Camera House
This citizen has been in contact with us for a little while now. His house was just featured on the Channel 2 News because he's wired the exterior with security cameras due to increased gang activity in his Humboldt Park neighborhood:
- A long time Humboldt Park resident is increasingly worried about gang activity in his neighborhood and is doing something about it. He’s set up live video surveillance around his property and hope the next time there’s trouble, he’ll have the evidence.
[...] As he walked through his neighborhood, Bruce Barnes said, “We’ve had 15 shootings, we’ve had four people killed or injured within 15 blocks of this house. There’s no excuse for that.”
- Last year he photographed dozens of apparent gang members congregated outside his house during the annual Puerto Rican Day Festival. He says a Chicago Police detective “admitted that this intersection and the Puerto Rican Festival are a magnet for gangs all over the country. It’s a Disneyland for gangs in Chicago each year.”
He's offered his camera feed to the 014 District and the 911 Center in an effort to head off what might be a bloody festival weekend. WBEZ, Channel 7 and Channel 2 are receiving video updates all weekend.
We're posting this to make all officers aware that there are outside cameras filming at all times. Mr. Barnes seems genuine in his support of the police, but has expressed quite a bit of frustration dealing with our bureaucracy. No surprises there.
He's also a fan and has mentioned the blog to Commander Flores, who promptly flipped her shit:
We're posting this to make all officers aware that there are outside cameras filming at all times. Mr. Barnes seems genuine in his support of the police, but has expressed quite a bit of frustration dealing with our bureaucracy. No surprises there.
He's also a fan and has mentioned the blog to Commander Flores, who promptly flipped her shit:
- I told her I already has a small video surveillance system and would be expanding it this year. I also offered to make a feed available for CPD's use as there was nothing close to that intersection. During our conversation the subject of your blog came up and she was so unhappy that I knew about it that she started to literally fly across the table at me - almost threatening me for bringing your blog up stating that you were totally wrong in your statements and criticisms of CPD's leadership.
- The Channel 2 news item, which can be seen at http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/06/14/camera-house/, has so thoroughly pissed off the District Commander, Flores, that she has commanded a meeting with the homeowner tonite - after 16.30 hours - with a 3 hour window - depending on how busy she is.
She will probably bring her gang of enforcement thugs with her - the same ones who were present at the meeting with the homeowner in the 014 conference room, last November - when she finally responded to the homeowner's complaint about 19 June, 2010.
So you see, citizens are to be summoned by their police masters when they dare to rock the boat in regard to completely legitimate criticisms raised by those same citizens. Now imagine actually working for this psycho. Perhaps this could be addressed at the next CompStat meeting?
Labels: we got nothing
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
66 Comments:
Flores? She's a joke! She does not have even one functioning brain cell, but believes she is a genius and that makes her dangerous, even more dangerous than Reverend Henny Penny Trahanas.
Flores brings the combination of crazy and incompetent to a new height. Once I found out Judge Gaughan is her longtime squeeze it all made sense. He is batshit crazy as well.
The only reason that dipshit Flores is a Commander is because she is living with a Cook Co. Judge who works at 26 and Cal. She is a goof and should be demoted to dog catcher.
Cameras on private property, filming events taking place on the public way, are double-plus-ungood none of the Police Department's business.
F__k off, Flores. Go snap your castanets.
The weather looks like its going to be hot with a chance of rain now and again. Definitely not a washout. To those working PR fest, be safe and watch out for each other. The potential for disaster and bloodshed this weekend is very real.
Thanks Mr barnes. May I apologize for that idiot commander in 014. To the officers, beware out there. Mr barnes might not be out to get us if something happens on camera but in the media is getting feeds and updates from his cameras they will be the first to show the police screwing up instead of the gang bangers.
It must be quite unsettling for Commanderette Flores to know someone is taping what you refuse to acknowledge exists/is happening.
Flores couldn't successfully lead a a dog on a leash !!!!
And how did she "merit" her promotion to commander? Or lieutenant , for that matter? Her live in boyfriend is influential judge and drinking buddy of Cline's, Vincent G. !
