James Quinn v Casper Lauer
Once again, the first Line of Duty death is attracting outside attention. Politics, aldermanic egos and who-knows-what clash over two men dead over a century-and -a-half.
- On Dec. 5, 1853 — 160 years ago this Thursday — 9th Ward Constable James Quinn died of injuries from two beatings. His assailant, William Rees, was convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to five years in prison — and confessed to his crime in a letter to the Chicago Democrat newspaper. For a century and a half, though, the saga of Quinn vanished. The Chicago Police Department mistakenly settled on another officer, Casper Lauer, as first to be killed in the line of duty.
Even today, weirdly, the short shrift for Quinn endures. Walk into the modern but haunting lobby of Chicago's Public Safety Headquarters at 3510 S. Michigan Ave. and take a hard right. You'll face what's supposed to be the chronological beginning of the Superintendent's Honored Star Case. It continues around the lobby and displays the police badges of 490 officers who died serving Chicagoans.
Where Quinn's star should be you'll see an oddly blank space, with Lauer's star then leading the long procession. And Constable Quinn? His star is at the far end of the lobby, roughly a century out of order and near a vacant expanse chillingly reserved for ... Chicago officers who will be killed in the line of duty.
If the location of a dead cop's badge strikes you as immaterial, consider not only the symbolism but the portent of massed shields in long rows: Every officer starts each shift not knowing whether his or her star soon will be retired there.
Ed Burke has his fingers in this kerfuffle, a DEA Agent with deep family ties to the CPD discovered papers that back Quinn's status as the first Line of Duty death, and of course, the Tribune editorial is unsigned, so it's still a mess that distracts from quite a few other pressing issues of the day.
It is amazing that even the dead and past history are such an interwoven part of present day politics.
It is amazing that even the dead and past history are such an interwoven part of present day politics.
Labels: officer down
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
48 Comments:
That vacant part of the case does signify future line of duty deaths and oddly enough there is alot of space really kind of creepy.
And just what year and how did Casper Lauer die in the line of duty? Second place is not bad if that's his rightful place in CPD history. So give it to Officer James Quinn if he was sadly the first to end of tour.
What's the matter with this town...is everything political?
Really! How about truly honoring the fallen. ONE MAN squad cars! Poor. Equipment/ training etc..... Etc...
If Ed Burke is involved then it is because Quinn is Irish and Lauer is not. (I don't know if Lauer is Irish or not) Burke pulled off that shit to declare Mrs O'Leary NOT responsible for the Great Chicago Fire and to open an old investigation into Butch O'Hare's father to declare him NOT a mob lawyer (He was Al Capone's lawyer) and that lawyer O'Hare did not rat out Capone. (He did rat out Capone to save his neck)
So it more than likely has something to do with the Irish. And if Ed Burke is behind it, it will soon be a done deal. Burke likes to re-write history in favor of the Irish.
Soon he will have the Vatican consider Mayor Daley (pick one) considered for sainthood.
Dear SCC please out all the State Reps and Senators we need to vote out as well as the ones we need to support. Thank you a PO.
Ask the self styled wanna be historian =Ald Burke
There's politics behind it not facts Da Chicago way
Who gives a fuck?
It's Burke vs. Phat Phil, right?
O.T. Brad Woods Study Group
I just want to tell my fellow officers about this company. In the future, don't fucking do business with this company. They are only interested in making a buck. They take your money and then forget about you.
And why would one of the Daley mayors NOT be considered, and picked for sainthood?
How about something important. Has a truce been declared? has the sound of gunfire ceased echoing through the concrete canyons of Old Chicago Town? Where is the count of dead and wounded street fighters and urban warriors? With only one short month to go, is it likely that a mortality record, either high or low will be set?
Why is an officer on the Memorial wall without his star in the case? A retired guy on the wall? Why?
I don't believe any anti-Irish, or anti-Catholic feelings played into James Quinn being overlooked versus Casper Lauer as being 'first'.
Not that there wasn't Anti-Irish Discrimination, there sure was, to wit: Irish Need Not Apply signs were on almost every factory-shop employment office in the USA of that era (Hey! where's MY 'reparations'?!?). But not as much in Chicago as in NY, Boston, or Philly -- we were a 'young' city with immigrants of all stripes and flavors.
