Hello? Investigative Reporters?
- Police and local officials are cracking down on illegal drag racing at the Crawford Industrial Park, which is from 41st to 47th streets between Pulaski Road and Keeler Avenue.
On May 20, police made a sweep of the area, targeting illegal drag racers.
The sweep, code named “Fast and Furious,” netted more than 150 cars being towed from the vicinity, several arrests and the issuance of more than $30,000 in tickets and fines.
An army of tow trucks, public and private, were required to work through the night to remove the vehicles.
“Ald. Burke called upon one of the largest crackdowns ever in the history of the 14th Ward,” said Donal Quinlan, spokesperson for Burke.
We're just wondering (again) who is going to take the fall when it comes out that this entire operation seems to have been conducted in violation of City ordinances.
First up, we doubt that there is ANY evidence whatsoever that the 150 towed cars were drag racing. Even at a bare minimum of 3 minutes per race between two cars (taking into consideration line up, start, finish, clearing of the "track," and settling of wagers) we're talking almost 4 hours of racing. That's unrealistic.
Second, we point to the fact that under City ordinance, if the driver of a vehicle is or appears on scene, a tow truck driver is REQUIRED to allow them to remove their vehicle from the premises. A tow company (or the police) cannot hold a car hostage or detain a car for an available tow truck in this case. The owner of the property can sign a complaint form for tickets, but even the property owner isn't permitted to keep the cars.
Third, the hints of impropriety in allowing a politically heavy tow company to literally "steal" 150 cars under the guise of the drag racing statute, make it almost inevitable that the CPD is going to be left holding the bag should a scandal hit.
We're really tired of being the media's punching bag when stupid bosses and their even stupider political masters leave us holding the short, shitty end of the stick. Why doesn't some reasonably competent journalist make a name for themselves by exposing a bit of this bullshit? Maybe there isn't anyone worthy of the title anymore.
First up, we doubt that there is ANY evidence whatsoever that the 150 towed cars were drag racing. Even at a bare minimum of 3 minutes per race between two cars (taking into consideration line up, start, finish, clearing of the "track," and settling of wagers) we're talking almost 4 hours of racing. That's unrealistic.
Second, we point to the fact that under City ordinance, if the driver of a vehicle is or appears on scene, a tow truck driver is REQUIRED to allow them to remove their vehicle from the premises. A tow company (or the police) cannot hold a car hostage or detain a car for an available tow truck in this case. The owner of the property can sign a complaint form for tickets, but even the property owner isn't permitted to keep the cars.
Third, the hints of impropriety in allowing a politically heavy tow company to literally "steal" 150 cars under the guise of the drag racing statute, make it almost inevitable that the CPD is going to be left holding the bag should a scandal hit.
We're really tired of being the media's punching bag when stupid bosses and their even stupider political masters leave us holding the short, shitty end of the stick. Why doesn't some reasonably competent journalist make a name for themselves by exposing a bit of this bullshit? Maybe there isn't anyone worthy of the title anymore.
Labels: city politics
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
44 Comments:
If any of those darn drag racers are suspended or revoked its most likely because I wrote them a traffic citation on one of my 13 month on the street. That was my specialty
P.O. G.B. was in a serious motorcycle accident....
But the police always take peoples cars for no reason. You don't need a D.L. to buy a car. So why for driving? Besides if they are racing why did the supervisors not call off the chases? I thought you can't chase for traffic?
What was the name of the Towing company?
"hello everyone I am eddie burke I put your commander in because he looks like my hero ric flair and he takes orders from me like most of your bosses that buy madigans and my over priced fund raiser tickets". I am the king! if any coppers get jammed up lets hope uncle eddie and his crew of exempts will bail you out! since burke has such a big detail how about assisning them to this problem instead of being inside your mansion which is very close to this area they could write tickets at D-3 pay rate heck ed they only work 2 days on and 3 DAYS off plus overtime how about putting them out there? surely you could get them a fleet of new marked cars theyw ould be "burkes private tactical unit", and then they could respond to crime in your shit ward!
