tac anyway? Who cares? it aint THAT good.
If I were to do something I was ashamed of I'd want to hide it from everyone. If I do something I am proud of I'd want to let everyone know.
Is the CPD so ashamed of its meritLESS promotions that they must be forever hidden behind closed doors?
Would I take a merit-less promotion? I guess I would. Would I be proud of my promotion...only if I could look myself in the mirror and honestly say that I deserved it more than all the other Police Officers that I know.
Well, thank you Felony Review. The parents of an 008th Dst.P.O. and a former CPD P.O.(now State Trooper) found a 9 time convicted felon burglar (also currently on parole for a Burglary) coming out of their garage while their mother was doing yard work in front of the house and their father was arriving home. Burglar took items off the garage shelves and put them by the door, but was interupted by their father. The parents got the license plate and description and did a report. Det. McGuire A2 PC did a great job with 009th Dist. P.O.s to find and arrest this menace to society. The parents i.d'd the guy in a line up. Surprise! Felony charges denied! ON PAROLE! BURGLARY,RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY,ROBBERY CONVICTIONS!!! No Justice!
the majority of merit promotions are not minorities. if that was the case minorities would be 20% of evey dicks class, and 30% of every supervisors class. is that really the case, just think about that for a minute. stop being a racist like rev jackson, and meeks. Use your brain before you speak. nobody knows how ingnorant you are before you speak, or post in this case.
The whole merit process is corrupt. Wanna know how to get a merit promotion? Hmmm, how about this way: Be in the same school cohort group with a boss. Suck up to said boss after said boss gets a big promotion. Volunteer to work for said boss in their new position. Part of your work for said boss involves doing said bosses school work for them. Kiss their behind, do all their school work, stay late to do regular office work. Ensure said boss finishes school program. Wait. Huh? A merit promotion floats your way? Really? Oh my Gosh, I'd like to thank the Academy for their vote of confidence for this promotion.
Don't kid yourself, kid. Everyone knows how you got your promotion...merit had nothing to do with it. Ass kissing had everything to do with it.
Soon after a Bosses daughter with maybe 4-5 years on the job gets the spot, with no specific skills or training at all and a take home car too!
This happened maybe 2 years ago. What a bunch of B.S
Do you mean LTB's daughter? He should get her a job at his new city department. The little man with the temper is the Mayor's pet.
What happened to the day when the son or daughter of a police officer killed in the line of duty was always taken care of? The son of a p/o killed in the late 80's was put in for Sgt, the current p/o is definatley deserving just on his own merits as a p/o, but it was rejected! The commander of his district, a close personal friend of our mayor, did not step up to the plate and take care of this officer. The funny thing the c/o is merit all the way, a Sgt who is a c/o, but i'm sure he deserved his bump from Sgt to Commander. What a bunch of typical bullshit!!! the sad thing is it is not surprising!!!
I understand how one may feel about Capt. Martinez. But, let's face it, he still is a cops-cop.
He goes after the dog's in 021 and if you are a working cop, he takes care of you. Capt. Martinez had bosses who like him and rewarded him for their own reasons. I can tell you one thing, if Capt. Martinez had any political clout outside of the job, he would of had a gold star. So, he's just a Capt... I say no more!
Relative to the comment on CALEA accredation; the accreditation process is costly, with the cost based on the number of agency personnel; the requisite changes in procedures and policies to bring everything into line with the
CALEA standards is another huge expense. The major benefit to the accreditation is the potential break on municipal insurance costs, and since the City of Chicago is self insuring, CALEA is really unneeded
The son of a p/o killed in the late 80's was put in for Sgt, the current p/o is definatley deserving just on his own merits as a p/o, but it was rejected! The commander of his district, a close personal friend of our mayor, did not step up to the plate and take care of this officer.
_______________________
NEWS FLASH: DALEY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE POLICE--DEAD OR ALIVE!!
One merit per lifetime....there are way too many multiple merits on this job and it's a slap in the face to those who studied hard and are next in line for promotion, but held back or miss the promotion altogether.
