Shortages? What Shortages?
The Chicago Police Department is alarmingly understaffed, according to 20 aldermen who are demanding that the city act now to ramp up recruits and put more cops on the beat.
The department is fully staffed at 13,500 officers, but retirements have left more than 700 spots to be filled. When others factors are added, like disability leave, furlough days and sick leave, there are days when fewer than 11,500 police are actually on on duty.
The short staffing is spread throughout the city's 23 police districts, according to Fraternal Order of Police head Mark Donahue. He said the number of cops on the street drops an additional 10 to 19 percent of when officers are pulled out of a district and assigned to special details like narcotics.
And once again, the media does a poor job explaining that the 11, 500 number (which is badly overstated) is spread over three shifts, so at any given time there are only a few thousand cops on duty. Less if you figure a sizable percentage are working inside.
Someone needs to point out (again) that we haven't had a class in the Academy recently. The 86 or so there at the moment are the first hires in over 2 years. Retirements didn't stop and Daley was holding that salary money for his No-lympic dream. Now this class, along with another scheduled one around 01 May will begin covering the retirement shortfall - from 2008!
Our readers tell us numerous districts are operating at 50% of assigned strength during the midnight shift. This isn't a question of "if something bad happens" anymore - it's a question of "when?"
Labels: department issues
posted by SCC at 12:04 AM
49 Comments:
I think you are looking at about 9,500 9161s. Figure 2/7 RDO ( old system ) and another 4% of those for furlough on any single day. Then add in IOD or Medical and you figure it out.
1,300 9171 / 300 9173 / 75 9175
numbers are ball park.
..."The department is fully staffed at 13,500 officers, but retirements have left more than 700 spots to be filled. When others factors are added, like disability leave, furlough days and sick leave, there are days when fewer than 11,500 police are actually on on duty."...
AAAHHHHHAAAAA, AAAAHHHHHHAAAAA, HHHAAAA....AAAAAAHHHHAAAAAA,
HHHAAAAAAA,
Oh, stop, please... Im laughing so hard, I have tears in my eyes....
"11,500" Now THATS the funniest thing Ive read on this blog since the new moniker "J-Fled"!!!
TRY 9,500! and about to loose 150 more! Wait till the contract gets approved, Daley wants our manpower below 8,500! and thats a "No-Shitter"!
However, for some odd reason, the budget will remain at 13,500....
Things that make you go "Hhhmmmmm"!
Those that are retiring, I wish you all well. You did it. You survived the hell that has become the CPD. Your experience will truly be missed. I wish you all the best. We will try to continue the numerous traditions, but as you have seen, things are becoming just a little bit more difficult with the changing times. That being said, you have served your time and it is time that you enjoy yourselves and put this career behind you. Remember, this is only a job, don't hold on to it, enjoy your life as a civilian and collect some pension checks.
Marky-Mark inadvertently tipped his hand when he referenced "23 districts".
This reeks of what has been rumored for quite some time now: 013 and 021 are going to be shuttered and respective personnel combined with adjoining re-districted districts.
Hey useless Donahue! Now how about some incriminating Freudian slips that would jam-up Daley, some aldercreatures and quite possibly you and a couple other useless FLOP hacks.
P.S. - Mike Shields comin' for dat azz!!!
Unbelievable; Beale was on television talking about how Walmart was good for his community and oh my god.... This man could not complete one grammatically correct sentence if his life depended on it. Daley may be trying to get back at us but putting this moron in the spot light is going to backfire. If this man is educated as the mayor claims, then shut down the Chicago Public School system right now, it's a complete failure. Let the good Citizens of Chicago see what complete idiots are running this city.
REMINDER---BATTLE OF THE BADGES-CPD vs CFD BOXING IS TONIGHT FRI 16APR AT DE LASALLE H.S. 3455 S. WABASH. DOORS OPEN AT 6P--PARK DISTRICT BOXING 7P--POLICE V FIRE 8P. $20.00
OT--
Does anyone know if the unwelcome oxygen thieves moved in on Spaulding? I haven't been on here and didn't know the 15th was s'posed to be the day until now. Just wanted to know if I need to go on foot patrol, can someone in the know please advise?
I'm taking a couple off for the weekend and would be glad to make some presence known.
if or when?? no, it already has. p.o. francis was 99 because they didnt have enough officers for the watch.
"Shortages? What Shortages?"