I disagree with SCC that if a person shows up on the scene they get their car back. This is true if it is illegally parked only, not if it is being towed as prisoners propety, no license and insurance, impounds etc...
"we don't need city ordinance we have BURKES LAW" former 2 year officer in the late 60's he rules with an iron fist get out of my way drag racers! "Dope dealers gun runners you get a pass just don't drag race is abandoned at night industrial areas no just do it on the city streets like archer where the possibility of death or serious injury is much higher and unless I call my made guy LEO you will never get caught as they are no police on the westend of 008 alderman zalewski does not have the power I have even though lipinski gave many coppers promotions I am still the king!" hey zalewski call burke on the private line and ask him how to get more police out here he can tell you the "secret!" how much did all this police servive net burke? why were private tows called? who called them? another towing scandal? there is an ongoing investigation into coppers who call tows for accident scenes is this not the same?
Scc this is really weird, are you calling for coppers heads now on here? This is the ultimate rat site and you are the king cheese.
I think you're overlooking two possibilities. . . 1) that E&R subcontracted or leased the private tow trucks and drivers for the event, therefore all of the trucks and drivers "belonged" to E & R regardless of what the writing on them said; and, 2) I don't believe there is any statute which requires the police to drop a vehicle when the owner shows up. Once a P.O. has decided to tow or impound a vehicle, it no longer matters whether the owner is on the scene or not.
As to the comment about calling off chases involving drag racers, you can bet money that no chasing was done. P.O.'s were waiting at either end of the run to pick off the drivers when they arrived. Probably most arrests involved spectators and not actual racers. It's like shooting ducks in a barrel.
Since we haven't heard much public outrage and nobody has claimed actual knowledge of any CR# or lawsuit, I'm willing to bet that this was a sanctioned activity that was approved all the way downtown.
SOUNDS LIKE DRAG RACERS AND POLITICIANS RUN - AMUCK AGAIN.AND WHO WILL PAY FOR IT ALL? THAT'S RIGHT, US....
while I usually agree with SCC, on this issue I say hooray for sticking it to those hot-rodding punks. I don't know this new D/C in 008, but it was good to hear about a boss with some creative balls.
Having retired 6 plus years ago as a supv., the #1 reason was the lack of drive and ambition in the P.O.s coming on the job. The "nobody ever got fired for doing nothing" attitude has swept the dept. like VD in a whore. We have given up our authority to run things. The doorman in front of the hotels downtown have more control then the police do.
SCC makes it sound like the cars of gramma shopping at target were towed. I sure that when the police arrived, many took off on foot leaving their vehicles.
I am no fan of e burke (he's been in power too long) but in this case he seems to have responded to the concerns of the citizens living in the area.
I am not aware if cars can be impounded for drag racing (off work today) but if that is the case, you cannot get your car back on the scene if it was impounded, rather than a regular tow. That provision was part of the city ordinance on impounds when the idea of impounds was first thought up. We don't give cars to family members when they are impounded for drugs, and they show up at the station asking for their ride. If the tows were done as regular tows, then these people have a great lawsuit against the city for Theft
But the police always take peoples cars for no reason. You don't need a D.L. to buy a car. So why for driving? Besides if they are racing why did the supervisors not call off the chases? I thought you can't chase for traffic?
...........................
Either you are 7 years old or a complete moron
heres a question? I was working tara in a ns dst when a f/2 had her car booted on a private lot by a private company awaiting tow truck..does she have the right to order the car unbooted,get in her car and leave or what is the solution?
Hey S.C. you should check your city odrdinance handbook. If the city is impounding a vehicle for drag racing it is the same an when they impound for guns, prostitution etc. The vehicle is taken from the owner and a tow is ordered, whenever the truck is available it's towed, the owner has no right to reclaim the vehicle before it's hauled away (unlike a parking complaint). The owner must attend a hearing to determine if the tow was legit, this is their only recourse.