There's another house in that district that's so wired up, it's got to be fifty to a hundred thousand in equipment. The cameras, the split-screens, the keyboard... all top-notch, and he knows how to use it.
Though that homeowner is VERY helpful and cooperative with the police, he is also disinclined to hook his system into the city's system, knowing the City can then remotely control your camera at any time.
The City and the administration of this Dept make it a huge punishment to try to cooperate and make things better for everyone.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Someone should tell the guy to set up a live Ustream feed to broadcast it. Its a free podcasting/webcasting site where he could stream the video live for anyone interested. I certainly would check it out!
OK - so this man has cameras all around his house and has already been threatened by kids to move out because of calling the cops on gang activity? And the next most obvious thing to him was to publicize his video cameras on the news? Did he not stop to think that it could piss off these gangbangers even more? That they might vandalize his property? Shoot at the cameras? Shoot at him?
Not everything needs to be publicized. I think what he is doing is great, and sharing it with the police is even better? But how about keeping quiet and NOT letting people know he's watching them? I doubt many of these cretin gang lowlifes watch the news, but I think you get my point.
I can tell you this...
I'm a citizen and I have cameras around the perimeter of my home. It has nothing to do with police- everything to do with criminals- but if some "police commander" had a problem with this, I'd laugh in their fucking faces and dare them to try an intimidation routine.
This person sounds like a psycho and has no business being in uniform. The CPD needs to start getting rid of these kinds of jagoffs.
Great idea for the camera until you peel back a few layers on the onion. Attorneys can now file a motion to have the video supeana'd. Very bad call on the part of the homeowner, the camera is a part of the dire situation that law enforcement is facing in combating loitering by thugs (I mean good citizens.) If the homeowner wants to be of help, just sign complaints and show up for court against the pieces of crap.
Hopefully G-MAC will realize that this goof should not be in a command position, PERIOD!!! In act, she should not even be a police officer. The guys are very unhappy working for her.
Wrong about the leadership? You mean not harsh enough. These idiots are true clowns. I've had the misfortune of sitting in on meetings with some of those so called leaders and I have always left feeling very afraid for Chicago in the event of a true disaster.
They are so stupid that it seems impossible for them to have ever gotten so far in life. Political hacks that have no business whatsoever in the positions they are in.
Oh no! People are finally going to start watching the authentic Puerto Rican experience which includes carribean violence. The command staff is hiding their incompetence under the guise of political correctness. When I left Puerto Rico I thought all that was going to stay in the metro area back on the island. Glad to see that incompetent leadership, political correctness, and breaking the morale of the police department has given me a piece of home that I don't want. Be safe and the carnival guys and watch your backs.
Maybe the new Mayor should of hired that guy out of Arizona he don't put up with anyone's crap.
I think his name is JOE
SCC! Advise this citizen not to agree to this meeting! Flores and her goons have no intention but to silence this person. No good can come out of a meeting like that. This person should go directly to the media! OMG, what am I saying? Anyway, I strongly advise against him being part of any type of meeting that Flores sets up. Hopefully he will see this and take the advice.
Maybe Channel 2 News should be invited to the "meeting?"
6/17/2011 01:06:00 AM
I get your point, you're chicken shit and part of the problem, not the solution. Yeah better to be afraid of the gang bangers than to take it to them. I hope you live no where near me.
Mr. Barnes-
Let me assure you that Commander Flores (boy does it hurt to say that) is an example of who and what the CPD Command Staff is. She is another political hack promoted way above her head because of who her boyfriend is. They,she do not have a clue. I know Commander Flores(boy, that hurts even more to say) and I assure you she doesn't have a clue nor do most members of the Command Staff. She was promoted because she is a female hispanic who was backed by a judge. Nothing less, nothing more.
As you can probably see, the problem in the Chicago Police department is NOT the rank and file, the field officers. It is the Command Staff. Most are just like Commander Flores. Promoted to their rank because they were pushed by a politician, a reverend, another member of the Command Staff. Here's an example although a small one of how they operate. What does the Command Staff decide the way to fight crime and solve the gang problem is? Outdoor Roll calls, event numbers, bullshit seatbelt missions or any one of the other ridiculous missions that they mandate we run, none of which accomplish anything. That's one small example of their incompetence.