I especially agree with the above comment, merit shouldn't be for a supervisory position....it should be for dic, ET, etc.
Give a supervisory test based solely on the job description and promote those who scored the highest, nix the merits please.
Merit = disguised corruption
When will the media do an "investigative" piece on this...I could name at least 3 people who were double or triple promoted meritoriously who are heavy clout babies.
GEE! I would really like to know what active P.O. is the recipient of 3 Lambert Tree Awards?
WHAT ABOUT SOS GUYS AS MERIT PROMOTIONS? OR CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW LONG UNTIL R.C RUINS SOS AND GETS PROMOTED
Good to see that sanctimonius prick Thomas Epach, Jr. was dumped from his position as Executive Assistant to the Superintendent. He did more to torpedo already strained relations between the department and the State's Attorney's Office. Good Riddance
IAD showed up in 020 tonight and did a locker room search looking for illegal weapons. They left with nothing.
problem #3 is truly a problem I agree with, most because I dont have "merit".
problem #3a. should be:
I dont care if you are white, black, asian, latino or any ethnicity. I dont care if you are homosexual or heterosexual. I dont care if you are female or male. I dont care if you are young or old.
We all are human. Dont ask for any special favors just because of your status.
That goes to so many officers who think their status is actually merit.
"Okay Officer, I know you are homosexual but that doesnt mean you get to come late everyday with the threat of saying I wrote you up because you are gay. No, it was because you are always late."
"Okay Officer, I know you are black/asian/latino but that doesnt mean I should let you sleep all tour with the threat of saying I wrote you up because you are black/asian/latino. No, it was because you sleep every tour.
Okay Officer, I know you are female but that doesnt mean I should put you on the desk because you "might" blow me. You are the police first, act like it.
Okay Officer,Im not going to let you off easy. I know you are white. Your days of getting anything strictly because of that ended a long time ago. Dont even try to use it. You must help everyone regardless of race or status.
Since that applies to the white officer, it should apply to any and every one of the black/asian/latino/gay/straight/male/female officers.
Remember we are human and more importantly we all chose the same profession. Lets start to act like it.
Please.
what is the real deal with the P.O.'s in the sun times that are going to be fired. for 2 of them the threats seems like b.s. does anyone have the skinny on what these guys did.
I agree with 12:23 PM. The CPD should be dragged kicking and screaming to pursue accreditation with CALEA.
I totally disagree with 10:08 PM. Unless the CPD complies with standards of professionalism, we are left with a corrupt political cesspool.
See www.calea.org
4:09 PM is a leomemorial imposter.
10/03/2006 02:12:10 PM
On the south wall of the academy the names of all the Lambert Tree awardees are listed. Please show us where the the 3 time winner is.
10/03/2006 11:01:16 PM
The guy fired for threats was the final act of a long, boring, and big mouthed saga. It was one of theose stories that make you say WTF are these cops thinking.
im currently going to court for GCallahan attacking me at work. so yes it is true.
and get this, i didnt even deserve it this time.
Hey 06:32 get over yourself, 2 years later and your still pissed because you didn't have a phone call to get to the J.T.T.F., get on with life.
P.S. I did have a phone call, and it was an excellent gig, sorry, must of got your spot and your take home car. LOL!
for the stupid asshat....do the females really still follow the bosses around to get a merit promotion??? where the fuck do you work??? maybe about 15 years ago dummy. we all have the education now, but you dont. get over yourself.
Sad news. A P.P.O. was found hung in his appartment tonight in the 023rd district. Don't know any circumstances yet but i hope everyone here realizes that some of our brothers and sisters in blue have troubles coping and are looking down a dark road. Please, pay attention to those around you and if you think it will help, give them a smile and encouraging word. Who knows, maybe it'll make all the difference in the world. God bless you all.
And for those of you who continue to believe the false rumor that "meritorious" is synonomous with "race jumping" the line, think again. More white males have been "made" meritiously than any other group.
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I call bullshit. Let's see some numbers for this unsubstantiated "fact".
