Monday, October 30, 2006

Problem #7 - Oldest to Youngest

Seventh in a series of writings about some problems we see facing the Department.

We got a letter from a supervisor who has written to us on occasion. He (or she) pointed out that in the past 10 years or so, we've gone from one of the oldest, most experienced Departments in the nation to one of the youngest. And it seems to be true - our seniority has never been higher. But what are the repercussions of such a radical change? The supervisor writes:
  • The "brain drain" as it's called in the private sector must be incredible! Do you think the fact that we lost, literally, tens upon tens of centuries worth of detective experience that our clearance rate is in the toilet?
  • How about the FTO Program? We have kids teaching kids and there are no old vets to teach the new guys and gals how to be the police, how not to step in shit, how not to get their pictures taken in front of crashed airplanes and send them all over the internet.
  • Tact and Gang teams being filled by reverse seniority? I heard it's happening in some places and other places aren't letting people leave because there aren't any volunteers to fill in. What happened to the "Ceriale rule" - no plain clothes under 3 years? God forbid someone else gets killed who didn't have the time.
His rant goes on for quite a while. But the better main points are listed. We've lost quite a few old timers and the experience that comes with being older. And it affects things. Lots of things. And not all of them for the better.

65 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

NO SHIT, SHERLOCK HOLMES. NO SHIT. BUT IT AIN'T MY PROBLEM NOW IS IT? WHATEVER I SAY DON'T REALLY COUNT NOW DOES IT. IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, A WORKER THATS GOT A GOOD SUGGESTION IS LOOKED UPON LIKE WELL YOU GOT 20 PLUS CR NUMBERS SO YOU'RE A TROUBLED FUCK. EVERYONE ON THIS DEPARTMENT THINKS THEY KNOW IT ALL. KNOW THIS, ITS ALL FUCKED UP. AND ITS GETTING MORE FUCKED UP BY THE MINUTE. BUT "THEY" DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT.

10/30/2006 12:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's not the age factor that ruined this job, it has nothing at all to do with it. It's a combination of political correctness, an over-zealous media, ambulance-chasing lawyers and dumber-than-a-box-of-rocks reverends with BIG MOUTHS!

10/30/2006 12:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SCC, My one and only comment on this topic is AMEN.

10/30/2006 12:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

TRY 011 010 015 TWO YEAR WONDERS ALL AROUND

10/30/2006 12:59:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I actually had the pleasure to work with some real real old timers here and there before the mass exodus about 5 years ago. When that generation of coppers are gone from patrol this department is doomed!

10/30/2006 02:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Straight out of probation into FTO position in my district.

10/30/2006 02:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tact and gang anywhere is crap. Narc or Int. in any area is crap. This dept does not care in good police work anymore

10/30/2006 03:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Years ago the Detectives Test was the only one that truely was on the legit. Solving major crime was high on the priority list for both the Department and City Hall. You had to be good to get out of the blues. No merit positions, no political infulence (if there was at least the guy was good), no suing for inclusion of females or minorities. These initiatives have diminshed the position of Detective to almost laughable standards. I've been gone for a few years now but still keep track on things going on at Area 5. I'm told that half of the Dicks there need three hands to find their ass. Diversity not Justice must be served I guess.

Gotta go now. The boat is gassed and who knows maybe I'll get that Marlin today. Keep working guys and contribute to the pension fund.

10/30/2006 05:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Again who gives a fuck. I have over twenty years on the job, and enjoy watching all the fuck-ups. It's better than television. PS I can't teach a young officer anything. THEY KNOW EVERYTHING !! Please put the leather gloves away. In the event you do lump someone up they really don't help your case on film.

10/30/2006 06:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

training districts.
o.k. once they are trained distribute them evenly to all dist.
the people and the dept. pay a price when 015 is all new guys and 019 is all old timers.