WE don't have to drop the cars and we can hold them if we are going to tow them. Whether just for a tow or an impound. It's written into the code. Private have to drop, not us. Yes we can hold a car hostage until we tow it. Now should we hold it hostage for a private tow, with no other violation other than a private parking complaint? NO.
"A tow company (or the police) cannot hold a car hostage or detain a car for an available tow truck in this case. The owner of the property can sign a complaint form for tickets, but even the property owner isn't permitted to keep the cars."
again people.... its the drag racers word against the police word. even if the idiots were on scene, all that has to be said is, "yes your honor, i observed the above individual involved in a race with another vehicle." I would like for anyone else to prove or disprove it.. even if you say it would have taken 4 hours... who cares. these drag racers are all morons and are a huge problem. i dont work in 008 but ive got to live there. these racers are all punks and ignorant. ive been the police for 25yrs and the last 3 of them have been in the legal department and trust me, it is perfectly legal for the city to hire back a private tow company(even if its a clout hire back...who cares its the chicago way anyway) if needed in a case where there is an overload of work that the available trucks cannont handle in a timely manor. i think that the towing of 150 cars to be towed falls into that catagory and is perfectly legal. so people, why are you trying to start shit in this department and givig the media another topic to cover to attempt to make this department look bad... my god, coppers arent what they used to be... now just a bunch of cry babies who all want to be INDIVIDUALS and not a team... what a disgrace..
"Besides if they are racing why did the supervisors not call off the chases? I thought you can't chase for traffic?"
there were no chases... no body was involved in a chase... listen hair gel warrior, get your facts straight and go back to adoring yourself in the mirror on your wall..
SCAM SCAM SCAM.
150 TOWS CMON
MAY BE WE COULD DO THAT WITH ALL THOSE CAR DEealerS from indiana THAT PARK THEIR CARS AND LEAVE THEM ALL OVER THE CITY WITH NO PLATES.
For the reading challenged who stated:
Scc this is really weird, are you calling for coppers heads now on here? This is the ultimate rat site and you are the king cheese.
Find where we called for coppers heads dumbfuck. Find it and point it out. Geez are you a moron. You actually give stupid people a bad name. We stated we're sick and tired of CPD being left holding the bag when either a stupid boss or a stupid alderman uses us for a political ends and then leaves us holding the bag. Who do you think is going to get screwed if this ends up being illegal? Burke? Leo? The Captain? Any white shirt? No, it's going to be the blues, plain and simple. And it makes us ill.
And lets face facts here people - there is no way in hell that 150 cars were drag racing. It just didn't happen that way. Watching drag racing still isn't an offense under any statute we can find. Just try to write an "aiding and abetting" drag racing charge and see how fast you get laughed at.
And we've read the statute on impounds and yes, we can hold cars for impoundable offenses - but this wasn't one of them. And the allegation being tossed around that tow trucks blocked exits and are from a politically heavy tow company merely lend credence to the theory that this was a blatant set of bad decisions to use the CPD as a political tool.
he shirtless man said...
If any of those darn drag racers are suspended or revoked its most likely because I wrote them a traffic citation on one of my 13 month on the street. That was my specialty
6/11/2007 12:27:00 AM
Yeah, your the only hero doing the job.
...I am not aware if cars can be impounded for drag racing (off work today) but if that is the case, you cannot get your car back on the scene if it was impounded, rather than a regular tow...
SO 99-03 (amended 2004) lists all the MCC violations which can result in the impoundment of a vehicle. Drag racing is not on it.
the vehicles were not impounded... they were towed due to drag racing... yes there is a differance
SCC said...
For the reading challenged who stated:
Scc this is really weird, are you calling for coppers heads now on here? This is the ultimate rat site and you are the king cheese.