Nobody, but nobody has been awarded more than one lambert tree award you goofy shitheads!!
What happened to the day when the son or daughter of a police officer killed in the line of duty was always taken care of? The son of a p/o killed in the late 80's was put in for Sgt, the current p/o is definatley deserving just on his own merits as a p/o, but it was rejected! The commander of his district, a close personal friend of our mayor, did not step up to the plate and take care of this officer. The funny thing the c/o is merit all the way, a Sgt who is a c/o, but i'm sure he deserved his bump from Sgt to Commander. What a bunch of typical bullshit!!! the sad thing is it is not surprising!!!
BH? What has he done to merit a promotion? I certainly didn't think that of him when I worked in the same district.
Now why would the Department take care of his career?? What does one have to do with the other?
I mean really!
Merit(clout)promotions are the reason we see so many female P.O.'s falling all over the bosses! We see it in every district. The term "she's the bosses girl" is common and very sad. Eliminate clout promotions and you could probably cut the number of female P.O.'s chasing bosses around in half.
10/03/2006 02:16:24 PM
And as a female officer I would like to tell all the females doing this to knock it off.
15 years on the job and I have NEVER kissed a bosses ass. I do what is required and expected of me. I have never asked to work "inside". Watching some of these bitches fall all over these old, fat and disgusting bosses is nasty.
And no, I am not a lesbian, fat, ugly or jealous. :) Just sick of these "empty holster" women.
I feel that the City should get 100 percent merit promotions in exchange for say an immediate 20 percent pay raise. Think about it. The City gets 30 percent merit now. We all know that the City cheats on the test by giving their favorites copies of the test/answers etc. You can say this cheating nets the City an additional 30-50 percent. What chance does that leave the rest of the legitimate test takers. With a 20 percent pay raise, we would clearly be the best paid officers in the country and we would not have to deal with the frustration of knowing that we are involved in a scam promotional process. The City in turn would not have to pay for Ernest-Young to administer the test and they could promote whoever they want. Under this system, at least all the cards would be on the table so to speak and we would be getting extra money cause The City is gonna get their people promoted one way or another.
Look at our city and county goverment offices being raided by the feds. How embarassing it would be if they raided 35th and Michigan personal office about the hiring practices of this dept.
I'm just a civilian, but I think I see something: Arbitrary power without accountability corrupts. Some kind of "merit" process is needed; written tests alone can't measure the qualities of a good cop or boss. The present merit process is arbitrary and unacccountable.
"Merit" should be subject to controls and records. Every "merit" recommendation should be made in writing (and signed), with a detailed and specific explanation of why it is deserved.
The rec should then be reviewed by an outside board: 2-3 CPD retirees and 2-3 retired LEOs from other agencies. (No brass, unless it's a bump to Capt. Also, more than one board, so it's not always the same people reviewing.) They interview the candidate, maybe his colleagues, read over the files of relevant cases. Bogus recs won't pass the 'sniff test'.
If they confirm it, it goes through AND the merit rec is published, so the recommender is now on the hook for the candidate's future performance. If they bounce it, it just goes in the recommender's file, and the fact of a bounced rec is published. That should deter bosses from issuing bogus recs.
As for the current situation: anyone with two or three "merit" bumps should be reviewed by a board like the one described above, and forcibly retired if he isn't top-notch. (Which he should be, if those "merit" bumps were good.)
Also, all recent scandals should be reviewed to see if there were "merits" involved, either directly or as bosses of the dirties. Any two-merit Lt or three-merit Capt who had dirties under him - retire.
I won't say this system would be perfectly fair; but it would provide control and accountability, the two great antidotes to corruption.
BOTTOM LINE
You were promoted by merit process because you're too fucking stupid to pass a test high enough.
what supervisor is unaware he is going to be served with papers in a Federal civil rights trial as a defendant for implementing a plan to garnish (wrongfully) a patrolman's wages while he was on furlough? Guess who it may be hint: sergeant in a great unit. He is M/2/ about 40>>>
10/03/2006 12:46:10 PM
I heard a copper went on vacation and had his pay garnished and pay raise taken away went from taking home $800.00 Per week to $17.00 whoever this supervisor is I only hope the copper takes him to court and exposes him to the newspapers. Funny when something happens to the "Chosen" everyone gets involved but when it is a regular guy no one cares!
