Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Let the Sunshine In

As the media reports that at least twelve officers are cooperating with the SOS investigation, two sergeants have retained lawyers and the "ringleader" attempts to save his own skin by doing what certain people have cursed other officers for doing, we pose the following question:
  • How much did clout have to do with this entire scandal going on for as long and as badly as it did?
Obviously, some very high people assisted in moving people around. Certain officers are denied spots on teams or units citywide for having a number of CR's on their records, an arbitrary number of TRR's with their names on them, or being named as the defendant in bullshit court cases that too often are settled by Corp Counsel without the merest hint of a fight. Others seem to skate through unscathed by past history.

But when all the names are brought to light for various petty and felonious accusations, how many connected persons and how many "merit" promotions will be listed among them? Among the Lieutenants and above, how many "double merit" promotions are there? That is a question that really ought to be answered. You have a phone call unit, led by phone call supervisors who had all sorts of phone calls up the chain of command to make red flags disappear.

If the "merit" lists were published and the sponsors of the "merit" picks identified, we might be able to actually see who in the Department AND political realms is most to blame for the endemic corruption throughout. FOIA anyone? Test results for a governmental agency paid for with tax dollars really ought to be public knowledge. The entire Department suffers and so does the public.

Labels:

45 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

C.ops
L.acking
O.ther
U.nique
T.alent

-E. Nigma

10/30/2007 11:58:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Merit? Just exactly what is it? Merit promotions need to at least have some criteria. Arrest activity, uniform is always clean, shoes shined, on time to roll call, keeps squad car cleaned, gassed. Gets W/C and desk crew coffee and lunch everyday?

OK what is it?

Plausible Deniability- thats what the expempts have here. NOBODY will know anything about Jerry's activities other than he got lots of good arrests recovered lots of guns and drugs.

10/31/2007 12:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

how much longer is sos going to be punished for the finnigan crap. o'h wait i forgot after getting rid of everyone and having new people sent in thay went and closed it anyway. the swat and the other still left are no unit 141

10/31/2007 01:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

a FOIA to get the names? Boy you are out in lala land.

10/31/2007 01:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SCC, You have hit everything on the nose as usual. Except this wanting of yours for Corp. Counsel to fight these lawsuits. Why? Until there is actual tort reform in this state, there is no way I would want to be at the mercy of a liberal Illinois jury deciding whether or not there's going to be punitive damages. In instances when the do settle, the city is actually protecting you and your family.

10/31/2007 02:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tobias - he gone.

10/31/2007 03:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Clout has everthing to do with the SOS scandal.

10/31/2007 05:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The fop has who is merit and who is not! Why not publish it? Why are the clout babies afraid theyw ill be exposed for what they are which is non experienced put into places they have no clue how to handle! Lets see how far up the food chain it goes. We have all seen it "He gets a lot of guns,drugs take care of him"! Jerry is just one of many that the bosses gloated over but now they are scared because they may be rightfully indicted and prosecuted soon! Bye to the white shirts,enjoy retirement while you can before "YOUR TRIAL"!

10/31/2007 07:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good morning, Mr. Ratke. May we step inside?

10/31/2007 07:49:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is not even a question of some exempt going yo jail. In any business or organization the manager of the group that is performing badly or done something wrong is held accountable. I hear all kinds of rumors that Tobias put Finigan in for meritorious and moved him with Radke's blessing when things got hot. Doesn't this encourage bad behavior?

I don't want anybody to go to jail except those that are really guilty and I want them to go for a long time. They have hurt the entire department. But Tobias and Gulliford and others should be held accountable. They should be asked to resign or busted down to Lt. Amessgae needs to sent to other exempts that they are NOT exempt from responsibility.

Pallidin

10/31/2007 07:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Except this wanting of yours for Corp. Counsel to fight these lawsuits. Why? Until there is actual tort reform in this state "

TORT REFORM? IS IRRELEVANT TO THESE CASES MORON. THE CITY ACTUARIES SIT DOWN& DETERMINE WHAT THE COSTS ARE TO GO FORWARD. MORE TIMES THAN NOT IT'S MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO SETTLE. TORT REFORM ONLY PROTECTS BIG BUSINESS & SCREW THE REGULAR JOE. APPARENTLY YOU LIKE THAT SORT OF THING?