And not in Politics or the POLICE (which we still can see today). Politics and Police were basically the two Careers (not 'jobs') the Irish could and did thrive at which did not involve breaking your back on a daily basis (The Irish BUILT the Railroads and Canals.)
Then we have 'Lauer', a German name (comes from a Tanner), or Jewish name. And if the Irish were discriminated against, the Jews faced something 1000 times worse, so a Jewish Copper is out of the question.
Which leaves German, and German Immigrants in Chicago lived right next to the Irish neighborhoods, they mingled and inter-married, and is why Irish-German heritage is the most common, especially in Chicago. Oh and those 'Chicago Germans' were the Catholic variety, not the Protestant Germans from Northern Germany.
So I'd chalk this error in 'whose first' up to good old bureaucracy. Not to any religious or heritage bigotry. But whatever the case was of why or how, the facts seem clear today that James Quinn was the first Chicago Police Officer to die in the line of duty.
As such Supt McStreetLights could immediately correct this mistake, like when his hangover from this weekend's bender is fully gone on Tuesday.
I'm sure Officers Quinn or Lauer would be laughing their asses off right now over this one. A title that neither would have wanted in the first place ! No pun intended.
If anyone is interested in collecting stars/badges this one is pretty nice:
"First Fallen Officer Badge With Case" - $74.99
Go to:
http://www.cpdmemorial.org/products-page/lapel-pins-coins/first-fallen-officer-badge-with-case/
Public Safety Headquarters? Sounds like the holding room at Macy's. It's the Chicago Police Headquarters.
OT:
Dec 1, 1958, Our Lady of the Angels School fire; 92 students died horribly in the fire as did three nuns. 55 years ago today.
The best book I read about that fire was written by a guy who, strangely enough, was arrested in 2005 and went to prison for starting an arson fire in a storage building at St Ben's Church. He was a janitor there and was a former suburban firefighter.
Anonymous said...
If Ed Burke is involved then it is because Quinn is Irish and Lauer is not. (I don't know if Lauer is Irish or not) Burke pulled off that shit to declare Mrs O'Leary NOT responsible for the Great Chicago Fire and to open an old investigation into Butch O'Hare's father to declare him NOT a mob lawyer (He was Al Capone's lawyer) and that lawyer O'Hare did not rat out Capone. (He did rat out Capone to save his neck)
So it more than likely has something to do with the Irish. And if Ed Burke is behind it, it will soon be a done deal. Burke likes to re-write history in favor of the Irish.
Soon he will have the Vatican consider Mayor Daley (pick one) considered for sainthood.
12/01/2013 02:33:00 AM
Officer Lauer was a German Catholic immigrant ...
It is what it is. Black, white, brown, yellow, or green. What does it matter if he wore blue?
So give the man his do....Officer James Quinn has earned his rightful place in history. SO give it to him. Scholars have studiously researched the fact...End of Watch Officer Quinn....Super McCarthy will make it so.
On behave of all german americans and decendants of immigrants in the 1800's! The issue of first is a matter of record and should be left to the written history, but for those who want to make it a political and cultural issue I have to say that this is wrong. This issue is as old as time, it began after the last German superintendent of CPD and the first Irish superintendent and continued to this very day ! We honor our dead not the date of death or who's first,
Many have died wearing the star of CPD and many will follow to the gates of heaven and all have one thing in common. They did the JOB. Today the public only cares about scandals and what a bunch of freeloaders the retired members of CPD are. We are all brothers and sisters, and to those who would break the bonds we have with a incident over 100 years old, MAY YOU LIVE A LONG TIME !
Joe Stefanec
015 Dist
Which is why they should only have killed IN the line of duty stars like they used have at 11th & State. Place line of duty in their own case.
This should be a friendly debate among ourselves and whatever historical facts are presented from time to time. But it has been for years no better than a comstat meeting.
Public Safety Headquarters? Sounds like the holding room at Macy's. It's the Chicago Police Headquarters.
Not since the fire department moved in - now it's the Public Safety Headquarters Building.
