Daley Reveals Budget

Chickens coming home to roost indeed:

• Acknowledging that nuts-and-bolts city services would suffer, Mayor Daley today proposed laying off 929 city employees, eliminating 1,346 vacancies and raising fees, parking and amusement taxes to solve Chicago’s worst budget crisis in a generation.

• Of the 1,346 vacant jobs that Daley plans to eliminate, none are sworn police officers. But Fraternal Order of Police President Mark Donahue called that a “shell game.”

  That’s because Daley is counting on saving $10 million by slowing police hiring to a crawl — with only 200 officers hired during all of 2009.

  With 450 sworn vacancies by Dec. 31, and an annual attrition rate of 600, Chicago could be “down 850 police officers by the end of 2009,” Donahue said.

Which civilians posts are they talking about eliminating? Timekeepers? Detention Aides? How many of these will be covered by sworn officers?

CeaseFire Indictments

Was it the commander of 014 who wanted these goofs to address roll calls? And who knows what deals "Senora Sherlock" made with these scumbags when she was in charge over there:

• Juan Johnson claimed to be a reformed gang member who, on behalf of the group CeaseFire, was widely quoted in the media and won awards for his work as a violence interrupter.

  But Johnson, also known as “Big Juan,” wasn’t so reformed after all, according to federal charges that identify him as a crack-selling gang leader.

  Johnson, 38, of the 3500 block of West Medill, was among 31 people charged in a massive sweep of the Spanish Cobras street gang Wednesday.

"Violence interrupter." He was part of the gang causing the violence in the first place, fighting over dope territory. And the democrats in Springfield were bribing them not to retaliate via giving CeaseFire $6 million dollars. And CeaseFire says violence will be on the upswing if they don't get their funding, which they'd have a direct hand in since they're getting public funding.

Ain't Chicago politics grand?

Nanny Cam in 015?

This one would be hilarious if true:

• any word on the source of the nannycam found in the wc office in 015?

Perhaps the Commander could answer that one. If true of course.

Massive Realignment

Massive realignment coming.

Updates to follow.

Off Duty Cop Killed

Motorcycle crash:

• An off-duty Chicago police officer was killed Tuesday in a motorcycle crash in south suburban Matteson.

  "It appears she lost control of the bike and hit a street sign," Matteson Police Deputy Chief George Pfotenhauer said this morning.

  The victim, identified as 40-year-old Andria Randolph, was taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, where she was pronounced dead, Pfotenhauer said.

RIP.

City Service Cuts

Here comes the pain:

• Mayor Richard Daley said Tuesday he will shut down city services except for police and fire for three days during holiday weeks as he tries to cut spending.
  
  City offices will be shuttered as employees take unpaid days off the day after Thanksgiving, on Christmas Eve and on New Year's Eve this year and next year for a total of six days.
  
  
• Dennis Gannon, head of the Chicago Federation of Labor, said it is not clear what the unions can do to avert the city's shutdown.
  
  "At the end of the day, I don't believe there is much we can do about it," Gannon said.

And this will only save about $20 million (the budget "hole" is now at $469 million).

No word on when aldercreatures will be giving up their discretionary funds, their $110,000 "part-time" salaries, their D-3 bodyguard details, and anything else that isn't balanced on the backs of city workers rather than the over bloated bureaucracy and top heavy management.

We can hardly wait for the actual budget to be released.

Fat Guy Executed

We think we covered this as a "ridiculous item" sometime in the last year or so:

• An Ohio death row inmate was executed Tuesday after the Supreme Court rejected his last-minute plea that he was too overweight to be put to death.

  Richard Cooey was pronounced dead at 10:28 a.m. ET, said Andrea Carson, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Corrections. The execution went as scheduled, she said, with "no problems whatsoever."

  Cooey had exhausted his legal appeals and Gov. Ted Strickland earlier denied the 41-year-old prisoner's clemency petition. Cooey murdered two college students in 1986.

• Cooey and a then-17-year-old accomplice were convicted of the brutal murders of Wendy Offredo and Dawn McCreery, students at the University of Akron. The men had been tossing concrete slabs onto Interstate 77, and one of them struck Offredo's car.

  Pretending to "rescue" the women, Cooey and Clinton Dickens took the victims to a remote field, according to prosecutors. There the students were subjected to a three-and-a-half-hour period of rape, torture, stabbings and fatal bludgeonings. Cooey carved an "X" into the stomachs of both women, prosecutors said.