Earlier tonight I attended a dinner of a law enforcement fraternal organization that has a rather eclectic membership. The members include Chicago Police officers like myself, attorneys in private practice and working for government agencies, private investigators, high-line security executives and agents of organizations like the FBI, the Secret Service. It was at a good restaurant with a fair serving of food, but with a cash bar as always so it is a fairly sober group.
In pre-dinner conversation I talked with an interesting lady who had organized study groups for the Chicago Crime Commission. With these groups she took reporters, students, professors and others uninitiated citizens on tours of the Westside of Chicago. The tour guides were “former gang members” who had reformed and were successful business people. Going through the streets the citizens were asked what did you see, and they replied a man with a brown bag lunch or somebody waiting with a coffee cup. They were let in on the realities of the drug trade and the mean streets. If you can, pick up one of Chicago Crime Commission’s Gang Intelligence books it will make for fascinating reading.
When these tours guides were asked what made for successful drug trade, they always said, “There ain’t enough police and the people are afraid of the drug dealers.” They went on to say that the police were overworked and tired and can’t protect the people who are afraid of them. They know when the police changed shifts, they knew which cars in had aggressive officers, which cars had women officers, which cars had “butch officers”. They know how to draw police away from their spots and make life difficult with bogus beefs and calls. The gangbangers and drug dealers know we are short manpower where J-Fled, Shortshanks and the Alderthieves don’t.
Our dinner conversation with my friend consisted of her new projects, which were the threat of Asian carp, McDonalds and childhood obesity. I told her the solution was simple, have McDonalds feed the obese children the Asian carp.
The guest speaker was the Solicitor General of Illinois, we expected a gray haired old barrister but this was a surprisingly young attorney. He looked like he might be a cousin of Lisa Madigan. He spoke of what his office does in criminal and civil appeals cases and of some subjects that are familiar to all of us, like Gant vs. Arizona and some of the cases in search and seizure that led up to that. In about five or six minutes he did what the Academy instructors took a whole tour of duty to do.
Our guest also related that he expects the U.S. Supreme Court will do in the case of (Otis) McDonald vs. Chicago, the gun ban case. He fully expects that the same 5-4 majority that overturned the District of Columbia ban will do the same to the Chicago ban. How narrow the ruling will be is uncertain but the keeping of a firearm in one’s home will be almost certainly upheld as a right guaranteed by the Constitution. What the city will probably start doing is trying to stringently regulate everything around that. But he was certain that Shorty’s handgun ban will fall.
After dinner I had chance to converse with a few former FBI Agents. I asked them if any of them knew Jody Weis and if they would please take him back. Unlike what I wrote above which was either published or publicly spoken, being a gentleman I will repeat the words of other gentlemen. Suffice it to say it they did know and work with him and he was our problem now.
Tonight at the CAPS meeting for 2211, Ginger Rugai and pals try to tip toe around this very question being asked.
Why are 10 sector cars ALWAYS in the 30 sector in 022?
"Well, I've made a commitment to install cameras at our neighborhood parks."
Don't worry folks. If you're unarmed and can't defend yourself against a violent crime in west 022, at least Ginger will have it on tape.
why didn't they ask these guys a few years ago?
After dinner I had chance to converse with a few former FBI Agents. I asked them if any of them knew Jody Weis and if they would please take him back. Unlike what I wrote above which was either published or publicly spoken, being a gentleman I will repeat the words of other gentlemen. Suffice it to say it they did know and work with him and he was our problem now.
LOTS OF SHOOTINGS YESTERDAY...
Here's one shortage that'd be helpful !
Hey J-Fled, Keep on running and don't stop ! ! !
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/
iuXfKc8j4OLdREQY
.
midnights everywhere are many 99 units
Isn't it important to know which of the 20 Alderfuxxs are acknowledging the problem?
IT’s TIME;
Time for the rank and file to take their case directly to the people. The Supt is at the mercy of City Hall. The 50 aldermen bend to the wishes of the Mayor. They are not even remotely concerned with the votes of 8000 police officers.
What aldermen do fear is not being re-elected. The FOP and PBPA have fallen dreadfully short on representing the welfare of the men and women of this department to the alderman and people of the city. What is good for us is good for the city; I’m talking about #’s of PO’s.
The biggest taboo has always been for sworn officers of any rank to tell citizens “The city council will not hire additional police officers….that is why the police service in Chicago has dropped to such an unacceptable level."