Here's an easy solution:
Rearrange all the badges according to the decades in which the officers were killed, without making a big deal out of who was first. Bottom line, dead is dead. I doubt Casper Lauer or James Quinn would really give a rats ass about this issue if they were alive. They might even be having a laugh about it over a beer in heaven.
Problem solved.
It honestly doesn't really make a difference.
BOTH gave their lives and will "Never Be Forgotten."
God Bless all 490 and those that have, and continue to Serve and Protect, truly... Chicago's Finest.
10:04 AM and 3:43 PM:
Au contraire!
In the true spirit of the City of Chicago, the building that stands at 3510 S. Michigan Ave. will forever be appropriately known as...
FORT FELLATIO.
Anonymous said...
If Ed Burke is involved then it is because Quinn is Irish and Lauer is not. (I don't know if Lauer is Irish or not) Burke pulled off that shit to declare Mrs O'Leary NOT responsible for the Great Chicago Fire and to open an old investigation into Butch O'Hare's father to declare him NOT a mob lawyer (He was Al Capone's lawyer) and that lawyer O'Hare did not rat out Capone. (He did rat out Capone to save his neck)
So it more than likely has something to do with the Irish. And if Ed Burke is behind it, it will soon be a done deal. Burke likes to re-write history in favor of the Irish.
Soon he will have the Vatican consider Mayor Daley (pick one) considered for sainthood.
12/01/2013 02:33:00 AM
Officer Lauer was a German Catholic immigrant ...
12/01/2013 10:30:00 AM
That nails it, Burke fights to put the Irish first in everything.
How many Irish politicians got convicted and went to prison?
It's fairly obvious that the man in charge does not care.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
OT:
Dec 1, 1958, Our Lady of the Angels School fire; 92 students died horribly in the fire as did three nuns. 55 years ago today.
The best book I read about that fire was written by a guy who, strangely enough, was arrested in 2005 and went to prison for starting an arson fire in a storage building at St Ben's Church. He was a janitor there and was a former suburban firefighter.
12/01/2013 10:30:00 AM
The church is raising money for restoration (the school, of course, is long gone - we're talking about the beautiful church itself, which was closed up and unused for many years).
Here's the old website, where you can see all the restoration progress and info: http://www.ourladyoftheangelsmission.com/
And here's the new website: http://www.missionola.com/
Anonymous Anonymous said...
O.T. Brad Woods Study Group
I just want to tell my fellow officers about this company. In the future, don't fucking do business with this company. They are only interested in making a buck. They take your money and then forget about you.
12/01/2013 07:10:00 AM
When they gave their presentation/sales pitch, I knew they were a joke. Nothing was organized and I had a simple set of questions to ask them. Neither the sgt. from 020, his wife, or two other people could not answer them. I decided not to spend my hard earned money on any test prep company.
to 12.41am,,,,EVERYTHING is political in this town, that includes CPD LODD, the same people that decry us as overpaid thugs, shed crocodile tears and jostle to be on camera at a PO's funeral.
Ed Burke is the worst, he claims he wants to take care of "his guys" yet his Committee on Finance sticks it to officers everyday regarding IOD payments.
He was only a copper for a couple of years while he was fleecing the city out of law school tuition-working midnights as a floor guard at City Hall. Funny how he now demands reimbursement if coppers leave too soon after they get tuition reimbursement.
Let's not forget how him and his wife stole a child from his birth mother and used their connections to deflect all the legal claims the woman made.
Anonymous @2:33,
The O'Leary story was debunked a dozen times before Slow Eddie was born. Most people think a guy named Peg Leg Sullivan, who was in the O'Leary gambling or stealing milk who started the fire, either by knocking over a lantern or being careless with his smoking.
The O'Leary story was started by a newspaper reporter who wanted something interesting to write, and made the whole thing up. Fortunately, reporters today would never do such a thing.(/sarcasm)
Burke you pos, you never disappoint me
Please make time to attend your outlaw board of directors meeting Tuesday. They have made many illegal decisions over the past 2.5 years at the direction of and with great duress heaped upon them by the dictator of FOP, Mike Shields. It's your money and your union, but not when Mikes involved. He does what he wants, when he wants and doesn't give a fuck about any of us.