Find where we called for coppers heads dumbfuck. Find it and point it out. Geez are you a moron. You actually give stupid people a bad name. We stated we're sick and tired of CPD being left holding the bag when either a stupid boss or a stupid alderman uses us for a political ends and then leaves us holding the bag. Who do you think is going to get screwed if this ends up being illegal? Burke? Leo? The Captain? Any white shirt? No, it's going to be the blues, plain and simple. And it makes us ill.
And lets face facts here people - there is no way in hell that 150 cars were drag racing. It just didn't happen that way. Watching drag racing still isn't an offense under any statute we can find. Just try to write an "aiding and abetting" drag racing charge and see how fast you get laughed at.
And we've read the statute on impounds and yes, we can hold cars for impoundable offenses - but this wasn't one of them. And the allegation being tossed around that tow trucks blocked exits and are from a politically heavy tow company merely lend credence to the theory that this was a blatant set of bad decisions to use the CPD as a political tool.
6/11/2007 08:31:00 PM
Agreed the blue shirts and all the tact guys will be in the shit! I talked to a Polish kid tonight who told me his Father who owns a big Polish store on archer is putting together a class action lawsuit!
Lets tow more cars! how about a tow truck follows the squard car all night and we tow cars for fun! even if they are just watching the stars take their cars! graet mission lets legally steal the kids cars! yea thats the ticket! I am a real policeman now! ARE YOU SHITTING ME? WHAT A WASTE OF TIME JUST TO FUCK SOME KIDS OVER! ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BE LIKE THE "WOLFPACK" NOW WATCHING ARCHER AVE? MAYBE WE WILL SEE MORE COPPERS ON THE WESTEND RIGHT? GREAT CAPS WORK! YOU HAVE MADE US LOOK LIKE JAGOFFS DOING THIS STUPID SHIT! HOW MANY GANG BANGERS HAVE YOU LOCKED UP ON THE WESTEND? ANY? COMMANDER INSTEAD OF USING YOUR TACT TEAMS FOR THIS SHIT HOW ABOUT A COUPLE CARS OUT WEST BEFORE THE ANIMALS DESTROY THE AREA? HOW MANY RIBBONS DID YOU GIVE THE MEN FOR THE GREAT COURAGE OF TAKING ALL THE CARS?
Does anyone know the anonymous # for reporting corruption to Fitz & co.? Ive looked for it but cant find it anywhere. I think its time to start to fight back, with all the corruption & thieving going on,its WAY overdue. We have to get second jobs and cut back, and do without. What do they do? Vote themselves a raise. I hate to see what the new taxes are going to look like!! Funny though, they vote for a raise for themselves just before the taxes go up?!?!?
When i see video of city council meetings it reminds me of the Sopranos,w/Burke as Tony getting handed an envelope and being told its light.With a smug look of entitlement on his face and the rest of the ald. passing around boxes of things "that fell off a truck" They all remind me of Pauley Walnuts, trying to steal anything that isnt nailed down....Then pulling out a claw hammer to pry up the things that are nailed down!! WHAT DO WE NEED THEM FOR AND WHY 50??????
Anonymous said...
the vehicles were not impounded... they were towed due to drag racing... yes there is a differance
6/11/2007 11:06:00 PM
If they were towed due to drag racing that would mean police watch 150 cars race? be honest you mean cpd tact officers sat there and watched crimes being committed and did nothing to stop them until they had 150 racers! Shit NHRA pro series does not even run that many cars in a day!
.....HOW MANY GANG BANGERS HAVE YOU LOCKED UP ON THE WESTEND? ANY? COMMANDER INSTEAD OF USING YOUR TACT TEAMS FOR THIS SHIT HOW ABOUT A COUPLE CARS OUT WEST BEFORE THE ANIMALS DESTROY THE AREA? HOW MANY RIBBONS DID YOU GIVE THE MEN FOR THE GREAT COURAGE OF TAKING ALL THE CARS?
