Thursday, October 14, 2010

Town Hall Closing

  • The cramped, creaking Town Hall police station in Lake View is itself like an old, battered cop who, despite being years past his prime, can't bring himself to retire.

    And like that grizzled veteran, if it could, the building at Halsted and Addison streets in Lakeview would tell stories about its glory days.

    Ever hear about the time in 1969 when some nut set off a bomb just outside the station? Or when those crooks running booze for "Bugs" Moran during Prohibition marched toward lockup with bracelets on their wrists and egg on their face? What about the time some professor came into the station, claiming somebody stole his rooster?

    They don't make them like this building anymore, still standing after 15 Chicago mayors and 26 top cops. And now, the department's oldest still-operating police station finally has to go.

So which building is the oldest now? 013? 012?

Labels:

33 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't know about 012 or 013, but 021 opened around 1952 and is still home to the Fightin' Prairie Dogs. God Bless P.O. Camp.

10/14/2010 01:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here is a great story about 023 from the 1962 "Chicago Police Newsletter" magazine which preceded the Chicago Police Star Magazine ... great history!!!:


http://chicagocop.lapa1961.com/resources/publications/chicago_police_newsletter/Chicago%20Police%20Newsletter%20-%201962,%20Volume%203,%20No.%206.pdf

10/14/2010 01:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why does Lt Stasch always trying to get his name in the paper any way possible?

10/14/2010 07:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

on over 20 yrs. now. Yes I'm a wheelgunner. Was thinking last night as I patrolled on mids, the people I've seen come and go on this job. Some of em good, some eh....the job just isn't the same.
So much turmoil, lack of leadership,...not sure how I'll do another 5yrs of this nonsense. Does anyone feel the same? Remember when you polished your shoes and equipment? Remember when supervisors checked? God..we had such legends on this job...Remember guys like Snethen, Burger, Tremaine, Tero,Roberts..I just don't see that now. Sorry for venting..stay safe my friends.

10/14/2010 07:19:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yesterday afternoon there had to be a record number of retired and working cops from Town Hall that showed up for the group photo. I have never seen a group assemble like these men and women did!!! The gathering at Harry Carays was wall to wall and everyone had a great time. The old Town Hall will live on in CPD history.

10/14/2010 07:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1962 23rd district line - up

The district's present roster of men
consists of one District Commander, 2
captains, 5 lieutenants, 29 sergeants
and 283 patrolmen, with a complement
of 34 cars and 4 3-wheelers for pa­
trolling. Five civilians work in the station,
and there are 80 crossing guards.


2010 023rd district line- up

? ?

muller, muller, muller ?

10/14/2010 08:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here is a great story from 023:

Tact officers make a glorious arrest for .5 grams of weed but miss the 30g in his sock...good times...good times...

10/14/2010 10:33:00 AM  
Anonymous hippy-dippy-1 said...

I don't go back quite this far, but almost. I do remember when the Star Magazine was something worth reading. For a house publication, it was very good.

10/14/2010 10:40:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe that the building was the oldest functioning police facility nation wide.

10/14/2010 11:17:00 AM  
Anonymous GREAT CPD HISTORY said...

Here is a great story about 023 from the 1962 "Chicago Police Newsletter" magazine which preceded the Chicago Police Star Magazine ...
great history!!!

Go to:

chicagocop.lapa1961.com

THEN, click on HISTORY

THEN, click on DOCUMENTS ARCHIVE

Go to: CHICAGO POLICE NEWSLETTER

The year: 1962 then click on No. 6


Those Chicago Police Newsletters and early Chicago Police Star Magazine are great to look at ! ! !

THANKS TO ChicagoCop.Com ! ! !

10/14/2010 12:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who cares? Aren't these four Districts all stations that could close and no one would miss them? They would be better used as meter maid sub stations.... At least some activity would be coming out of them...... 021:Fightin' Prarie Dogs? Thats an attempt at a funny right? They (012,013,021,023) are all known as quiet retirement spots. A place to hide with minimum work....

10/14/2010 12:22:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, next time the Tactical Warrior JS decides to punch a fellow copper (AB) in the back of the head while AB sits typing a case report it will all be on video. Once again JS shows his true colors of being a total coward.

10/14/2010 02:17:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A great afternoon seeing old friends, recalling stories that get better and better each time they're told. Tac in 023 in the eighties was the best place to be. A big thanks to Lane, Barnes and McDonald for their courage and leadership.

10/14/2010 02:41:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BT# 2352 Sorry I missed Check off (been years) & the move. Great Cops , good times and if the walls could talk. Sad to she her go. A bit of Chicago history! Stay Safe- The Pentagon Coffee Maker DMcG

10/14/2010 02:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not a cop.

