Home for Christmas
This Officer has been disabled longer than most careers....longer than probably 25% of the Department has even been alive, and he's in Chicago for the first time in sixteen years:
- It’s a merry Christmas for Jim Crowley. The former Chicago police officer is home. Now 54, Crowley was 22 in 1987 when a drunk driver hit his squad car, leaving him with traumatic brain injuries. The accident also killed veteran Chicago police officer William Morrison.
Crowley, who uses a wheelchair and needs help with every aspect of his life, has resided in specialized care facilities at several locations around the country since then, most recently in Texas. His younger sister, Beth Carter, made it a point to visit him every Christmas, but always made the trip a few days early so she could return home to Chicago to be with her young children for the actual day.
But this year, she made it her mission to bring him home.
Go read it all and keep the Crowley family in your thoughts, today and every day.
Labels: good news, officer injured
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
46 Comments:
Thanks and prayers to Off. Crowley, his amazing sister and the rest of his family. May God shine a light upon them.
Say a prayer for Densey Cole too!
God speed office— hopefully no one tries to steal an offices health insurance if they are injured in the job
Welcome home buddy.
Enjoy your time with the family.
You earned it.
I work in 022 and went to the outdoor roll call. Wow poor dude, feel terrible for him. Saw a lot of tv stations out there, that was very nice of them.
Light a candle for the officer. No one deserves that, with the exception of the POS that put him there.
God bless you Beth
Merry Christmas brother! Jim, I thank you for all you did and wish you many more enjoyable holidays to come.
It scenarios like this that I don’t mind hammering drunk drivers!
Don’t drink and drive!
God bless them wow maybe th8s should be mandatory reading in everywhere!
I remember that incident. His bless him and his sister.
This is why I will always love my blue family. What a kind and thoughtful gesture. Retired Sgt. Karen Brozynski
Wow. What a feel good story in a way. Best wishes to Officer Crowley.
Its because of this incident that jim hire ann burke and sued the city because the city didnt cover officers working special employment. The city changed iys policy an d suit was dropped..now every officer is cobered if hury working special. First thing his sister did when he got out of rehab was to roll him into the 002 district roll call. Everyone stood at attention and then applauded him.
Beth Carter is the real deal. She has been what we all hope our families or in fact what we would be if a member of our family suffered a catastrophic injury. Although Jim is now in Chicago for Christmas and an event was held at Barracco’s on 111th St. the GoFundMe page is active.
For anyone interested, it’s “Bring Jim Home for the Holidays”.
God Bless
Story here. https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/12/23/special-salute-for-former-cpd-officer-jim-crowley-paralyzed-by-drunken-driver-over-30-years-ago/
The slimes has a pay wall.
Thank God we have the Chicago police memorial foundation in this city. They do wonders for our fallen and mamed brethren.
He was just a kid when this happened and it cast a pall over the deuce that lasted a long time. Tommy Argenbright, also of the 2nd district, recovered well, and went on to be the type of boss that no longer exists today. Too many horses in the mounted unit, with names honoring the men I knew on the job.
His sister is a "SAINT", god bless her dearly!
That crash sent ripples through the entire CPD, I was just joking with Billy Morrison earlier that week at work.
Morrison’s wife had to fight to get her full benefits. It finally took a lawsuit was filed to get his death ruled in Line of Duty-which the city fought as he was working CHA Special. The old guard, Townsend, et al, said he wasn’t on duty at the time.
It changed the way LODs as and catastrophic injuries were handled
God bless him!!! I feel awful as I do not remember this incident and I was active at the time.
Saw story in Times. Heartwarming.
Questioh: did offender ever get caught?
'THIS' is the camaraderie and honor that few other professions, other than the military, will ever experience.
"No One Is Ever Honored For What They Received, Honor Is The Reward For What Is Given"
(Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States)
Thanks to all involved on behalf of our brother.
Sgt. Al (ret)
Paul tash jr was the pos sgt driving that caused it
Bill Morrison wasn't even supposed to be in that squad car that day. The officer originally assigned to the car was running late so they put Morrison on it. Sadly, the rest is history.