There is no leadership here in the CPD. And that is the problem. It is up to the rank and file to solve the problems people like you live with everyday.
Good luck to you and keep the heat up on Commander Flores. Let the rest of Chicago see what a bunch of nitwits those that run the CPD are.
My wife's best friend (and daughter of a long ago legendary CPD officer and boss) got into it big time with LF at a one-on-one meeting with LF over gang bangers in the yuppiefied area of 014.
Flores actually told her that daytime burglars look for cats sunning themselves in the front windows of homes because that means nobody is home.
I've been a copper for over 26 years and I've never heard that one. I've told people to buy dogs and put in alarms in that make lots of noise on the premises, but never to get rid of their cats (which LF insinuated)
LF is in way above her head big time. My wife's friend is heavy politically--look for LF to be taken to the woodshed (or worse) soon by Hackensack Mac.
Dear homeowner. Don't let flores insult, berate, intimidate, or threaten you. Call her office and tell HER what time YOU are available. If you do go through with the meeting have a couple of friends or an attorney present.
If you are not happy with the service flores provides you call her boss, the deputy chief of Area 5, and talk to him.
Then keep going up if you have to.
You are a tax payer and flores and the rest serve you not the other way around.
Stand Tall Bruce. Don't go. Screw her. Any contact with her or her thugs (NOT regular cops, just her fluffers)should be done with at least one credible witness present. ANY HARASSMENT, get an attorney familiar with USC 1983 cases, and sue her. Flores HOW DARE YOU HARASS Law Abiding Taxpayers. McCarthy you should check into this. Nice thing about this here internet, shit like this is harder to make disappear.
hey buddy, have your meeting with commander flores in front of one of your live camera feeds.
she will have witnesses, and so should you.
She (Cmdr) is so dumb, she couldn't find cheese in Wisconsin.
Based on the allegation, "Commander" Flores is an arrogant amadan and a vapid political hack. If true, Mr. Barnes should file a complaint against her for her heavy handed response.
. . . she should not even be a police officer. The guys are very unhappy working for her.
-----
THAT IS ONLY HALF OF IT . .
They have a LT. on 3rd watch. D.H.
NO ONE will make any arrests when she is the watch commander.
A beat car actually had a shop lifter a few weeks back.
They asked security if the offender paid for the $10 item would they let him go.
The offender did not have the $10 so they dug into their own pockets to pay the store and not have to arrest and deal with the BAT-SHIT CRAZY 3rd Watch LT. D.H.
ALSO, the dicks in Area 5 REFUSE to come and deal with her crazy shit. The woman in PURE NUTS and should be psyched off the job.
I HOPE someone is listening.
Wrong about the leadership? You mean not harsh enough. These idiots are true clowns. I've had the misfortune of sitting in on meetings with some of those so called leaders and I have always left feeling very afraid for Chicago in the event of a true disaster.
They are so stupid that it seems impossible for them to have ever gotten so far in life. Political hacks that have no business whatsoever in the positions they are in.
6/17/2011 02:15:00 AM
Case in point, the kind of idiots that Garry needs to GET RID OF !!!
No doubt he can find more talented people to run a District.
"If the homeowner wants to be of help, just sign complaints and show up for court against the pieces of crap."
--6/17/2011 01:13:00 AM
Yeah. After all, the city can't make its own case; the police have cameras that don't work, homeless controlling the pod rooms, etc.
Flores ever go over there to clear that corner? Naw. Just to bother someone decent.
where is that citizens 5 body guards and 2 police cars , i'll bet he doesn't have a $180,000 pension and 3 part time jobs paying another $300,000
daley is a citizen just like the rest of us , unless he is an fbi mole that brought down politicians
and mobsters
"There's another house in that district that's so wired up, it's got to be fifty to a hundred thousand in equipment. The cameras, the split-screens, the keyboard... all top-notch, and he knows how to use it."