10/31/2007 08:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

f.b.i. said...
Good morning, Mr. Ratke. May we step inside?

10/31/2007 07:49:00 AM

Sir your not a "target" we just want to talk to you ok? Have fun Radtke! Now you know the "secret"!

10/31/2007 08:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

fbi said:

Good morning, Mr. Ratke. May we step inside?

10/31/2007 07:49:00 AM

If he has any sense, Mr. Radke will say:

Not today. You've come at a bad time. If you'll give me a business card, I'll have someone call you.

10/31/2007 08:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SCC
How much did clout have to do with this entire scandal going on for as long and as badly as it did?

110%,Clout is whats its about.Clout,merit,juice is destroying the city.

10/31/2007 09:54:00 AM  
Blogger Ray said...

Well it didnt take no genious to figure out clout is a big big problem. Denzel Washington put it best as Frank in American Gangster,

"the problem with these special police is, they think they are special."

10/31/2007 10:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good morning, Mr. Ratke. May we step inside?

AM I UNDER ARREST?
NO.
THEN NO BUT IF YOU GIVE ME YOUR CARD MY LAWYER WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU.

10/31/2007 11:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The exempts will never be held accountable. That would make sense in a city that has none.

These appointments for the most part are politically motivated.

The officer is nothing more then the bosses whore. Hook or crook mentality. They want numbers and never question as to how they were obtained.

How do you get all these huge arrests with just a consent to search form ? B.S.

How do you write over 300 DUI'S a year legit?

You don't and they know it, but who cares? Numbers, numbers, numbers.

Whens the last time a boss told his roll call he wanted legit arrests. Even if that means the NUMBERS will go down.

How about all those last minute sweeps to bolster lagging numbers. The D.C. always likes this one. As a matter of fact it's usually pushed by him to keep his numbers up.
God forbid the numbers go down.

What the hell does it even mean for a number to go down.

It's a bone head way of keeping score.

10/31/2007 11:52:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whaaaa Whaaaa!!!! Mommy the police officer next to me got promoted because he has clout. Whaaa Whaaa

10/31/2007 01:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Come up FOP step up and at least take a swing! Or are your merit friends going to be upset?

10/31/2007 01:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's just the worst that Tobias is still in charge of the new recruits!

I was in the first class he was in charge of and it took a really long time to figure out that all that "proactive" police Kool-Aid they made us lap up is just bullshit.

It was a good year until I was "deprogrammed".

I want my event numbers & my portable DVD player!

Burn West Side...burn!

10/31/2007 01:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

TO: The U.S. JUSTICE DEPT.



HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!

10/31/2007 02:19:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So did anyone see a hockey stick?
Bye Bye
U crossed the blue Line
Tobias to the Penalty Box
Bend over Slap Shot!!

10/31/2007 03:23:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SCC, You have hit everything on the nose as usual. Except this wanting of yours for Corp. Counsel to fight these lawsuits. Why? Until there is actual tort reform in this state, there is no way I would want to be at the mercy of a liberal Illinois jury deciding whether or not there's going to be punitive damages. In instances when the do settle, the city is actually protecting you and your family.


You just don't get it. Mayor Daley wants the law suit, as he wants to pay outside Law firms who are connected friends along with mob related firms, He sends them work to pay them back. Hello! one hand washes the other, get a clue

10/31/2007 05:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
SCC, You have hit everything on the nose as usual. Except this wanting of yours for Corp. Counsel to fight these lawsuits. Why? Until there is actual tort reform in this state, there is no way I would want to be at the mercy of a liberal Illinois jury deciding whether or not there's going to be punitive damages. In instances when the do settle, the city is actually protecting you and your family.

10/31/2007 02:58:00 AM
--------------

Tort reform is not needed. All that is needed is to cap the punitive damages. But with 28/50 Aldercreatures demanding the names of the 50+ CR coppers, that will be UNlikely....

10/31/2007 05:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Forget Merit, how about those special study groups.......???

10/31/2007 05:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

10/31/2007 07:56:00 AM

Agreed, 100 percentamundo.

10/31/2007 06:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you guys nuts. Exempt going to jail for putting in Finnigan for meritorious, then at a later date transferring him. I must have missed that part of the state and federal laws. A transfer can get you jail time, you better stop smoking that stuff Theres a big difference between being held accountable by the CPD or the city than going to jail

10/31/2007 07:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Come up FOP step up and at least take a swing! Or are your merit friends going to be upset?

