Hey Look! Mary Mitchell Junior!

Anyone catch Dawn Turner Trice's column in Monday's Tribune? She accuses the police of responding too slowly to calls in the 007th District. Calls across the street from the station no less.

• When Joyce Muschamp's basement was burgled in the wee hours of Oct. 2, she was disappointed that her neighbor's presence across the street failed to discourage the offenders. Her neighbor's lights were on all night. To make matters worse, the neighbors didn't see or hear anything. And when she called them about the incident, they never even came over.
• Wonder why Muschamp has sore feelings? You should know that her neighbor is the Chicago Police Department's Englewood District station, located at 6120 S. Racine Ave. Since January, she has called the police for several incidents--ranging from the fairly mundane, such as neighbors blaring loud music, to the burglary--to little or no avail.
• You want to improve the neighborhood," Muschamp said. "But after a while, what sense does it make to call the police at all?" That's a good question, but a sad commentary, suggesting that if you live in a community such as the embattled Englewood neighborhood, and your emergency isn't a biggie, then police service is relegated to optional.

How about that? "Optional" police service. Way to slam the police.

Well Ms. Turner, maybe instead of accusing the police about "optional" service, you ought to direct the light of your curiosity toward the manpower shortages citywide. Ask why Englewood is running 30% or more down cars during the midnight hours? Ask why two police Areas comprising nine police Districts were running 4 and 5 officers deep to "Disturbance" calls over the past three days due to credible death threats on officer's lives. Ask why everyone who can is bidding out of Districts like 005, 007, and assorted other locations around the city.

And stop trying to be Mary Mitchell with her pretend concern for the poor and downtrodden and anti-police agenda. We have enough hacks in this town.