--6/17/2011 12:45:00 AM
Oh, sure, I've seen whole web sites done by "urban pioneers" on Lake Street, etc.
Reminds me of the Monty Python skit of the old ladies in the room full of cameras, radars, telescopes, keeping records on when the neighbors let the cat out.
I guess it all depends on what you call living.
There is a point at which I'd wonder if it's worth it. I don't want to live in a Lunar Command Center.
All this is a poor second-best to simple, inexpensive, permanent extermination.
Alternative outcomes --
"First they came for the cockroaches, and I said nothing because I was not a cockroach.
"Then they came for the fleas, and I said nothing because I was not a flea.
"Then they came for the rats, and I said nothing because I was not a rat.
"Finally all the vermin were gone."
*
THIS citizen is exactly the kind of citizen we need more of. HE is willing to speak out against the thugs, he has backed up his words with the actions of putting up cameras and being willing to share them with law enforcement and the courts. He has publicized this. He has balls.
This is a true citizen.
If Flores is shacking up with a judge at 26 Cal, wouldn't that be a conflict of interest for any thug arrested in Flores's district who appears in his courtroom?
sounds like a can of worms now that it's out.
let's see if the media picks up on this tidbit. it could be good.
"Flores...has commanded a meeting with the homeowner tonite - after 16.30 hours - with a 3 hour window - depending on how busy she is."
Uh -- depending how on how busy HE is.
* Don't have to answer the door.
* Don't have to talk to anyone.
* Don't have to be at home.
* Don't have to be sober -- or even sane.
Take a hike.
"Attorneys can now file a motion to have the video supeana'd [sic]."
--6/17/2011 01:13:00 AM
What video?
I ain't a public utility or something. I got no contract. No one pays me. This is a hobby. Sometimes the machine got tape in it, sometimes not. Sometimes it's on and sometimes it's not. Sometimes I'm here and sometimes I'm not.
Like now. Goin' down to the Elbow Room, have a few pops, watch da game.
See ya.
Great! He has cameras, there is a copper, who doesnt work the street, in the district with a shit load of cameras too. You can record these shitheads til you turn blue. If they're breaking no laws or ordinances, on tbe public way, or the images suck, cpd's hands are tied. Politicians and the courts made sure of that. If you have a shaky w/c, forget about getting that arrest report approved.Cameras dont sign complaints, but they sure can get you fired and sent to the federal penitentiary. CPD is the best, coppers dont need cameras, they already know what to do. Always hold your head up, Patrol. Be careful and backup each other. Its going to be a long summer, G-d bless.
Mr. Barnes,
PLEASE make sure to bring up the blog at tonight's meeting. It's about time that everyone know exactly what happens in their City.
And, thank you.
A video cam running during the meeting w/ Flores & a pvt. attorney present should keep things cordial.
Those camera's solidify officers responding and writing a report.... Flash message given, make a report, call an ET, and tour the are with negative results. Sir, the cameras can now document that intersection going nuts and no offenders being incarcerated. Stay legit.
It's amazing how they continue to have the PR fest with all the identified gang problems and obvious fear of the residents in that neighborhood. The south side irish day parade was a one day event with not even 1/3 of the problems the PR fest has but yet which one was cancelled? HMMMM?
There's another issue here, well known by Officers who work the beat every day: the judges - lower case deliberate.
Unless you guys do everything by the book, and even when you do so and document doing so, these judges want the endorsements so they can be re-elected.
If a Police Officer writes a beef on a legit incident, the judge still has the option to challenge the beef - based solely on his own discretion, and not allow legitimate evidence to be counted.
They do this because they want the Bar Associate endorsement when it comes time for re-election.
Homeowners are caught up in this, too. The judges can throw their evidence and testimony out the door with the bath water as well and there goes the case.
So we really need several things in Chicago:
STRONG leadership who KNOWS WHAT is going on. The replacement of most of the corrupt judges who are beholden to the Bar Association for re-election AND more police officers on the street.
That means more money and, simply put, there ain't any.
