Friday, August 20, 2010

Shots Fired at CFD

The recent Supreme Court ruling on being able to keep guns in your home was a correct and proper decision. That being said, an incident like this ought to have the CFD brass rethinking policies and responses to calls:
  • An elderly man who apparently thought someone was breaking into his home fired two shots at Chicago Fire department personnel who were checking on his well being early Wednesday in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the South Side.

    The incident occurred at 12:45 a.m. at 6335 S. Rhodes where the fire personnel had gone because a medical emergency bracelet or necklace had activated, prompting the well-being check, according to a Grand Crossing District police Capt. Alberta Raymond.

    No one answered the door, so the crews had taken out a wall air conditioning unit to gain entry to the home when the 93-year-old man inside fired two shots at a firefighter, the captain said.

No doubt Shortshanks will attempt to use this as more "proof" guns shouldn't be in homes. Where's the family that should have been looking out for this guy? In any event, CFD might want to reevaluate their responses to "Check the Well Being." Hell, we might want to reevaluate our responses, too.
  • Phone, either via the medical bracelet alert people or our own senior citizen services. Burglar alarm companies have many points of contact for clients and still, we'd estimate 35% or more of the time, we get the "no keyholder available" over the air...fix this;
  • Infrared cameras to see if there's somebody home. CFD uses similar technology to scan for victims in fires, adapt it for "well being" checks;
  • Robots or some sort of micro camera that can be introduced into the house to scan for occupants;
  • Hijack phone and cable lines going into the home. If the TV is too loud or the phone is off the hook, it's hard to get someone's attention inside;
  • Relatives or neighbors with a spare set of keys and phone numbers for other responsible parties - oh wait, that would make sense.
"Fire Refused" is going to become an even more common occurrence for "well-being" checks if the Fire Department is going to get shot at. We wouldn't blame them in the least and we would insist on it becoming policy as soon as possible.

CFD was lucky this time. Luck is a fickle thing.

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28 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Felt sorry for itchy trigger finger old man. At that age, how could he not be confused and frightened? Bet guy who has lived as long as this one was well aware of real spike in Chicago crime rate vs. what media reports. Thank God firefighters were not hurt. And from what I recall, CFD understood his fear, did not press charges.

8/20/2010 12:15:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When has CFD been in the business of well being checks?
Oh that's right 95% of their runs are Ambulance assist calls so they have to find new & exciting ways to justify their existence. Hell if somebody was pulling my air conditoner out of the wall in Edgebrook, I'd probably send
some lead down range as well!

8/20/2010 01:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just let people die peacefully in their homes. Got that well-being check? Let your nose be the guide. If it doesn't smell (and if you've ever smelled a stinker you never forget it), then it's all right. 19P squad.

8/20/2010 02:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wait for the call of a foul smell coming from the residence. It is usually safe to go in then, don't forget to bring the Vicks.

8/20/2010 04:52:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This definitely sounds like a job for caps. Have contact lists like we did in the old days on index cards behind the desk. Real simple. Now make me a commander.

8/20/2010 06:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When you are 90 years old and living in the ghetto...You have a revolver ! Otherwise you dont make it to see 90 yrs of age. CFD needs to stay outside and use floodlights and bullhorns I guess.

8/20/2010 07:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

da mare is always spouting off about being responsible citizens and checking on ones elderly family and neighbors.
If family, and neighbors don't care then fuckem.

How many times have we gotten the check the well being call and have grandma call her daughter to find out that grandma had no phone and the daughter was to lazy to go to grandma.

Wait for the smell.

8/20/2010 07:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I gotta agree with 1:42am. There was no other way to check on this guy other than to pull the AC unit out of a window? Wow. Glad that the CFD guys are ok.

8/20/2010 07:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fires are down, so they need another source to fill their boots.

8/20/2010 07:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wait for the call of a foul smell coming from the residence. It is usually safe to go in then, don't forget to bring the Vicks.

8/20/2010 04:52:00 AM


Vicks? You kids and your new fangled things.

8/20/2010 08:32:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A CFD medic was "belly shot" about 25 years ago in the Marquette Park neighborhood. The medic, fortunately, did recover and retired with "time & age". He knocked on the door and Ludvig shot through door at the imagined intruder. It never has been safe out there & it is getting worse.

8/20/2010 09:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When has CFD been in the business of well being checks?
Oh that's right 95% of their runs are Ambulance assist calls so they have to find new & exciting ways to justify their existence. Hell if somebody was pulling my air conditoner out of the wall in Edgebrook, I'd probably send
some lead down range as well

-------------------------------
Since 95% of the CFD calls in Edgebrook are EMS related, then the entire city must be the same way, right? The last day I worked I had 2 fires and 16 runs on the west side. I'm pretty sure we justified our existence that day. CFD has been doing well being checks for at least 15 years since I've been on the job. You must not be CPD because they respond every time after we force entry into the building after a well being check. Go hate firemen somewhere else.

8/20/2010 10:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"When has CFD been in the business of well being checks?
Oh that's right 95% of their runs are Ambulance assist calls so they have to find new & exciting ways to justify their existence. Hell if somebody was pulling my air conditoner out of the wall in Edgebrook, I'd probably send
some lead down range as well!

8/20/2010 01:42:00 AM"



so, what new and exciting ways have you come up with, to justify your existence?

besides keeping the donkey porn sites solvent?

8/20/2010 11:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you kick an officer in McHenry County, you get a penalty.