Merit Dic, merit Sgt, merit Lt....I could name at least 2 who are at 35th St. who were triple merit promoted and another who was double merit promoted (dic then sgt), did day shift once out of sgt school then moved in to clout unit.
How does that happen? Clout? BJ's? $$$ ? The tests are money-sucking scams, scores are manipulated, special study groups for the "in" clout babies, etc., etc. Even if you score 400 out of all the thousands who took the exam(s) you won't even make it because of the 30% clout/merit factor. No wonder morale is at an all-time low. How about getting a top-notch manager in city hall with balls to stop all this nonsense, not only in CPD but CFD, too.
Hello freedom of information act??? Anyone in the media want to take on that one? A nice story that could make page 1 in Chicago's own Scum Times.
We neede someone of unshakeable ethics, of strong moral fiber, to end this systematic corruption.
We need bosses who work, and praise their workers.
We need......M Seiser
dont recall the name of the guy with the multiple lambert tree awards, he was the foot guy in 014.
OVER A THOUSAND ARRESTS IN 11 YEARS, 50+ SEARCH WARRANTS TYPED AND EXECUTED, TONS OF DOPE ARRESTS, 30 PLUS GUNS. NUMEROUS NEWS CONFERANCE'S, ALOT OF SHITHEADS SENT TO PENITENTIARY! I GUESS IT'S NOT ENOUGH!
Now I got supervisors who can't even touch my stats or paperwork telling me what to do!!!
*** F*&*^%$ Ridicules!!!! ****
I DON'T HAVE A PHONE CALL!!!!
MOTIVATE ME TO DO MANAGEMENT STAT WORK ON THE WATCH!!!
HAHGAHAHAHAHAHHAHYABHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!
Let the merit process be put in the hands of the P.O.'s. Nomination by P.O.'s not bosses. P.O.'s know who would make a good Boss regardless of education or schooling. Maybe that would help with Problem # 4
From what I've seen, the majority of promotional classes have at most, 10/12% makeup of minorities.
So quit bitching about blacks and latinos receiving the lions share of the meritorious promotions, because it simply isn't true. Do the math!
From 014 was Bill Jaconetti...good copper and a good guy
is there anyway you can send all of these concern regarding merit promotions to our union the FOP. or perhaps they should be read at one of our FOP meetings. this should be a major issue in our new contract.
To 12:45 AM
You are talking about Jaconetti. He won it once--dats it.
No one has more than one Lambert Tree / Carter Harrison award. Someone may have been nominated more than once, but no one has recieved it more than once. The guy in 014 recieved it for a shoot out / hostage sit in 14 in the 70's I believe.
Anyone that has received that award should be automatic bump up to the next rank either, det/sarge your choice from po, LT from sarge, capt from LT.
Just my 2 cents.
WTF..The 1st Dep. is a total merit example. Dumb, connected and "ethnically correct" Has anyone EVER seen this fool working on a friday night like the other bosses have to? Nah
First of all, Starks has been a tireless supporter of all of Cline's initiatives, as is his job.
Second, there are a whole bunch of "Bosses" who go straight to the restaurant as soon as the DOC meeting is over. Drive through some of the more popular spots in 012 and you'll see them! A WHOLE LOT OF THEM!! The main people "working" late Friday nights after the DOC meetings are the same people who usually do: The District Commanders, the Area Commanders, Inspectors, The Area Gang/Gun Lts., The Area SAT teams and everything else those bosses can throw at the problems within their respective Areas (tact/Gang teams, Safe Summer teams,rapids and beat cars). And that's as it should be. It's not the job of the Supt. or 1st Dep. to actively fight the battle, but to have it mapped out and distribute the resources to contain, if not quell the problem.
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