The price some have paid...
Our hero has been suffering so long and still can smile. May the good Lord make his being a little better. So-So sad for him. There are so many of our people in suffering fro IOD.' Mutts can take a dozen hits from a 357 and be perfect in 6 months. No justice for our protectors.
Bless you heart dear sir.
Questioh: did offender ever get caught?
Yes on scene, did do some prison time
When this happened, we did not Really Understand the magnitude of the injury. Most of us just knew that the Department tried to screw Morrison's family out of their rightful Line of Duty Death Benefits. I will not mention the name of the idiot Sergeant who was driving the vehicle, or his father who is alleged to have scolded Morrison's wife at the wake, by saying if Bill had been wearing his seat belt he would have survived. Yet, the ultimate lesson here is that few of us ever knew or were told the extent of the survivor's incident. When the Media, or even the Department talks about an injury not being life threatening; we instinctively figure it is no big thing. Spending one's life in a wheelchair, with brain damage is a Major Thing. Until this story, I had no idea of Crowley's life changing suffering. And in a sense, I am angry, disappointed by how we abandoned one of our own. As with Densey Cole, who was a Remarkable Officer, also sentenced to a wheelchair for life. But I guess they are O.K., because their injuries were not Life Threatening. Stay Safe, Baby "G"
So Chicago has all these top hospitals and the rehab institute but we have no god places for long term care for people with lifelong needs and care. We ship our police officers out of town for care and away from thier family and friends. Unbelievable
Why use GO FUND ME, they charge you to donate and then take 5 percent from the amount collected. Why not use the credit union.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Paul tash jr was the pos sgt driving that caused it
12/25/2019 09:47:00 PM
You don't have to like him, but the drunk ass who hit the squad car caused it.
9:47 pm:You are correct. The squad car was speeding on Ashland Ave. to a man with a gun call at Horner Homes while working CHA Special in ABLA Homes. Driver was Sgt. Paul Tasch Jr. (A legend in his own mind) and he could have prevented this tragedy by safely driving to the call.
Ironically, the LOD status was granted after Walter Jacobsen did a story which embarrassed then Supt. Leroy Martin who had declined the LOD status since the incident occurred while working Special Employment.
Paul Tasch Jr. Later became Chief of Morton Grove PD
Retired.38 spl +P
TO 12/236/2019 12;30PM
paul tasch was a total j-goff and should had been fired over the incident also afterhe retired from the cpd i believe his retirement party was held in a phone booth. also with few of his025 second watch do nothing desk crew,
talk to the morton grove police officers they hated him and they finally got rid of him after a few years. he also wanted morton grove police to start writing traffic tickets to off duty cpd .
gladly none them did it.
paul tasch , curtain, finneghan ivan rittenburge , 025 never had a shortage of j-goff bosses
Don't throw stones at me, because this one confuses me. Thank God Jim Crowley, Densey Cole, Cedric Brumley, Jim Mullins, and who knows how many others, had and have the people and the resources and the people to take care of their needs. I personally don't know if I would have the strength or desire to live as these brave men do. I don't know if I personally would have the desire to live knowing everything I need has to require someone to help me with or do it for me. I am specifically speaking for myself. I don't know if I would have the balls or desire to continue on in this life. I am certain all of these guys were vibrant, functional and resourceful men who took pride in doing, period. I pray for all of them that if they want to remain, God will provide ALL their needs. I believe He will, but I don't know if I could hang on.
I grew up with officer Morrisons daughter. I had just gotten otj when this happened.Terrible how the department treated the family. Anyhow, we never forget. I saw his name on the wall in D.C. We never forget Julie.
Paul Tasch Sr. was a total bigger J.O. then his asshole kid. As head of the medical section, He ordered copper' back to work after suffering a major coronary incident after two weeks on medical. Retired .38 spl + and I could write on a book on these two soulless pricks.
The poor copper is suffering so much due to Jr. rushing and driving in excess of at least 60 mph on a side street on 16th Street to another bull shit project call that was unfounded.
At both their funerals, if not dead yet, the funeral director will have to hire morning drinks at the local gin mill to carry their box.