What are they doing with the building? Do we have a Chicago Police History Museum?

I realize these aren't exactly the most 'liquid' times, but it takes surprisingly little to set up a museum and I would bet, with some retired guys volunteering to help staff it, the entire operation would be cash-flow positive.

Perhaps the police union can look into this as a potential investment to generate pension returns? Kinda sad to think that Chicagos oldest police station might get razed, or turned into another dumb Starbucks.

10/14/2010 03:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would say 012 is the oldest!

At the very least it is the shittiest Police Station!

What a DUMP!

10/14/2010 03:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

on over 20 yrs. now. Yes I'm a wheelgunner. Was thinking last night as I patrolled on mids, the people I've seen come and go on this job. Some of em good, some eh....the job just isn't the same.
So much turmoil, lack of leadership,...not sure how I'll do another 5yrs of this nonsense. Does anyone feel the same? Remember when you polished your shoes and equipment? Remember when supervisors checked? God..we had such legends on this job...Remember guys like Snethen, Burger, Tremaine, Tero,Roberts..I just don't see that now. Sorry for venting..stay safe my friends.

10/14/2010 07:19:00 AM

Hang in there buddy. Most of us appreciate you more than you know.

10/14/2010 05:49:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Well, next time the Tactical Warrior JS decides to punch a fellow copper (AB) in the back of the head while AB sits typing a case report it will all be on video. Once again JS shows his true colors of being a total coward.

10/14/2010 02:17:00 PM

Did this happen in 023? Anyone know? There are guys with thoes initials there.

10/14/2010 06:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know somebody is going to buy it and turn it into a bar.

Probably come up with something really creative for the name, like...The Precinct. lol

10/14/2010 07:18:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Wow, I had Tremaine and Tero as instructors in the metro class in 1989. They were great guys and knew their shit.

10/14/2010 08:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

on over 20 yrs. now. Yes I'm a wheelgunner. Was thinking last night as I patrolled on mids, the people I've seen come and go on this job. Some of em good, some eh....the job just isn't the same.
So much turmoil, lack of leadership,...not sure how I'll do another 5yrs of this nonsense. Does anyone feel the same? Remember when you polished your shoes and equipment? Remember when supervisors checked? God..we had such legends on this job...Remember guys like Snethen, Burger, Tremaine, Tero,Roberts..I just don't see that now. Sorry for venting..stay safe my friends.

10/14/2010 07:19:00 AM


I am with you, the esprit de corps that made me proud to see and be a part of is gone now. The bosses who I would follow through the gates of hell if they asked are for sure all gone.

There is not one boss I would go through a door for in my district. Forget, about with; I can't imagine any of them going in first.

I recall being called in to assist in a search warrant and a damn Captain was doing the kicking! That was a thing of beauty. My fellow officers were proud to put bad people in prison. That was the badge of honor, how many you sent away.

2 years 6 months left, then my body is gone from here. My soul and spirit are already gone.

And weis? I won't spend any time lambasting that hunk of shit, it isn't worth it. He is worthless, we all know that.

God be with us all. I fear it will get worse before it gets better.

10/14/2010 09:59:00 PM  
Anonymous The Box Chevy Phantom said...

012, 013 or 021?

012 should be superfund eligible...

That place is a known and notorious cancer cluster that should be incinerated brick by brick.

How many coppers who have worked at that band-box have died/are dying of/have been diagnosed with cancer?

There have been a few...

The city knows. The state knows. OSHA knows.

One of the dirty little secrets of CPD. The dreadful work environment and the ghastly shit Policemen are exposed to.

Of course nobody knows nuttin'. Plausible deniability is the city's game. Coppers don't get a turn to spin the wheel.

Of course the Police hating shit-talkers will walk the backs off each others shoes just to get to the mic and howl "You knew it would be like this when you signed up, if you don't like it, quit."

Godspeed Joe P.

10/14/2010 10:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The bagpipes playing reminded me of the good people that are too soon gone.

Lee Seward

Jimmy O'Connor

R.I.P.

Never to be forgotten.

10/14/2010 11:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave Snethan is the real police! Only wish that many of the "new breed" could have experienced a Guy like dave.

10/15/2010 01:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Um.. calling someone a coward while leaving a Anonymous post?? That's truly COWARDLY , if you have a problem with someone tell them in person. Truly sad, go play with your toys now.

10/15/2010 06:55:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To the officer who criticizes 012, 013 and 021, you must not have enough time on to know that not too long ago these Districts were SHITHOLES filled with hi-rise projects that were all too disgusting to even discuss. Hell, 021 used to be 90% projects up until around 2002-ish. Now these districts are retirement spots, but they also have numerous officers who remember the shitty-old days. To them I say enjoy your slow District you earned it

10/15/2010 10:03:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

012 should be superfund eligible...