face it... the west end is gone. sell now. I work in 011 and have lived in garfield ridge for 37 years. the fact that its changing has nothing to do with no tact teams out there or no patrols. the west end has been changing for the past 15yrs. its not due to the police. there are plenty of cars out there. the 008th district coppers arent to blame because a family of morons moves in. the police cant help it if they move in and take over. The police cant go around the neighborhood and tell people to move out. and there are always coppers out there stopping people and locking them up.... they arent going to just sell and leave the neighborhood cause they god locked up. if you wanna place blame on why garfield ridge is gonna be a ghetto in 15yrs from now blame people like ME and thousands others who moved out to mount greenwood and sold to a family who definatly is giving the rest of the block problems now.... i did and i really could care less.
Down with drag racers. Our district constantly has to deal with them and nothing hurts like a good impound, of which we do alot of. They are nothing but trouble, so good for 008. I am sure the story is full of half truths and E and R does subcontract. It is probably some jag off duty copper providing his side of the story.
face it... the west end is gone. sell now. I work in 011 and have lived in garfield ridge for 37 years. the fact that its changing has nothing to do with no tact teams out there or no patrols. the west end has been changing for the past 15yrs. its not due to the police. there are plenty of cars out there. the 008th district coppers arent to blame because a family of morons moves in. the police cant help it if they move in and take over. The police cant go around the neighborhood and tell people to move out. and there are always coppers out there stopping people and locking them up.... they arent going to just sell and leave the neighborhood cause they god locked up. if you wanna place blame on why garfield ridge is gonna be a ghetto in 15yrs from now blame people like ME and thousands others who moved out to mount greenwood and sold to a family who definatly is giving the rest of the block problems now.... i did and i really could care less.
6/12/2007 12:54:00 PM
Thanks jagoff enjoy mt slimewood the shit is coming and is there also your an asshole! stay in 011 you must be "HAIR GEL"!
face it... the west end is gone. sell now. I work in 011 and have lived in garfield ridge for 37 years. the fact that its changing has nothing to do with no tact teams out there or no patrols. the west end has been changing for the past 15yrs. its not due to the police. there are plenty of cars out there. the 008th district coppers arent to blame because a family of morons moves in. the police cant help it if they move in and take over. The police cant go around the neighborhood and tell people to move out. and there are always coppers out there stopping people and locking them up.... they arent going to just sell and leave the neighborhood cause they god locked up. if you wanna place blame on why garfield ridge is gonna be a ghetto in 15yrs from now blame people like ME and thousands others who moved out to mount greenwood and sold to a family who definatly is giving the rest of the block problems now.... i did and i really could care less.
6/12/2007 12:54:00 PM
MT GREENWOOD GREAT! YOU HAVE MORE HILLBILLIES THERE THAN DOWN SOUTH! THE ANIMALS ARE MOVING THERE ALSO! I WILL NOT GIVE UP AND BE A PUSSY LIKE YOU WE HAVE BETTER TRANSPORTATION, CLOSER STORES, CLEANER STREETS AND THEY ARE PAVED ALLIES ALSO UNLIKE MT GREENWOOD! HAVE FUN THERE HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AND WHEN i RETIRE YOU GET THE ADDED BENEFIT OF PAYING INTO MY PENSION THANKS FOR THAT GEL MAN! DO YOU WEAR THE DRIVING GLOVES ALSO? COLLEGE 7 YEARS DOWN THE DRAIN RIGHT GEL?
at one time if we impounde cars we got overtime to go to a hearing now we get nothing? Make sure if you impound cars for drag racing taht they really were racing and not just watching! How would you feel if your kid was there just watchinh and a copper took his/her car for no reason? Why because a commander told you to do it! Make him put it on paper and sign it that way when shit hits the fan he will be culpable and you will skate! ladies and gentlemen old school is gone like the flintstones time now to CYA and make the bosses work for all the big salaries!
U KNOW WHY THE RIDGE BLOWS?
COPPERS DONT MAKE ARREST OFF DUTY ANY MORE.