A Palatine man who claims he was suffering an epileptic seizure two years ago when he kicked a police officer nonetheless pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced charge, telling a judge he "wants to get this thing over with."

... was sentenced to one year of nonreporting probation and fined $250 after admitting to a misdemeanor charge of battery as part of a plea deal.

The sentence also includes a 120-day jail term...already served... after his July 15, 2008, arrest.

From the Daily Herald
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=401735&src=83

8/20/2010 11:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I thought it was standered procedure on cirten call for CFD to wait for police back-up or dose that only apply to GSW's and stabbings?

8/20/2010 11:33:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CFD we have your backs we are all in the same game, working for a thankless city leader,and just heard daley wants you guys to give up 1 man or more per truck in order to get 55 and mediacl in your contract! WE NEED TO MARCH TOGETHER WE NEED TO UNIFY WE ARE IN THIS SHIT TOGETHER,AS DALEY AND HIS CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE STEAL EVERYTHING INCLUDING OUR PENSION MONIES!

8/20/2010 11:34:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whoever called for "check the well-being" should get off their ass and check themselves. No doubt a relative who lives in the burbs.

8/20/2010 11:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

just wait to the smell, then go in, screw it, no one cares bout you so why care bout them. Where the hell is this old mans family? CFD or CPD is not his family, he had a a/c unit and his mail was being picked up, therefore, he is ok. WAKE UP YOU IDIOTS!

8/20/2010 11:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's a good thing he didn't use a registered shotgun, which have always been legal to own in Chicago.

8/20/2010 11:46:00 AM  
Anonymous We Need The Fire Option said...

Can we have the fire option?

"Beat ____, respond to a domestic disturbance at _____________ regarding junior not wanting to listen to his mama/auntie/etc."

'Squad, I'd like to take the fire option and not ride at this time.'

Reduction in what? 30% of calls?

8/20/2010 11:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad no one was hurt. Feel kind of sorry for the old guy. I would guess he really got frightened by the whole situation. As someone else pointed out it would be nice if some caring neighbor had keys to the place for emergency situations.

8/20/2010 12:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like more calls fire will refuse to go to. I just love it. Why can't we refuse to go to bogus men with gun calls or calls which are civil (landlord tenant, car dealer/costumer calls) in nature?

8/20/2010 12:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just let people die peacefully in their homes. Got that well-being check? Let your nose be the guide. If it doesn't smell (and if you've ever smelled a stinker you never forget it), then it's all right. 19P squad.

What a moron! How many elderly people fall and break a hip, have a mild stroke, or worse and lay there dying a slow death in the 90 degree heat. Whoever wrote the above drivel must be from "ppo ville", well being checks are an essential first responder's duties. You are in the wrong business, got to be a hair gel from the me me me generation. They fuck things up all the time because they are forever looking for the elusive "big pinch".GFY kid.

8/20/2010 01:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If the old guy had one of those life alert bracelets, why wasn't there a lock box with a key to the residence somewhere?(the same one on businesses so fire fighters can get in without kicking the door down when an alarm goes off).

I've seen quite a few boxes on elderly people's homes with the life alert bracelet...This guy should have had one too. At least that way they can get in and identify themselves before he shoots.

8/20/2010 05:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Burglar alarm companies have many points of contact for clients and still, we'd estimate 35% or more of the time, we get the "no keyholder available" over the air...fix this;"

In all fairness, many of these alarm companies DON'T CALL THE KEYHOLDER unless there's actually been a burglary. They don't want to alert their customers to the fact that their equipment is so faulty.

A few years ago, we would get a false alarm on one of the businesses on my beat every night.

I was woring midnights, but on the way home from court I stopped in the business and asked the owner if he knew his alarm went off all the time.

He told me that he was unaware of this and asked me what he could do.

I asked him to call the alarm company and ask them why the alarm goes off every night.

Apparently he did. No more false alarms.

This was before the alarm ordinance. Hence the increase in "panic alarms" vs. "burglar alarm" calls...

Another business that I contacted under similar circumstances, told me that he doesn't even have alarm service. Maybe they were "fishing" for his business. He contacted the alarm company and that nuisance stopped, too.

8/21/2010 09:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry Tricky Dick Daley, having a gun in your home is a good idea!

See "A homeowner who happens to be a Chicago Police Officer defends himself"

Hopefully your roadblocks to the rest of the citizenry being able to defnd themselves will soon be gone.

The odds of shooting an offender are much higher than those of shooting a first responder.

8/21/2010 10:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a moron! How many elderly people fall and break a hip, have a mild stroke, or worse and lay there dying a slow death in the 90 degree heat. Whoever wrote the above drivel must be from "ppo ville", well being checks are an essential first responder's duties. You are in the wrong business, got to be a hair gel from the me me me generation. They fuck things up all the time because they are forever looking for the elusive "big pinch".GFY kid.

SHUT THE FUCK UP U DUMB PIECE OF SHIT

8/21/2010 10:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Hurls4730 said...

Taking out the AC was the easiest, least destructive way in. I know this because I was the guy going thru the window. I was never given the option of pressing charges (I wouldn't have, but a call from the ASA would have been nice.) Just wish ADT and the rest of these alarm companies would supply some kind of siren or strobe with these buttons so the people using them would know when thry've been tripped. Thanks to all the Grand Crossing folks who showed up that night. Those soiled underwear jokes never get old.

8/24/2010 12:08:00 PM  

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