Sure bet Lauer & Quinn didn't have bosses second guess their every move.
"Public Safety Headquarters? Sounds like the holding room at Macy's. It's the Chicago Police Headquarters.
"
12/01/2013 10:04:00 AM"
Must've not been down to 35th in awhile. Take a look @ the front
sometime.
O.T. Brad Woods Study Group
I just want to tell my fellow officers about this company. In the future, don't fucking do business with this company. They are only interested in making a buck. They take your money and then forget about you.
..............
DO NOT ever pay anyone for promotional study groups. The department provides you with the material to study, so just memorize it. Everyone always passes the first part anyway, so stop wasting your time and money on these old merit hacks who think they know something that you don't.
The real reason for the delay is that legal affairs and IPRA still have an ongoing investigation. The department wants to make sure the offenders' side of the story gets full scrutiny pending a final report from the Northwestern University Center for wrongful convictions.
Northwestern was founded in 1851 and immediately began its quest, even then, to earn for itself their much prized distinction as most f.o.s liberal academic institution. As such the Quinn murder presented the first major opportunity to try and discredit what would become their favorite target...the Chicago Police Dept.
The church is raising money for restoration (the school, of course, is long gone - we're talking about the beautiful church itself, which was closed up and unused for many years).
Here's the old website, where you can see all the restoration progress and info: http://www.ourladyoftheangelsmission.com/
And here's the new website: http://www.missionola.com/
12/01/2013 06:15:00 PM
The school that burned was torn down and replaced by 1960 with a new school. That school and the church were sold and are not part of the archdiocese any longer. It is used by some non-Catholic denomination.
There is a memorial stone in front of the old convent between the school and the church.
I'll bet Casper and Quinn are up there laughing their asses off at the collection of fools making such a fuss in their names.
The Woods company is being sued for using a copper's picture on their website without his permission. Very shoddy run outfit. Cmdr, your retired, just go away.
Sure bet Lauer & Quinn didn't have bosses second guess their every move.
12/01/2013 10:10:00 PM
You must be quite young or naïve or both.
how many irish politicians were convicted and sent to prison....
I don't know, how many german politicians were convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death?
get off your high horse, there are assholes in every group
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The church is raising money for restoration (the school, of course, is long gone - we're talking about the beautiful church itself, which was closed up and unused for many years).
Here's the old website, where you can see all the restoration progress and info: http://www.ourladyoftheangelsmission.com/
And here's the new website: http://www.missionola.com/
12/01/2013 06:15:00 PM
The school that burned was torn down and replaced by 1960 with a new school. That school and the church were sold and are not part of the archdiocese any longer. It is used by some non-Catholic denomination.
There is a memorial stone in front of the old convent between the school and the church.
12/02/2013 12:54:00 AM
While the church building WAS briefly rented to a Baptist congregation, here's the info on its current use:
"The new religious community located at the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels is the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago. Founded by Fr. Bob Lombardo, the Franciscans of the Eucharist were officially established canonically (under Church law) by a decree of Cardinal George on September 1, 2010."
And from the Sun Times,
April 13, 2012:
"Now home to the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels, the parish is run by a flowering Franciscan community that established a Catholic outreach to serve the poor within its impoverished, crime-ridden radius. After two years of meticulous renovations, the mission (www.missionola.com) celebrates the reopening of the once majestic church that fell into crumbling disrepair and was closed by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1990.
A rededication mass at 4:30 p.m. will be celebrated by Cardinal Francis George"
Fuck Ed Burke. Turkey piece of shit.
My understanding was the church is now a catholic mission, with an ordained priest. But, doesn't get any funding from the archdiocese.
Is Bill ( Thank a vet ) Daugherty, bringing Steve Robbins, to the Board meeting, on Tuesday?
Anonymous said...
I don't believe any anti-Irish, or anti-Catholic feelings played into James Quinn being overlooked versus Casper Lauer as being 'first'.
---
That's not the point. Burke pushing for Quinn is the point. Burke is known for pushing any attempt to have anything Irish proclaimed just and good and in first place. Burke wouldn't be an advocate at all if Quinn were instead named Kowalski or Schroeder or Pinzini.
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