That time has come for us to speak the truth. Why should we be banded from expressing the facts. The city council…your alderman refuses to override the mayor and hire needed police officers. Re-elections are on the horizon, and slime bag politicians will all want pictures with men in blue and white shirts…… NO.
At beat meetings, calls and traffic stops when citizens beg for more protection from gangs and dope dealers ( which happens EVERY day) …. Lets tell them the truth… how many working on that shift today? 30 ? 40? ….how many were working 10 years ago on that same shift in that same district..???? And crime has gone through the roof since then.
We need the public to see our plight…. FOP/PBPA, get outa bed with city hall and grow some balls. Officers unite …. We have to live here too; we have the same right to police service and protection as any other citizen.
025 1st watch like most other districts on 1st watch is really short. It also doesn't help that certain P.O.'s who were assigned to the dreaded 1st watch (like P.O. E.H. who is now on 3rd watch) can basically get shifted from 1st watch to 3rd watch.
We usually have 5 to 9 cars that work alone. Our wagon also is assigned as a beat car (usually 2525R or 2531R).
025 the number One District for service calls has 3-4 cars down on 1st Watch and the ones are up are 99!!! Unbelievable!!! Where's Commander Velez at?
The Superintendent addressed this problem in the Exempt meeting yesterday. In a nutshell, he said no new hires. This is the number of P.O.s from now on.
Mr. Superintendent, I realize you get your orders from City Hall. Since we are so dangerously short, and this has already cost the lives of Officer Francis and Sgt. Haymaker (rushing to a job to help a 99 Unit), I will offer you some suggestions.
Stop making the District personnel pull up numbers you already have for your meetings. The meetings are waisting the Officers time and aren't accomplishing anything. All the information is in the computer. Your downtown staff has those numbers. Give them to the Commanders one week and have them come down the next week with their managers and answer your questions. End the dog and pony show. Humiliating your staff is counterproductive.
Trim narcotics and get rid of prostitution. Put the Officers back on the Beats. A visible Officer on the Beat helps deter crime and knows more about the crime conditions than any Boss. If you spent any time in a squad car you would find that as obvious as we all do.
We know we cannot get more help soon even if you started hiring today. Use the Officers we have and try not to get any more of us killed.
Don't forget that 20 of the current recruits are for the cta police.... Whatever the he'll that is??????
Anonymous said...
Tonight at the CAPS meeting for 2211, Ginger Rugai and pals try to tip toe around this very question being asked.
Why are 10 sector cars ALWAYS in the 30 sector in 022?
"Well, I've made a commitment to install cameras at our neighborhood parks."
Don't worry folks. If you're unarmed and can't defend yourself against a violent crime in west 022, at least Ginger will have it on tape.
4/16/2010 03:04:00 AM
Ginger needs to go!!!!!!!! She's in Daley's pocket!!!! She needs to put up and shut up already cause all she does is talk.
OT
What's up with Anita Alvarez saying the police attacked a compling subject? He didn't comply! He didn't pull over! They both exited their vehicles and than approached the 99 officer. After the passenger was secured the driver started to comply but would not going all the way lying on the ground as I was trained to do to cuff a subject. He went in all fours and tensed up. He then repeatedly tried getting back up raising his hands at the officer. It looks kinda bad to an untrained officer, but it's not! That's what the asp is for!!!! By law we don't have to fight fair we fight to win. There was also another subject that exited the house and who knows what he was saying? Anita Alvarez is supposed to be the top law enforcement officer invthe county, I think that pretty much spells out what the f$&@ is wrong with this county/society.
Police don't be the police!!!! You will end up publicy lynched by these bleeding liberals. Let those mo fo's all get killed off! Do the paper and go home!!!!!!
Sorry for any typos.
I was on Zone 7 the other night. A supervisor got on the air and related to the dispatcher that all the "robert" cars were going to be "99" all night. "99" cars all night in 003. That is absolutely unacceptable, and more importantly, DANGEROUS. If you are on third or first watch, you can not, by contract, be forced to work "99". If you volunteer to do so, so be it, but use common sense. Do not respond alone to anything other than traffic or missings. All other jobs, wait for backup. Absolutely, positively do not foot chase when you are "99". Period. Don't do it. There will be other days and other ways. Your safety is paramount, nothing else is more important during your shift than your safety. Use your head and stay safe.
I wonder is Ginger on any tape?