10/31/2007 01:09:00 PM

IDIOT, GO FUCK YOURSELF!! Last time I checked, FOP has a lawsuit in progress alleging that the entire merit promotion sytem is a fraud. That case is pending in State Court and it was featured on FOX 32 when it was filed several months ago. FOP also made FOIA requests regarding promotions months ago and is in the process of gearing up a lawsuit on that issue. You must be one of those cops that runs his/her fucking mouth without ever trying to learn any facts at all. After all, ignorance is bliss. That much you would know. Please quit.

FOP has always, and will always, be against "merit" promotions.

10/31/2007 07:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Leave RATKE alone. He never fucked with anybody and he never heard of Jerry Finnegan before reading about him in the newspaper.

10/31/2007 09:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmmm. You think that maybe another reason for disbanding SOS was to make sure that no one could wear a wire while the gang was all still together?

10/31/2007 09:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is nothing new, during my 27 years I know! the exempts have been taking care of their own, yet fucking with the real police( the lonely blue shirt answering 911 calls.

10/31/2007 11:35:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The officer is nothing more then the bosses whore. Hook or crook mentality. They want numbers and never question as to how they were obtained.


Caption DULAY?

10/31/2007 11:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everyone is way off base with this one...

I don't know anything about Finnegan other than what I have read in the paper and read here on this site.

I am unaware of his connections or clout. What I gather from reading though, is that he was a hard working copper (when he wasn't robbing people) that got a lot of heads and did a lot of police work (when h wasn't stealing.)

And now you're bashing bosses that took care of him and put him in for merit detective? Are you really that hipocritical? Give me a friggin' break.

You bitch and moan because of merit not being used for the "working copper" and yet you say thatall of the bosses that ever tried to take care of him should go to jail or have to get demoted.... Sorry, can't have it both ways. Should his Sgt. and maybe his LT. get the shaft...Yes, probably if they logged him or knew he was doing this shit. Should whatever boss kept his record from turning into a B of I when the complaints kept comming in be demoted...Yes, if there was knowledge.

If they started demoting/transferring/or indicting bosses for taking care of the hard working coppers, then do you ever see any boss STUPID enough to try to take care of his hard workers? NOPE. If you get a CR you're fucked....

Be careful what you wish for...

I know Finnegan is most likely a no good lousy bastard criminal who made all of our jobs harder, but you can't blame the bosses IF they didn't know....

10/31/2007 11:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Forget Merit, how about those special study groups.......???

I agree I'm retired now yet I was in the 14th dist for years and saw first hand the special study groups and watched, as every one of the plain clothes officers along with the inside officers get promoted. Ann Egan was doing the study groups on company time for the special officers. Understand something you officer have about a 25% chance of making it legit on the test. not great numbers.

11/01/2007 12:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know Finnegan is most likely a no good lousy bastard criminal who made all of our jobs harder, but you can't blame the bosses IF they didn't know....


Who the fuck are you kidding? the bosses know and encouraged what they were doing. I been around a long time.

11/01/2007 12:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

God Almighty. Lighten up Francis. "Who put Finnegan in for merit detective". Who cares? Anyone that bitches about Finnegan being put in for merit detective is an imbecile. 1) We can't even get a list of merit promotees, so any rumor that he was even put in is just that, a rumor. 2) He never was promoted to detective. 3) No boss would ever put in a guy they knew was doing illegal stuff on the streets, it's career advancement suicide. 4) Or he was put in and someone realized a guy with that many cr numbers did not deserve the promotion, in which case a boss did the right thing.

11/01/2007 12:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"4) Or he was put in and someone realized a guy with that many cr numbers did not deserve the promotion, in which case a boss did the right thing.

11/01/2007 12:20:00 AM"

OH PLEASE DON'T GIVES BOSSES FOR PRESUMABLY DOING THE RIGHT THING? HOW ABOUT KEVIN MORRISON BEING PROMOTED TO SGT.,ALL THE WHILE HE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PLANTING DOPE IN SOME P.O.'s EX-WIFE CAR.
ONLY UNTIL HE WAS INDICTED DID CLINE TAKE STEPS TO FIRE HIM.
CLOWNS LIKE YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH W/ REALITY. THE SOONER THE BETTER!!