10/30/2006 08:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anyone on this job who believe that the lost of senior officers don't effect this department, is at their wits end. There has always been over zealous media types, ambulance chasing lawyers and loud mouth activists. The officers of today are to young to remember the 60's/70's, the hippies, panthers, protesters i.e.
comparatively speaking, what we are going through today, its a walk in the park. So don't try to blame the shortcomings of an every growing number of bad police officers and choices on society. Its no wonder that the remainining older officers avoid the younger guys like the plague. Some of you guys should sit down and talk with these guys and find out, why such a divide has happen on this job. It appears to be more then a generation gap. The very first roll call that I attended way back then, my FTO introduced me to a guy who had over 30 years on the job, he came on the job in 1947,,,,,,,,,he had 3 months left before he retired. My FTO one time intruction to me was "Your job is to get to were this guy is at, one piece and standing up" The only way to that end was to listen and learn....when you aren't sure ASK!!! What ever that they are feeding these guys in the academy must be highly toxic, so many come out into the field "KNOWING EVERYTHING". They immediately alienate everybody around them, and they will continue making the same mistakes, until it finally bites them in the ass

10/30/2006 09:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I disagree with those who claim that the new people (those under 5 years) "know everything." I find them hungry for information, but it needs to be correct information. They can spot a guy/gal who talking out their ass and equating their opinion with fact or the rule of law. More people on this job need to learn how to say, "I don't know" when they don't and they need to learn the difference between their "opinion" and fact.

I agree that we have too many inexperienced police officers working together, that the problem with limiting the number of training districts and failing to give FTO's due credit. Nobody wants to be an FTO for an extra 50Cents an hour and have to fill out a lot of nonsensical paperwork that nobody reads.

10/30/2006 09:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My comment is there are a lot of flaws in the system, but it will eventually work itself out. Time has a way of healing. SCC, this other comment is off-post but certainly worth the time. I was made aware that this week is the week of phone calls to the new dics. Class will start in two weeks. This class will be the class to talk about. The meritourious people are supposed to be all that. Very deserving and capable people. People who have excelled in police work. Also, the class is supposed to set a precedent for the police department because when these detectives graduate this class they will work out of an area, but will have an assigned sergeant and concentrate on specific things. The way the department has this set up is like a Boy scout troop, going out on field trips for very specific reasons. These guys, these specialized task force dics will and are going to put a dent in every gang in Chicago. The department is supposed to be very estatic about it. I was actually made aware of this change of tactics two months ago, but everything was hush-hush. The word is slowly letting out and like I say with the class being in two weeks, everyone will know. I just wanted to put this out on your site first because I enjoy reading it. Keep up the good work, SCC.

10/30/2006 10:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Leather gloves? A rule of thumb.
When you see a cop wearing leather gloves in the summertime, he is an idiot!..End of message.

10/30/2006 10:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm told that half of the Dicks there need three hands to find their ass. Diversity not Justice must be served I guess.

Gotta go now. The boat is gassed and who knows maybe I'll get that Marlin today. Keep working guys and contribute to the pension fund.

10/30/2006 05:57:17 AM

The commander in A/5 hand picked his guys. I'm sure he has no problem finding their ass. If you want to see a prime example of worthless clout, go knock on his door.

10/30/2006 11:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

10 going for 20..I agree it is a funny to see the new coppers who know everything and the looks they get from citizens when responding to certain calls and their logic..
I have tried explaining things to a few of these POs but agree also, that they already know everything so why bother..good luck young officer is my only advice...and stay out of jail..throwing it all away for a mere few thousand is just plain Stupid...

10/30/2006 12:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

FTO PROGRAM NEEDS

1. D2A PAY
2. 1/2 HOUR EVERYDAY
3. FIRST SHOT AT MERIT

WHAT WE GIVE UP TO BE A FTO

1. A REAL PARTNER
ANSW; FOR ALL YOU PPO'S THIS MEANS A PERSON WE TRUST 100 % WITH OUR LIVES, DON'T TAKE THIS IN A BAD WAY BUT THE TRAINING YOU GUYS/GALS GET IN THE ACADEMY IS ALL FANTASY !

2. GOING HOME
ANSW; UNLIKE EVERYBODY ELSE
FTO;S HAVE TO EITHER STAY LATE OR COME IN EARLY TO FINISH THE EVALUATIONS. YEAH WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A SGT,LT,CAPT COME IN EARLY AND STAY LATE TO FILL OUT THEIR LOGS n-o-t !