Chicago's deficit is approaching 6.5 BILLION dollars - when the mandatory contributions to the retirement funds are factored in.
NO, I do NOT believe that CPD retirees get too much money when factored over 10 years. They bust their asses every day to protect the citizens of this City and deserve the recognition for it - especially when it comes to retirement.
Then you factor in the State deficit, which is closer to 16.5 BILLION dollars, and we are all fucked.
Next you have a Governor who is giving the purse away to every corporation who threatens to leave the State; a new Mayor who is in potentially the same position; undereducated kids who demand jobs when there are no jobs for college level graduates with high-level degrees to be found, and it's one giant FUBAR!
This is not a democrat or a republican issue. This is a problem that everyone must get together on and help to resolve.
The finger pointing has to stop and we all need to work together to find a solution.
Unfortunately, the politicians who are in office now, or are thinking of running will accomplish neither and as soon as summer is over we will begin another two years of finger pointing and accusation as we suffer to find the candidate who is least likely to inflict further fiscal damage upon the people of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and the US.
Fully wired exterior of all my properties...when there's a problem I need answers now rather than later. Motion in the zone makes me itchy.
Godspeed to all CPD. Thanks for more than any paper is willing to report.
14 district sure knows how to pick wasn't there a former commander a man I believe Hispanic that was demoted. But meritorious his whole career?
So THAT'S how you get promoted around here!
Here Judge-y
Here Judge-y
Hey crazy in 014. Virtually every other district has had to suffer with her, now it's your turn. Enjoy. As soon as she lands in a district the plans are made to get rid of her. But then again she thrives on not being liked. Bad attention after all is better than no attention.
Commander Flores should be demoted to ppo immediately
will someone please tell the new supt how many arrestes linda has made in her career.
If Flores is shacking up with a judge at 26 Cal, wouldn't that be a conflict of interest for any thug arrested in Flores's district who appears in his courtroom?
sounds like a can of worms now that it's out.
let's see if the media picks up on this tidbit. it could be good.
6/17/2011 10:22:00 AM
It's been an 'open secret' for a long time. How do you think she got a command?!
Why would there be a conflict of interest? Unless SHE was the arresting officer, which isn't likely to EVER be the case in our lifetimes.
They have a LT. on 3rd watch. D.H.
NO ONE will make any arrests when she is the watch commander.
A beat car actually had a shop lifter a few weeks back.
They asked security if the offender paid for the $10 item would they let him go.
The offender did not have the $10 so they dug into their own pockets to pay the store and not have to arrest and deal with the BAT-SHIT CRAZY 3rd Watch LT. D.H.
ALSO, the dicks in Area 5 REFUSE to come and deal with her crazy shit. The woman in PURE NUTS and should be psyched off the job.
I HOPE someone is listening.
6/17/2011 09:22:00 AM
Heraty is as inconsistent as they come, personality-wise. You never know, minute to minute, which Heraty you'll encounter. She's a very unhappy individual.
She "commanded" him to appear at a meeting with HER? Why? Is he a PO? Did we finally go into marshall law and I missed it? Is she going to put him on a train for re-education? Anybody still want to argue with me that we are not in the last days...bring it on. Because IF a Chicago Police "Commander" can "command" a citizen to come to a meeting in her station unvoluntarily, we finally have crossed over the line.
Oh Lord, protect this camera house, and all who dwell within the camera house.
I saw this Humboldt Park community woman n TV news, who said,
"Children aren't born gangmembers."
To that I would say if the male and the female that got together to produce the offspring are both second, third or forth generation gangbangers then I disagree.
By that time a lot can be bred out so the brain can be wired differently. The same things do not give pleasure; things like the sense of accomplishment through work. Cravings for things which the gangs want are now built in and it will get harder and harder the get them out of their lives. What I really hate is that sort of sub-culture and behavior is becoming accepted as normal.