That place is a known and notorious cancer cluster that should be incinerated brick by brick.

How many coppers who have worked at that band-box have died/are dying of/have been diagnosed with cancer?

There have been a few...

The city knows. The state knows. OSHA knows.

One of the dirty little secrets of CPD. The dreadful work environment and the ghastly shit Policemen are exposed to.

Box Chevy, that sounds like you're talking about the old 006th district at 819 West 85th street.
About 40 officers that I know of contracted cancer while working there, including ex DC/Capt H.H ( RIP),and an ex Supt still living who's not worth mentioning.
That district was sitting on top of soil that was soaked with fuel that leaked from the gas pumps out back.You choked on and got sick from the fumes wafting from the basement during the warm months. That was one of the reasons that 006 got a new station first, and the new building is a piece of garbage.

10/15/2010 11:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have known JS for years and that comment sure doesn't apply to him. If you don't like him be a man and tell him to his face. It won't happen though you are just one of the low lifes on this job. PATHETIC!

10/15/2010 11:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BT# 2352 (havent been in years) I missed the check off. Great Cops! Good Timees and if the walls could talk LoL. A true piece of Chicago History. Stay Safe -The Pentagon Coffee Maker D McG

10/15/2010 06:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anthony Both and Robert E Lee will miss the old place

10/15/2010 06:09:00 PM  
Anonymous The Box Chevy Phantom said...

11:01:00 AM...

You're absolutely correct.

We've done the occasional roll-through in the old 006 & 007 in addition to 010, 011, 012 and 013 when we were doing the "Up & Down Policing" thing. NONE OF THESE PLACES were fit for occupancy by man or beast.

For sure the rats, roaches, skeeters and even the fruit flies in the urinals had cancer. (...skeeters in 011 big enough to murder a buffalo. some of those fuckers had at least a 3/4 inch wing span)

Reason enough to live out of the trunk of the car instead of getting a locker.

Don't get us started about "funny tasting" water from the fountains...

It's an amazement why the city invests so much time, energy and capital trying to keep this shit suppressed. Hell... Every Police Station would have to be shut down, evacuated and a Haz-Mat called in if the truth were known.

This job is essentially a slow death sentence. Those of us who can count higher than ten without taking our shoes off to count toes have figured this out a long time ago.

We can't presume to speak for all but we find it hard to be patient and hold our peace when people openly and brazenly shit-talk The Police (heartily encouraged by Daley Inc. of course) about "how good you guys have it" when we know too many good men and women who have died way too young from illness, stress, grief and just sheer aggravation.

Hell yes The Police are pushing back and growing fed up with this constant vilification. Hug a thug if The Police are so abhorrent to you.

The shit-talkers squawk like a plague of starlings flying around and leaving a layer of corrosive shit on everything as far as the eye can see when The Police push back against being everyone's punching bag by virtue of wearing a blue suit of clothes.

We know damn well if this were the private sector and we were "good citizens" exposed to the ghastly substances and malodors The Police are exposed to on a daily basis, this would be a local media nocturnal emission for many years of midnights and those who tried to keep this suppressed would be hounded, imprisoned, found running on air dangling at the end of a rope or vanished only to turn up in a forest preserve years later as a pile of rags and a grinning skull with mud filled eye sockets sucking on .38 caliber pacifier.

Truth won't be told because too many "important people" (media types, members of Daley Inc., alderfools, corporate money people etc) might have to actually pay a price for the ongoing conspiracy to commit fuckery, fuckery in furtherance and fuckery solely for the sake of.

The so called kings of this city have treated The Police like ante-bellum slave owners who so graciously told their slaves to pay no attention to their lot in life, they'll all go to their reward in Heaven to wait hand and foot on their masters (x3) for all eternity.

Hallelujah...

10/15/2010 11:15:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HeRES WHAT U DO. Hire civilians to do all the ticket writing and accident reports and reports where the offenders are gone ,like cdtp.Pay them like $12hr. Take away coppers parkers.Under 10 grms weed,pipes,gambling,drinkers ,you get the idea,all the Bs would be a ticket. So u would have to make arrests and the city would save millions.Before someone says something ,a Po shows up at the accident and if everyone has theyre shit you dup it to an accident car,thats how Ft lauderdale does it.Saves the city millions.

10/16/2010 12:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dont u love when someone talks about how busy a district was 25 years ago. What have you done 4 me lately. Step it up or retire. Factory workers dont get to say Remenber Ford was #1 and we worked like 14 hr days. But ive been here 20 years ,im gonna slow down now,I deserve it

10/16/2010 12:27:00 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

Newer Posts.......................... ..........................Older Posts