3. FREEDOM
ANSW; FTO'S ARE STUCK.
EITHER BY DISTRICT'S THAT ARE ONLY TRAINING DISTRICTS, LATERAL MOVES SUCH AS A COMMUNITY OFFICER,TAC/GANGS, AND WATCH SLOTS.


SO THOSE WHO ARE FTO'S GIVE UP WHAT EVERYBODY TAKES FOR GRANTED AND IN RETURN ARE GIVEN TABLE SCRAPS.


SO IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT TAKING THE FTO POSITION; DON'T DO IT FOR THE MONEY, DON'T DO IT FOR THE 1/2 HOUR.

DO IT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO PASS ALONG THE EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS THAT YOU GAINED ON THE JOB !!!!!
AND ONE DAY WHEN YOU SEE YOUR RECRUIT GETTING A PROMOTION-MEDAL-CITATION YOU'LL KNOW THAT YOU DID A JOB WELL DONE !!!!


A FTO IN 012

10/30/2006 12:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Breaking National News: PRESS RELEASE October 30, 2006

MOST DANGEROUS CITIES

Based on FBI crime data, Morgan Quitno Press has just released rankings of 371 U.S. cities.

CHICAGO and New Orleans did NOT report crime data.

The TOP TEN MOST DANGEROUS CITIES ARE:

1. St. Louis
2. Detroit
3. Flint, MI
4. Compton, CA
5. Camden, NJ
6. Birmingham, AL
7. Cleveland
8. Oakland
9. Youngtown, OH
10. Gary, IN

The last ten in descending order to safest (Brick, NJ) are:

362. Coral Springs, FL
363. Greece, NY
364. Cary, NC
365. Irvine, CA
366. Colonie, NY
367. Troy, MI
368. Newton, MA
369. Mission Viejo, CA
370. Amherst, NY
371. Brick, NJ

Does anyone notice a demographic pattern?

10/30/2006 01:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have stains in my fruit of the looms older than most of the new faces on this job, and most of the new generation of bosses. It is important we dont lose our identity. Change can be good, but it needs to be mixed with the good things of old. oxy clean works on the stains

10/30/2006 01:05:00 PM  
Blogger Knightridge Overlook said...

Thought y'all might be interested in this crime reporting issue.

10/30/2006 01:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The "brain drain", as it's called in the private sector, must be incredible! Do you think the fact that we lost, literally, tens upon tens of centuries worth of detective experience that (that is why) our clearance rate is in the toilet? - SCC

No problemo, SCC. Under the outstanding and experienced leadership of Maria "Senora Sherlock" Soto-Maher, the Detective Division will once again reclaim its status as the nation's premiere big-city police investigative agency.

10/30/2006 01:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The latest rumour we heard that is coming from a reliable source SCC is the new detective class is starting in two weeks. The source is also saying that their is going to be something very different about these detectives, whatever that means. Maybe they are smart?? LOL. But SCC ,do they call you first to make you sign some papers or something? and then you get a physical, and then usually a week later you get put in the academy? anyone know???? please...no smartasses on this one.

10/30/2006 02:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SCC, do you know if anyone got those phone calls to be dic yet? Classes starting up on 13 NOV. at the academy. 8:00 sharp.

10/30/2006 02:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

YES 10,11,15 ARE THREE YEAR WONDERS BECAUSE IT USUALLY TAKES THREE YEARS LIKE IT TOOK ME TO REALIZE THAT WORKING IN THE GHETTO SUCKS AND THERE ARE NO PERKS ONLY HEADACHES 18TH DIST RULES!

10/30/2006 02:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Twenty -six years ago when I signed on, it took me about 2 months to figure it out why CPD was light years behind the rest of the nation in law enforcement:

1. Old men ran the department.

2. Incompetent people were placed in key policy and decision making positions.

Currently,

1. Young political exempts run the department.

2. Just about all of them have little or no street smarts and are placed in key policy and decision making positions.

There's 26 years in a nut shell folks.