It's time to begin considering the reinstatement of retired P.O.'s. Was that not done in the eighties when lieutenants and career service rank captains were recalled from retirement? Comments please from any of those lieutenants or captains who were reinstated. I am currently retired and I wish to tell you that I don't miss the circus, but I sure do miss the clowns! I'm ready to put the costume on again!!
6 dead, at least 11 wounded in night of shootings ----------Hmmm could shortages be part of the reason? I'm wondering that with all these specialized teams (MSF TRU Saturation Gang Gun)this shit is still going on?(Sarcasm)
Our leaders have no clue! Back to basics... man the beat cars.
Tonight at the CAPS meeting for 2211, Ginger Rugai and pals try to tip toe around this very question being asked.
Why are 10 sector cars ALWAYS in the 30 sector in 022?
--Someone in your community needs to do footwork. Get a petition going stating the people in the 10 sector DEMAND that their area remain protected !!! Worked for the 008th district Beats 811 & 812 can only be assigned jobs on their beat and must stay on their beat.
Stop whining and start doing something about it. Go stand by the store, go stand by the churches... whatever it takes. Pay some teenager a few bucks to go door to door.
Numbers are more like 7-8K
recruit class 10-01 started today, 16 APR 10. 50 or so.
Why doesn't the FOP show how many police officers we really have and then show how many are actually working the streets. Why does the media always show that we are only 500 to 700 short? We are more like 4000 short and I bet only about 4000 total are working the streets! Inside jobs, special units, and light duty positions have more officers than the districts!
It is going to get to the point to where this city will be in total chaos and the only option shortshanks will have is to phone Washington and request help. Then and only then will peace be restored by nothing short of Martial Law. Shortshanks.....you should be embarrased to look yourself in the mirror and call yourself the mayor of what once WAS a great city.
OT ~
RIP Daryl Gates
Daryl Gates, Former LAPD Chief, Dies
LOS ANGELES – Daryl F. Gates, the polarizing former police chief whose 14-year tenure ended amid widespread criticism over his department's response to the city's deadly 1992 riots, died Friday after a short bout with cancer. He was 83.
OT: File this under 'It's better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission'.
Oops, he did it again. AGAIN.
From the Trib - "An activist Catholic priest in Chicago who made headlines when he mocked Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign is apologizing for a sermon in which he said priests should be allowed to marry and women should be allowed to become priests.
In a statement posted in the Archdiocese of Chicago's Web site, the Rev. Michael Pfleger says that he was expressing his personal opinion but that he respects and follows the church's teachings."
Um, yeah, right.
Shortages? I left the CPD for another job somewhere and there tell me I can't return anytime soon. Was told to take the next test and to bad. What a great city.
"If you are on third or first watch, you can not, by contract, be forced to work "99". If you volunteer to do so, so be it,"
**
WRONG. There is nothing in the contract that says this. It's a myth, kinda like Bigfoot.
Nearly thirty years ago, there was a letter of agreement from the City that said this, but it's been a long time since it was in effect.
Not saying it's right or moral, but there's no guarantee of working 10-4.
recruit class 10-01 started today, 16 APR 10. 50 or so.
4/16/2010 09:47:00 AM
**
Ten one. How appropriate.
According to the City, the following census of officers exists at Grade 1 as of January 1,
2010 (City Exh. 67; Tr. 269):
Grade D-1 Number of Officers
Step 1 255
Step 2 157
Step 3 604
Step 4 595
Step 5 449
Step 6 2,782
Step 7 2,472
Step 8 1,352
Step 9 775
Step 10 323
THIS TOTALS: 9,764 officers. This is from the arbitrators ruling of the number the city gave. (Page 50)
Top cop: City's spate of violence 'unacceptable'
April 16, 2010 3:23 PM
Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis this afternoon called the shootings that tore across the city's South, Southwest and West Sides Thursday night and Friday morning "unacceptable," saying the department would step up efforts to curb street violence.
Weis spoke on the afternoon following a particularly bloody night in the city in which at least seven people were killed and another 18 were wounded.
"Last night was not a good night," the superintendent said at a news conference. "We do not believe that violence has to become a norm in any part of Chicago. ... We are not Chi-raq, we are Chicago."
***Keep Dreaming Stupid***Better Yet, Go HIDE!***
Weis also urged citizens to report information to police regarding violence in their neighborhoods, and reject the "code of silence" that he said only holds back investigations and empowers perpetrators.
***Short staffed in the D-Unit***
No one was in custody for any shootings. The shooting victims were mostly males in the teens and 20s. Most of the incidents involved purported gang members.
