Mysterious Security Detail

A colossal waste of money and manpower:

• When Miguel del Valle took office as Chicago’s city clerk in December 2006, he immediately made clear he’d make one change: He would do without a perk enjoyed by his predecessors — his own police security detail.

  Given that his duties involve things like handling vehicle stickers, keeping City Council records and licensing dogs, del Valle — now running for mayor — “felt it was unnecessary to use taxpayers’ dollars for a police security detail and a driver,” says Kristine Williams, his spokeswoman.

  Four other city officials, though, do have the taxpayer-funded bodyguards. They include Mayor Daley, city Treasurer Stephanie Neely and Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee.

  And the fourth? The police won’t say.

Won't say? Why not? This is funded by the taxpayers, right? It isn't some Praetorian Guard protecting the royal court, is it?

And why does the mayor have such a large detail? Wasn't it something like twenty-four officers, all paid at the Sergeant rate and two sergeants being paid commander's pay? A fleet of cars squirreled away in the old neighborhood and drivers at the beck-and-call of his children and grandchildren?

Jane Byrne has the right idea though:

• But former Mayor Jane M. Byrne, a onetime Daley rival who had a security team of 12 police officers during her time at City Hall, says she wasn’t offered protection since leaving office in 1983.

  [...] Byrne says she thinks Daley shouldn’t have a detail after he leaves City Hall.

  “I’ve had to get along fine, and I think he could also get along fine,” says Byrne, 76.

Good call. In the meantime, who's the fourth official detail?