10/30/2006 02:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a "2 Year Wonder", and I really am, recognizing that I have all of about 30 seconds on this job and DON'T know a contact card from a case report, I thought that I might, with the impudence of youth, get a few of my thoughts and observations out here in SCC cyberspace.

I'd like to first address the Tact issue, I can't speak for any other districts, but my district is apparently losing quite a few of it's tact guys to units and promotions, and at this point, we have maybe 5 people per watch with 5 years on or more and they've basically been handed the job role of acting FTO's. That's not to say that they haven't bid to the back themselves. Second, the first thing any old-timer, boss, or instructor tells you is, "Kid, the first chance you get, get outta patrol. Take any exam you're eligible for." Now, I spent a number of years as an Infantryman in the Army, so I understand, respect, and openly support the necessity of time in grade/rank, and job experience.....I've seen the end results of a lack of experience too often myself, but if you have 2 Year Wonders training PPO's (as I have seemingly more so of late), because people with more time are leaving, retiring, or finally getting the promotions they do or do not deserve, then what are we supposed to do? I learned day 1 on this job, if offered an opportunity, take it, they are too few and far between to pass up. If my bid gets rejected because of a lack of experience, so be it, that is probably a wise decision on someones part. Not being a clout baby myself, I have to do things the hard way, which means if I do get a break somewhere, it probably won't be anything significant or fruitful, but fuck it, I'm here for another 20+ years for 8 hours a day and I gotta do something to fill my time between baby momma drama calls.

Secondly, the know everything recruits that everybody complains about, well what do you expect from kids in their 20's? I came on the job a bit later and with more experience than the bulk of my classmates, some of whom have never had a real job before becoming the police. You can't learn until you've had your ass kicked, and I still feel some of my own lumps.

I get a few of the PPO's who ask me questions, as I did and in fact still do, and I tell them the best advice that I've gotten next to go home alive.......If you're the hardest working man in Hollywood, you'll always have a job= just try, even if you fuck up, try. Learn what you can from who you can, no knowledge is useless. Most of us are starting out from scratch. Back people up on your calls and always cover your ass. I don't really have much knowledge if any to impart, so I tell the newer guys that little bit that I've learned. I've been fortunate so far, 2 good partners, most of my bosses have been good, or at the very least fair, and I've made it through 2 years in the South Side.

I've learned that any advice offered, whether good or bad, is usually offered for a reason, and it never hurts to stop and think about what's been said to you. Those of us with less time on the job than most coppers have in roll call would do well to pay attention to this. To those of you old timers who still try to keep us young bucks from stepping on our dicks too much, thanks. Hopefully I can make it through my career as a working cop without too much fallout from the brass and the ambulance chasers. I guess I'll climb down from my soapbox now.......

EVERYONE BE SAFE.......TAKE CARE

10/30/2006 03:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another problem facing you young officers (NOT ME BACAUSE I DONT DO SHIT) cameras are everywhere !!

10/30/2006 03:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whaa... I have 20 years on. Whaa... Nobody listens to me. Whaa... Its not like it use to be.
Whaa... We're all doomed.
Guess what, the so called "Old Timers" when you started... probably said the same things about you.

10/30/2006 04:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been reading this blog for about six months now and it was recomended to me, an old timer, by an old timer. I've enjoyed a lot of it, but I've seen some real bad additudes along with the rants. Most of the posts that I've read about the "old timers" have been negative. I guess the younger people want to move up in the seniority dept. as quick as possible. I didn't plan on staying this long but circumstances change plans so I'm still working and I mean working. Good luck to you all, stay together and make good decisions.

10/30/2006 04:10:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

- - - OFF TOPIC - - -

How about the CSA that happened in wrigleyville - police commander on channel 7 saying that there's a good witness with a great description. Immediately following that statement the news media gives that "great" description as a "Male / ~6'01 / 200-215lbs / brown eyes / black hair / tatoo on neck."

Kind of pathetic that their desire to adhere to political correctness trumps their willingness to let people know that it was a M/1.