Was Tasch Jr also a Lt in the old 017? What a jag off. He reveled in fucking with coppers.
Bill Morrison wasn't even supposed to be in that squad car that day. The officer originally assigned to the car was running late so they put Morrison on it. Sadly, the rest is history.
Actually your comment is only partially true. It wasn't because of an officer running late.
tasch jr.’s fault. Yes the car that t boned them was operated by a drunk, but tasch didn’t even slow down while blowing the red light.
Hi Folks,
It's Beth Carter, Jim Crowley's sister and I want to thank each of you for your kind and thoughtful words. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me that the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation rolled out the red carpet for my brother on December 23rd at Barraccos with the outdoor roll call; I was fighting back long overdue tears the entire evening and keeping my tough chick face on. I wanted to share the story of Jim Crowley and I ask that you please continue to keep him in your prayers as well as me as I am preparing to go toe to toe with the City on moving Jim closer to home. After seeing the amazing joy it brought him I have decided to retire from my own nursing job in the pediatric ICU at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn after 20 years of service to care for my brother in a home I intend to purchase and outfit specifically to meet his needs. This has been a long time coming and is certainly no small task but seeing him surrounded by my children and reconnecting with other CPD officers and his Mount Carmel class of 1983 classmates, it's just clear to me that I need to make this happen sooner rather than later. I certainly expect pushback from the City with regard to my plan as it is "unconventional" but I made a promise to take care of my brother when I assumed legal guardianship of him at the age of 24 years old and I am not about to give up now.
(page 1 of 3)
Page 2 of 3 from Beth Carter, sister of Jim Crowley
When Jim had the accident the City was not going to initially cover it as IOD stating that since they were working special employment they weren't covered as such but after a quick trip to Corboy and Demetrio their tune changed and it was considered IOD. Now from about 1987 through the late 1990s I had to trek Jim down to the Medical Section to be examined by some "Doctor" who I am not sure what the heck he thought he was going to discover but Jim is and always will be catastrophically brain damaged and unable to care for himself. It was both degrading and such a monumental effort to go there and there were many times when I was absolutely frustrated but we just had to go along with what was required in order for Jim's care to be covered by the City. Thankfully that business ended...apparently they realized he was in fact permanently brain damaged (note sarcasm). At the time of Jim's accident there was no internet and I had no "staff". I was 21 years old and I have singlehandedly managed all of Jim's placements at brain injury treatment centers across the country. To date there are still only TWO located in Illinois and Jim has been at both but subsequently moved from both for what I found to be substandard care. It is a totally shitty situation because there are such a scarce number of residential facilities that treat his type of injury and of course I always wanted him closer but geography had to take a backseat to quality of care. I have spent countless hours engaged in near mortal combat on the telephone, via email and even an occasional surprise visit to the Committee on Finance to advocate for the best possible care for Jim. My brother went to work one day and never returned the same young 22 year old man. He got into a vehicle driven by a certain individual whose father was ironically the head of Internal Affairs (who ultimately investigated the incident...hmmmm....really??) and would you believe that NOT ONE TIME did this particular driver of the vehicle in which my brother rode along with Officer Morrison ever bother to call, send a card or inquire of anyone as to how my brother was doing. I always found that particularly disturbing as I would have felt horrible if someone was injured in a vehicle that I was operating regardless of fault but honestly, not one call?? Okay...there it is....I hate to speak negatively about people but I lived it, I saw it and I will never forget how that one single moment ruined my brother's life.
Page 3 of 3 (from Beth Carter, sister of Jim Crowley)
I thank all of you for your daily dedication to the City of Chicago and please, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for remembering my brother or even caring about a guy you didn't know. He was forgotten for so very long and it sucked to see other officers cared for and honored while we were just sort of cast off as nobodys and I don't mean to sound like a crybaby but it was so damn hard and it was all on me but Jim was counting on me so I stood up and I will never, ever sit down or accept less than what my brother deserves.
My email is bethcarter6@yahoo.com and please keep us in your prayers in the coming months as I move forward in my efforts to get Jim home for good.
Kindly,
Beth
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