Ah, it's a joy to be a citizen in 14. I have no complaints with the beat cops, but try to get the staff in the station to do shit. We recently had an epidemic of violent muggings in the neighborhood; mostly involving more than one man approaching a single woman. Definitely a pattern. Think the commander would issue a community alert, like the commander in Lakeview (and other districts) does? Hell, no. We neighbors had to identify the pattern through word of mouth and then get the notice out via listservs and local blogs.
Good for the homeowner trying to help. He should bring a good lawyer (one who's not "connected" to the incompetents) to Flores' meeting so he's not alone when he gets ambushed. As for Flores, a person only gets that testy (read defensive) about criticism when she fears being found out for being the incompetent person deep down she knows she is. That's assuming she's not "batshit crazy." If she is indeed "batshit crazy," then my condolences to those who have to work with her. Nothing works with "batshit crazy." A competent commander would not blink over a blog--by an officer or otherwise.
That commander mentioned here has caused chaos since she been on job. Stories about her are much too wierd to mention cause no one would believe.
She got more copper's in deep shit then anyone in the history of CPD.
Beware all, she is very evil.
Ask any old timers that know her, you would run from her.
Camera house should be getting a workout tonight. Hope he's saving it all to a dvd.
Come to think of it, he could make money selling it as a souvenir of PRFestWeek2011.
South side Irish parade was cancelled for reasons of excessive drinking but the bud biliken parade and the puertorican rest still goes on but instead of problems with drinking, they have stabbings, shootings, gangs, murder - all that stuff. hmmm, which sounds worse. double fn' standard. not right at all.
The distinguished officer cited above is rolling in his grave. Flores MUST GO and I will happily attend her demotion party in memory of my Dad. Humbolt Park has regressed to where it was in the late 60's early 70's. What does it say when law abiding citizens have to wire up with surveillance cameras, won't go out of their houses during Puerto Rican Fest because of fear of being caught in the crossfire. We want an END to this "festival" because it is nothing more than a massing of gang bangers. Unfortunately, until they stop falsifying the numbers and until the elected officials are no longer members of LaRaza - the 14th district will continue to be a haven for the gangs and illegals. No one in this city is serious about addressing the TRUE cause of the violence. You can put lipstick of a pig, and it's still a pig.
UPDATE FROM CAMERA HOUSE:
Commanders from 014 and 013 were here, promptly, at 16.30 - so were several other long-time residents. The presence of others substantially toned down
the whole meeting when both Commanders heard similar stories from others.
Two of the officers who responded to Wednesday evening's shooting - 20.15 on 15 June - also stopped by. Both were very cordial and were shown the video surveillance systems so they know what additional resources they have.
Both commanders promised a better experience this year and all officers on the street have been made aware of, and been given a login, so they can access the cameras.
This is about mutual cooperation of the residents of the West side of Humboldt Park with the men and women on the street - those who must directly interact with the scum of the Earth on a daily basis. Believe it or not, many residents, including myself, have nothing but respect for these
individuals.
Lt DH was a total whack job from the day she entered the Academy (she was in my homeroom) Her daddy had her taken care of since day 1.
Another prime example on how nepotism ruined this department.
ask mr daley how he gets 5 police officers making sgt pay approx cost to tax payers $600,000 and you have to purchase your own security camera , hire a lawyer
you deserve police protection more than our former mayor
This is the same Linda Flores,who while a Sgt. at the academy,obtained a c.r. number on the quietest,most hard working P.O. assigned there. The P.O.'s terrible transgression ? He ,while nervous,referred to her as "honey". Then she promptly glommed credit for the past "STAR" magazine ,that he had just resurrected.
On a few occasions in front of my home I have had "discussions" with some fool I thought might do me or my family harm if I let it go any further.
I would tell them to smile because there were three cameras looking at us and there was another one at the corner.
They always got real reasonable and walked away.
The same was true when I work the street. I would tell anyone I stopped to smile for the camera in the car, even though there was never a camera in the squad car I used. It kept people very well behaved.
Stay safe, you may not like the cameras, but use them to your advantage.
Come to think of it, he could make money selling it as a souvenir of PRFestWeek2011.
6/18/2011 12:41:00 AM
that's an idea.
the best of the worst.
i'd buy that for a dollar.
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