10/30/2006 04:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

In regards to diversity:
Alderthing Tilman has new medical terminology in regards to her plans to extort the city and local buisnesses for reperations. She relted that today she suffers from "acute post slavery disorder". As soon as this becomes a medical condition recognised by her constituents(sp) there's gonna be a flood of city workers (laugh at workers) hitting the medical roll.

10/30/2006 04:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

GO TO ENGLEWOOD ON NIGHTS ALL YOUNG KIDS 2 YEARS AND LESS THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING..

10/30/2006 05:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Plenty of 2 year wonders in 011. There are even PPO's not even out of their 3rd cycle that think they know it all. Get a dope arrest and call it a day with time due on the end is how they roll.

10/30/2006 05:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shooting in 011. One officer shot in the hand and its unknown if the offender was shot. Hope the officer is ok, and recovers.

10/30/2006 05:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Accolades to SWAT and SOS on the great police work at Kedzie and Augusta. Great job by the little guy!! Excellent police work by some super cops.

10/30/2006 05:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

off the topic.
test results for sgt test are being mailed out this week.

10/30/2006 05:20:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

it's a new era of law enforcement..things will never be done close to how they were done before....the shit people got away with before wont fly now...newer breeds of police are working with handcuffed hands....cant take everything personal...just do your job and enjoy yourself...keep paying into pension....no matter how much old timers hate new guys..they know new guys keep feeding the pension so they never have to worry about not getting what's owed to them....it's a love hate relationship...

10/30/2006 05:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know a good place to work, and I ain't tellin'....fuck ya !

10/30/2006 05:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been watching the FOP news list of retirees for years, and every issue the number of people going with 20 years is increasing, it used to be 30 plus was average. The Mayor has emplaced the biggest collection of strokes and a-holes in administrative positions, so now the job, for the average patrolman blows. I can't wait to get my 20 and get out of this cluster-fuck.

10/30/2006 07:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It really doesn't make a difference if the oldtimers are gone and youth replaces them.
Within the youth, they will develop their own old -timers and have their own history.Good bosses and bad.
For us oldtimers, we had our own history, good and bad bosses, and we made our mistakes and learned from them.
Yes, I'm a product of the 60's and old Filmoe, kick ass tact and take no shit. Times have changed since then.So, we either change with the times or we get out.
Nothing much has changed in all the past years, bosses suck, they don't know shit have never worked the street. Seems like yesterday, I said the same thing until I became a boss and looked at it a little differently. Lazy ass M/F who would work harder on
a partime job rather than their bread and butter job.
You watch the guy who pisses and moans the most,for he does the least. The job was a hell of a lot better when we went around the clock rather than bid for a watch.
Yes Unions are good,but also have a tendency to destroy the work place. The main reason why the dept and the city administration are on your ass is because the Union always wants more,but is responsible for shit.
Years ago I sat at a rollcall and the DC said "someday a Po will be making $50 Thou plus and still won't be happy."
You can't have it both ways, not anymore. You either go for the cash or the perks,not both. Insurance and retirement,what will it be? So much shit for now.
OH, for the guy who is thinking of getting out! Take a look at what you are accomplishing and if its shit, LEAVE.

10/30/2006 09:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

try to get some of the new overtime programs, you will see how old this department really is, i have 13 yrs on and could not get a day in the school overtime program

10/30/2006 09:23:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Whaa... I have 20 years on. Whaa... Nobody listens to me. Whaa... Its not like it use to be.
Whaa... We're all doomed.
Guess what, the so called "Old Timers" when you started... probably said the same things about you.

10/30/2006 04:01:27 PM

Actually they said your mother was a pig !

10/30/2006 09:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Times have changed. Back in the day an old-timer would have told you, you were a punk with leather gloves, and you would have put them in your locker.

10/30/2006 09:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. Honest or anyone else knowlegable, Any word on how many Dets. they are going to make in two weeks..I heard it was slated for more than the standard fifty that they have been making recently.
Please Advise if able.

10/30/2006 10:04:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Old timers cost money. They (City) don't want us, and we don't want you.

10/30/2006 10:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

3:06, you are right on about just about everything.

I'm in my 30s and have been in a few professions. CPD? The first thing to tell kids is that they are never to respond to advice of an experienced senior with "I know". If they knew they wouldn't be hearing it from someone who is under the impression that they don't know.