***Not with being short and getting a 2% raise***
Weis said patrol officers would target cars with expired temporary plates or which have tinted windows. He also promised to impound vehicles that violated the city's noise ordinance.
***I hope they choose not to bust ass out there***
He also noted that the department's gang units would target specific hot spots in the South, Southwest and West Sides and would break up large parties or loud gatherings.
***The house mice and bosses that don't have a clue of course***
Police will analyze crime statistics in shorter cycles in order to spot possible flare-ups before they happen and be more responsive to violence on the streets. Officers with the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) are also passing out information in the areas of the most recent shootings.
...hemorrhoid said...
It's time to begin considering the reinstatement of retired P.O.'s. Was that not done in the eighties when lieutenants and career service rank captains were recalled from retirement? Comments please from any of those lieutenants or captains who were reinstated. I am currently retired and I wish to tell you that I don't miss the circus, but I sure do miss the clowns! I'm ready to put the costume on again!!
4/16/2010 09:13:00 AM...
This sort of thing is done in Canada, many inside sport are taken by part-time "Commissioneers". This few days a week gig would be a good way to ease into retirement. It would also be better than hiring CETA workers, if anyone is around who remember them.
Excuse me, typo...
"being a gentleman I will repeat the words of other gentlemen. "
Should read...
...being a gentleman I will not repeat the words of other gentlemen.
Shortage...yea, our raise was short.
--Someone in your community needs to do footwork. Get a petition going stating the people in the 10 sector DEMAND that their area remain protected !!! Worked for the 008th district Beats 811 & 812 can only be assigned jobs on their beat and must stay on their beat.
Stop whining and start doing something about it. Go stand by the store, go stand by the churches... whatever it takes. Pay some teenager a few bucks to go door to door.
-------
We asked that question at the meeting, and they won't even acknowledge that as being an issue. They swear up and down that 2211 has two beat cars that NEVER leave the beat. It doesn't matter what the community does as long as ginger and bosses in 022 fail to admit that this is happening.
Where was 2211 and 2211A when 3 m/1's tried to strong arm rob a 12 year old boy at the park(kid ran into his house and locked the door)? Where were they when the three m/1's jumped into their car and found another kid a few blocks away that they DID manage to assault and rob? Drive around the neighborhood and you'll be lucky to find a beat car actually patrolling.
Ginger also SWEARS up and down that there is a car assigned specifically to Mt. Greenwood park...Maybe this guy was on lunch during the first attempted robbery?
It's funny...She tells us all about these wonderful cameras she's putting everywhere...And the big, awesome radio tower she's putting up at St. Xavier so that these cameras will work. But the city can't afford to hire actual police?
Thanks liberal voters.
42-shortage!
" When these tours guides were asked what made for successful drug trade, they always said, “There ain’t enough police and the people are afraid of the drug dealers.” They went on to say that the police were overworked and tired and can’t protect the people who are afraid of them. "
I wonder what those Tour Guides will say now after that slap in the face raise. I suppose by tired the meant not only physically exhausted by these nine hours shifts but also heavily demoralized.
I am long sick and tire of Daley and his cronies Weis and Donahue.
just for kicks.....someone should pull the watch sheets for 3rd and 1st watch, for all 25 districts, for a few days in a row; then count then bodies on the street (i.e., in cars), not on the desk, lockup, etc.
Do an average.....obviously, this doesn't count TRU, etc., but it does account for live bodies answering calls.....I think the public would really be surprised....
It's time to begin considering the reinstatement of retired P.O.'s. Was that not done in the eighties when lieutenants and career service rank captains were recalled from retirement? Comments please from any of those lieutenants or captains who were reinstated. I am currently retired and I wish to tell you that I don't miss the circus, but I sure do miss the clowns! I'm ready to put the costume on again!!
Live your life , whats left of it and if your dementia persists....hopefully this was just a one time episode.
don't blame Ginger , she's repeating what the CPD tells her.
every time bt 2211 and 2211a is assigned out of sector document it and notify alderman rugai's office
she wants to know , it's only a phone call
To Anonymous who responded to my request about retired P.O. rehiring: Thank you! And yes I do remember the Civilian Education and Training Act (CETA).
It abolished the police cadet program which I'm happy to see has been reinstated!
This to the retired p.o who was retired by the city after 43 years,Sir, thank you for your service and enjoy your RETIREMENT! Leave the desk spots to the old veterans who after this contract will have to work 40 years!
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