COPPERS DONT TELL THE BANGERS TO GET THE F@*% OUT OF THE ALLEYS.
COPPERS GET ON THEIR CELLS AND CALL IN PROGRESS CALLS JUST LIKE OLD WOMEN, B CUZ THEY R SCARED TO LOSE THE JOB.
SO TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD IF UR BLOCK IS BAD DO SOMETHING. IF NOT STAY IN UR YARD SCARED OF THOSE BIG TOUGH WANNA B BANGERS U HAVE IN THOSE AREAS.
If you want to see drag racing, check out 103rd street to 130th street either on doty road or stoney island on the weekends. gangsters, under age drinkers, guns, drugs and recklesness but NO POLICE PRESENCE.
If the Chicago news papers had anything close to true investigative news persons , Chicago would have honest politicians.
HAVE FUN THERE HOPE YOU ENJOY IT AND WHEN i RETIRE YOU GET THE ADDED BENEFIT OF PAYING INTO MY PENSION THANKS FOR THAT GEL MAN! DO YOU WEAR THE DRIVING GLOVES ALSO? COLLEGE 7 YEARS DOWN THE DRAIN RIGHT GEL?
hmmmmm.. well i live in tallys corner for the past 10yrs and the rest at 5200 blk of new england.. you call me hair gel man and tell me how I will be paying into YOUR pension soon...yeah, good comeback..i guess.. so lets do some math..ive been in mt greenwood 12 years now, grew up and lived in the ridge for 37years.. so lets try and do math cause i didnt get 7 yrs of college, i got 4 years in the army two of which were tours in vietnam...so let me try to figure it out... i think that means im 49 yrs old... yes thats it..49. and i got on the job when i was 22 righ out of the army..which means im coming up on year 28... oh my god...i think that means im gonna retire soon... yep i think in about 1 year. i love doing this job and have always loved it, especially the people i have worked with. never attempt to talk sh*t or embarrass another copper even if its on some p.o.s. website...and let me tell ya something SON... get your sh*t straight and quit all your whining and bitching about how you think your FELLOW p.os are doing a horrible job. never criticize another officer, JUNIOR! or an old timer like myself will have to teach ya a lesson.... enjoy paying for my retirement when im in mexico sippin margaritas....JAG!
6/13/2007 02:07:00 PM
at least your moving to mexico you moved from garfield ridge beacuse of the area changing then you go to mexico are you brain dead?
2 tours in nam and your 49 years old? The U.S. pulled out in 73 correct were you visiting?
49 years old today means that when the last US forces left Vietnam in 1973 (34 years ago), you were 15 years old if your second tour ended in 1973.
Figure two 2 year hitches, so you enlisted at age 11 or so.
Yeah, I'm gonna call bullshit on this one. Another proud product of the Chicago Public School system and probable hair gel police.
6/13/2007 02:07:00 PM
Hey Jag if this is a POS website as you call it why are you here? don't ask don't tell??
6/13/2007 04:44:00 PM
that is funny great math skills LOL! guess he wants everyone to think he was in the army yea the salvation army bell ringer!
you have 27 years on and coming on 28 wow you can count you make me proud! I have 24 years on and am coming up on 30 (in 6 years), Were you in the vietcong army? I mean after the U.S. left in 73? What was your mos? Your grade? Your Unit? I want to look you up? Under LIAR!
I heard that the owner of the property had authorized a tow company to tow all the vehicles off the property for trespassing. If it were the owner and not the police using an outside tow trucking company, there should be no problem, right? Anyone else hear this too?
JUNIOR! or an old timer like myself will have to teach ya a lesson.... enjoy paying for my retirement when im in mexico sippin margaritas....JAG!
6/13/2007 02:07:00 PM
What would that lesson be? how to lie? drink? you can't be thinking of anything else? "we are the old we got arthritis", it the battle of wits you are unarmed! what skol dia u goo 2?
There are no investigative reporters in chicago. The chicago based media is just as greedy as the politicians.
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