I left and now practice law. The first thing my firm has to tell kids out of law school is that they don't know shit, and don't EVER take an attitude with a staffer until they've been here for at least a year. Why? Because they know everything.

Its human nature for a lot of people. Maybe its just youth. It ain't just generation Y or X or whatever. Its the nature of youth itself.

And if there is one thing they should be POUNDING into the heads of kids from day 1 into the academy, its KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN.

It would almost be nice if newbies were banned from talking until they have 1 year on the streets. Not one word except in emergencies until they have one year on the streets.

Nothing against the kids today. God knows I love em. It should be a rule forever that applies to all generations.

10/30/2006 10:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why does anyone who responds and complains and gripes and tell tales and suggest unfairness and says it's not worth it and tells of woe and wants to retire and wants to leave the city and and and and and so on and so on. . .

Why do you stay?

Please leave!

10/30/2006 10:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Remember, right now, today will be somebodys "Good old days"

10/30/2006 11:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let me tell you something!! I know a lot about the job!!

Detective "Papi" A1 Detective Div.

10/31/2006 12:10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey lefty,
Firehoses on protesters, what kind of asshole are you? We used nightsticks, it was more up close and personel, I liked the feeling of their warm blood flowing over my knuckles.

10/31/2006 12:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I bet that all these all timers that are bitching were the perfect Police Officers when they started back in the day, yea right.

10/31/2006 04:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

- - OFF TOPIC - - -

How about the CSA that happened in wrigleyville - police commander on channel 7 saying that there's a good witness with a great description. Immediately following that statement the news media gives that "great" description as a "Male / ~6'01 / 200-215lbs / brown eyes / black hair / tatoo on neck."

Kind of pathetic that their desire to adhere to political correctness trumps their willingness to let people know that it was a M/1.

10/30/2006 04:16:46 PM

Ya, the lack of race thing has been going on for about a year now on the TV news - I noticed it immediately too. WHat the fuck.

10/31/2006 06:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Old timer this, old timer that..... I keep hearing this shit about old timers.... I haven't run across an old timer that does a fuckin' thing in a long, long time. And that's why they don't step in shit.

Hey, God bless you guys for putting in your time, lord knows I have a long way to go. But some of you need to pull the pin. Your constant bitching about how things used to be is a drain on the department and especially on the FNGs who soak it up and become bitter old timers with two years on the job....and don't lift a finger for anyone, don't do any police work and never learn how. So can the old timer bullshit, really. Retire already.

I do understand that the job today is completely different than what it was back in the day. I truly wish I could've worked way back then but hell, back then I was still sucking on my mom's tit while diligently trying to play with the other one....either that or still getting dinked by my uncle, but that's neither here nor there. My point is, the world has changed...the department has changed with it, there is nothing we can do about this. Things that were acceptable back then or that got swept under the rug, just simply can't be done today without serious risk of getting caught and finding yourself in a major jam. CR#s, lawsuits, the "G", IAD, it has all gotten out of hand. Shit, I hear you can now get a CR# over the internet (WTF?!?). And this new 10 CRs and 12 TRRs or whatever-the-fuck is absolutely ridiculous. I'd love to meet the pencil necked geek that came up with this one. But what can we do? Are we all really going to join hands and vote in a new regime at the FOP?? Is that really going to change anything? They will be replaced by another crew that'll eventually work the same way. Should we collectively write a letter to our congressmen saying we don't want to be sued, set-up, complained against and miss-treated? Give the police more freedom and less liability?!? Are you people fucking insane? Have the three marbles rolling around in that dome of yours finally fallen out? The only answer to this conundrum is to get a grip and FUCKING DEAL WITH IT!! This is what the job has become, and most likely it is not going to get any better. If you don't like it, then leave. Chances are you aren't helping anyway. Believe it or not, there will be a time 50 years from now when our kids or grand children will be saying "Man, I wish I coulda been on the job at the turn of the century…it used to be great! My granddad told me back then only 7 out of 10 people had a video camera."