11/01/2007 09:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

NEWSPEAK: Only in Chicago is the definition of the word merit.....SHAME.....This must be the case or why else would the city be so ashamed of whom they have promoted by merit? That can be the only reason that they keep the names secret.

If someone really MERITED a promotion I would think that the city would be proud to point out what an excellent employee that person is. But this is Daley's Chicago.

CHICAGO DICTIONARY: merit=clout.

Daley, how the hell do you sleep at night? You have cheated every honest city employee who ever took a so called promotional test!

You have promoted your useless political hack pals and then even worse, have permitted them to promote their's.

The day that you are indicted there will be loud cheers from every honest city employee!

I'm not a cop nor fireman but I do work for this messed up city. We are all in the same corrupt, leaking boat!

11/01/2007 10:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Has Tobias resigned? or planning to take a long vacation?

11/01/2007 04:28:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"4) Or he was put in and someone realized a guy with that many cr numbers did not deserve the promotion, in which case a boss did the right thing.

11/01/2007 12:20:00 AM"

OH PLEASE DON'T GIVES BOSSES FOR PRESUMABLY DOING THE RIGHT THING? HOW ABOUT KEVIN MORRISON BEING PROMOTED TO SGT.,ALL THE WHILE HE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR PLANTING DOPE IN SOME P.O.'s EX-WIFE CAR.
ONLY UNTIL HE WAS INDICTED DID CLINE TAKE STEPS TO FIRE HIM.
CLOWNS LIKE YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH W/ REALITY. THE SOONER THE BETTER!!

11/01/2007 09:05:00 AM


What is your problem dickhead? Finnegan WAS NOT promoted. Rip a boss all you want. I'm only a blue shirt too, but who exactly are you mad at? I don't even know Finnegan, but I know he never made detective. There are plenty of people who were promoted thru "merit" that did not deserve it. Direct your wrath at them and their sponsors.

11/01/2007 09:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

25% chance of being promoted? When? The previous sgt test (not the list that is up now) went to 320. Approximatley 5500 took the test.That's pretty far from 25%.You land 400 and lose out to clout, I mean merit! Same with current det test.It can be done but they are long looooooooooong odds.I have never tasted it but I am sure I would not like what these merit people put in thier mouths so i will just keep taking the test.

11/01/2007 09:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Forget Merit, how about those special study groups.......???

I agree I'm retired now yet I was in the 14th dist for years and saw first hand the special study groups and watched, as every one of the plain clothes officers along with the inside officers get promoted. Ann Egan was doing the study groups on company time for the special officers. Understand something you officer have about a 25% chance of making it legit on the test. not great numbers.

11/01/2007 12:00:00 AM

I was in 008 when the same 8 guys on the tact team took the sgts exam and shazam they all made it including scotchbreath,mcmahon,kennedy,kniazak,wolak,nick (just retired forgot his last name), also forgot the rest as I am retired after 29!

11/02/2007 08:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I realized that promotional exams were bogus the first time I took the sergeants' exam. During outprocessing we signed our cards in pencil. I thought that was strange ,since the first day in the academy we were told that Chicago Police only use ball point pens in black ink!!! Secondly, our fingerprint impression was not inked onto a card, but a peel and stick label. I got some funny looks when I mentioned at checkout. Only good thing then was the exam was still free.

11/02/2007 06:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was in 008 when the same 8 guys on the tact team took the sgts exam and shazam they all made it including scotchbreath,mcmahon,kennedy,kniazak,wolak,nick (just retired forgot his last name), also forgot the rest as I am retired after 29!

11/02/2007 08:24:00 AM

Nick Ciaglia maybe? Strangely these guys all hung out and got drunk on a daily basis together and thanks to the retire former lt ronnir brannon they all were promoted! How did they do that?

11/03/2007 10:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Of course Radtke knew who Finnigan was. He dove under his desk whispering "I'm not here, I'm at a meeting" to Donna Pac and everyone else in the outer office every time Fin ran down to hdqtrs brandishing his medals,crying to get back in SOS. He got a call into someone OVER Radtke.

11/06/2007 07:32:00 AM  

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