So what is the answer?? Well, um, I dunno….. maybe we shouldn't lift a finger? Not do any police work? Is your work ethic that skewed? Are you that fucking lazy? Maybe you are. Maybe your W/C is a complete jag….in that case I wouldn't do anything either. But what about you people out there who do have a good boss and still don't do a damned thing?? Stroll into roll call late a couple days a week? Call in for 8 hours without any question? Slips held for time on the end? Get to work a regular car with your regular partner? No inspections? What more do you want? I cannot stand you lazy, whining fucks who get all the perks of having a good captain and yet you still come in with zeroes night after night. And when you are asked to do something, you look like you just saw a ghost. "But I don't want to go to traffic court!" IT'S ONE DAY A MONTH!! Hey, 8 movers in 160 work days?? Attaboy!! Five arrests?! Awesome! YOU LAZY PIECES OF SHIT.

We are the Chicago-motherfucking-Police Department!! It's a good job no matter how you slice it. Good police work can be done without getting in trouble. Sure you will catch a beef here and there, shit, if you are really lucky maybe even a lawsuit, but it's all par for the course. But to you old timers who are constantly on here saying the new guys are idiots, well shame on you. You are the guys that the recruits should be learning from. To sit there and scoff every time a young guy wants to get out of the car and grab somone is shameful. We were all young bloods at one time or another…whether it was back in the 70s or a year ago. Your constant bitching about how things have changed makes the new guys too scared to do police work. This attitude of yours is unsafe and will get new guys hurt or in trouble or just plain and simple leave them clueless for a long time. But no, you guys want to sit there and laugh? Pull the pin you lazy good for nothing pukes!

The way some of you behave (PLEASE READ: SOME OF YOU) and treat a job that has given you a solid income for 30 years, a pension, non-stop laughs, and the best damned stories of your miserable life is disgraceful!!

10/31/2006 10:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually MANY of us back in the day were from police families and kept in check....that's a fact !!

10/31/2006 10:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

TWENTY YEARS OF DOING NOTHING TRANSLATES TO A GUY JUST AS USELESS AS A "TWO YEAR WONDER". CHOOSE WHO YOU EMULATE CAREFULLY. AGE DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY TRANSLATE TO WISDOM

10/31/2006 11:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

New dicks in 8 man teams with a Sgt. 2 things very wrong. Some of the dicks will be merit, this will always be a bad move. The Sgt. will probably have never been a dick. That's a worse move. I remember a Sgt. that came to the area. What's a 101? Ain't that a highway somewhere? Yeah, Right Sarge.

On the watch, get good partners and hope they don't leave the watch before you do. Of course, this starts at the door called Watch Commander. So it probably won't fly, if he doesn't support it obviously.

"Get out of the Blue". That Tact Sgt. or Lt. that likes you now or vice versa won't always be there. If they don't want you, well, you know who's going to win that battle. Study your butt off for the Dicks test. If you make it and don't like it, well you can always trade it back in for Beat Car. That's rarely done.

Finally, remember the job ended with the coming of straight shifts and the little girls.

ex Dick
ret. Sgt.

10/31/2006 12:17:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mandatory retirement depleted this dept. along with the poor hiring standards and the poor pool choice add the Merit aka true lack of real Merit with their new micro management of plain ignorance entrenched within profit factors.

There are some fine young officers out there but the politically correct safe haven city has destroyed this city into a B.S. marketing glossy of liberal media hype with falling readership and rising crime. Thank heaven for Blogs.

Phony Stats, inability to run the police dept. without federal Grants, contracts to political donors, family, friends and the gross mismanagement at City Hall, Cook County and the most corrupt state Illinois. Able and willing young workers have no choice or say with what their now left with. May God Bless them and us the only true provider.

Remember Illinois is all Democrats! FOP board leaders shamed and ignored us and put our name behind corrupt Blago, need we say more.

10/31/2006 12:41:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey dude theres no Racial profiling there. The description was a male black thats it.

What do you want the Commander to say a male did it but we cant give you a race.

You need to chill out with Racial profiling. The dumb ass is dirty final.

10/31/2006 12:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It took Me twenty years to figure out , if you do nothing, you do nothing wrong

10/31/2006 06:49:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Old Timer this-Old Timer that:

First off all I'm an old timer. And I couldnt agree more with that young officer's opinions.

Keep at it young man, you got your head screwed on right.

Ignore the old fuck/do nothings. Most likely most of them were useless pieces of crap when they had two years on let alone 20.

But it's a win , win situation when they retire. You no longer have to listen to their pussy ass whining and constant carping anymore and the job actually improves as each one goes.

I'm with you young off. 100%

32 yrs on and still going strong and doing my job everyday!

11/01/2006 12:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Too many 2 year dogs on 2nd watch in 011, they need to go to midnights or at least 3rd watch to learn how to work.....

11/01/2006 10:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey you hard charging hero's why don't you ask the people at call-back, the pow's, what's wrong with this Dept? They can tell story after story of no clout cops getting ass pounded by this Dept. Why? because the city can! To all of you who say leave if you don't like it,FUCK YOURSELF!!! The "whiners" are what got us speedloaders (once banned)and now auto pistols, sweaters, relaxed hat rules, cargo pants, steady watches, senority for furloughs and days off etc. You " I'm just glad I have a job" asshats are what empower the stroke bosses. They know that with a few dipshits like you they can demand anything and you morons will comply. The NAZI's had similar automatons, "I was just following orders". GOD BLESS the guys who have the balls to say, hold on boss, you're wrong! Our founding fathers were the whiners, and their tory neighbors were telling them the same thing; THANK GOD they said, hey we can do better. The PO's who voice their dissatisfaction on this blog are the hero's, they are fighting the good fight in the only way they can. If you clowns think GPS, on-line CR's, merit promotions, zero training, micro-management by a bunch of strokes etc, is a good direction for this organization, then YOU please leave. You and your ilk are the problem!

11/01/2006 12:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

32 yrs on and still going strong and doing my job everyday!

11/01/2006 12:09:17 AM

Stick around dunbf*ck..you'll be another stat without ever seeing a pension check.

11/01/2006 01:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Be honest! Check posts # 12:09 and 01:14...who would you rather work with....12:09 who has a great attitude and is still a working cop or the whining do nothing 01:14.

We all know guys/gals who are exact matches for both. Truth be told the 01:14 types never did any work and have been whining and bitching since the day they became cops.

I'm with you 12:09 KEEP AT AT.

11/04/2006 10:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The smartest thing someone said is stop, listen and learn. Its the first thing I learned when I came on. It enabled me to survive and be smart about it so I could go home everyday. Everyone I encounter has something to contribute to my knowledge whether it is good or bad, I am the one that decides how I use it to enrich my level of knowledge and my daily working routine. New guys, old guys we were all new once and we seem to forget that. When I came on it was a double wammie nobody wanted to work with the new girl. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful FTO, was smart, knowledgable and treated me fairly. I thank GOD every day that I was trained by him. I have an awful temper and the ability to make people pay for pissing me off, but working with him I learned how to control my temper and get the bad guys with the power of the PEN!!!Yeah he was an old timer but I worked with a lot of young people who I learned a lot from, mostly how I didn't want to be. I run into old timers and young people alike who think they know everything. People are people we just see more of the rotten population and when people put on that blue uniform its like instant genius for some. Reality usually humbles us or gets us fired. Young people out there, listen and learn,no one knows everthing or even more than others all the time. Treat others as you would have them treat you. I have 14 yrs on this job and people still look at me and think I'm a freshie, guess what, I use that to my advantage. I always tell people I know nothing, why don't you tell me or show me how. People who think they know it do my paper and anything else they feel compelled to correct or show me how. Eventualy they realize they were duped and they dont make that mistake twice. I think people learn more effectively from their own mistakes as do I.
Everyone out there be careful and trust no one, after all we all are only human. Listen and learn who is most likely to effectively be a positive influence in your daily existence and most likely to be proactive in getting you home everyday. We are all out there together, we are seen as one by everyone else. Lets help each other out cause if one of us fucks up we all get spanked. Help don't hinder.

11/06/2006 01:20:00 AM  

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