Lethal injection was way too easy a way to go for this piece of excrement. We'd hope someone replaced the last of the execution chemicals with something like battery acid instead of potassium chloride. Rot in Hell.

Nebraska's Bright Idea

Actually, much of Nebraska views this as a flaw, but we're not so sure:

• A Michigan mother drove roughly 12 hours to Omaha, so she could abandon her 13-year-old son at a hospital under the state's unique safe-haven law, Nebraska officials said Monday.

  The boy from the Detroit area is the second teenager from outside Nebraska and 18th child overall abandoned in the state since the law took effect in July.

• Nebraska's safe-haven law is unlike similar laws in that it allows anyone, not just a parent, to drop off a child, of any age, at any state-licensed hospital without fear of prosecution for abandonment. The law doesn't absolve anyone of other charges like abuse or neglect.

Any age? Any concerned person and it doesn't have to be a parent? J-Fed is someone's child, right? And Bea? And most of the brass? And a few thousand citizens? Does anyone think they could find their way back from Nebraska?

We know a guy with a truck.

Rumor Gaining Traction

Daley pulls the strings. Everyone else just dances for the man:

• Dear SCC,
  I am hearing rumblings from the 5th floor that our Mayor is looking into replacing Sup. Weiss with either Little Tommy Byrne or James Maurer. Weiss would slide over to Homeland Security Director for the Olympic 2016 dream. The new Superintendent position would be considered at first an interim position (as to not embarrass the mayor) and then be phased into full time. Both Byrne and Maurer are top candidates for 2 reasons. One, they are the mayors guys and two as a morale booster to the Department which the mayor has identified as "severely problematic". The strategy "spinning the story to the public to believe that Weiss would be great in this new position and that his(the Mayor) choice Weiss did a great job at restructuring the Police Department with firings and dumps which will begin next Thursday according to a 5th floor insider". This also will coincide with balancing the budget and merging Units within the department and balance the drastic shortage of manpower by closing Districts and rezoning beats.

This ties together a bunch of stuff that's been appearing on and off in the comments for about 5 weeks now, numerous rumors coming out of Administrative units and a few e-mails we've been getting from downtown. So either someone has been putting together a fantastic story and leaking it in pieces from twenty or thirty different sources or changes are afoot and a lot of people are starting to put the pieces together.

Even D-Day wasn't a complete secret from anyone who paid attention.

UPDATE: We think the Tommy Byrne referenced is the one who isn't retired.

UPDATE: Ok, we have no clue which Tommy Byrne is referenced. Some claim one, some the other and both have their supporters and detractors. Just like Maurer does. Just like any choice would.

Obama "Detail"

So everyone sticks together and the Department prepares to break it off in their ass:

• To the know it all that made a comment on the new and improved SOS: There was no one brought into SOS, they detailed 28 PO's and 5 Sgts to unit 543, that's Detached Services, they will take over guarding Obama's House, since the city was trying to coerce the guys from Special Functions who were on the detail into working 12 hour shifts and follow the schedule that the Mayors' Security does, they wanted them to give up any chance ever of filing a grievance to get the same pay as the Mayors Security Detail gets which is Sgts. Pay. The whole crew refused and were sent back to Special Functions as of 0600 hrs on Sunday 12 Oct. Now rumours have it that the City is now going to dump them all to districts ,along with Commander Franklin who should have been able to get them all to sign the form, These kids were working 12 hour days and had their days off canceled, the city did not want to give them 25 more PO's to work the detail, then the Overtime would have been eliminated, so now that me and the other Sgts. and the PO's made plenty on OT the city is all pissed off.

Sounds like an efficiently run City operation, doesn't it?

What is "Bridge Week"?

From the comment section:

• mean discipline as in PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE because there is no other type of discipline there!
  The ego's of some of the instructors during bridge week was beyond belief! Taking their frustrations out on recruits is uncalled for.
  And if the administration thinks that the critiques tell that the recruits liked it = well your wrong!
  The recruits/PPO's, 8-1 class, all got together and decided to write good things so that the recruits that haven't gone through it will SUFFER AS THEY DID.
  FYI - Maybe when you implement a new program into the curriculum, the supervisors and instructors should go through it first to see if it will work and it is not going to be a death sentence for some recruit!
  Who on this job works for four straight days 10 hour days with switching early and late start times? Who on this job does not speak? Who on this job works out and gets 5 minutes to shower? Some of this was so out of line, who on this jobs runs for an hour straight? Who on this job after clearing a room has the offenders go back in that room and hide again? Who on this job when they cannot complete the above or is the slowest one to complete the above gets disciplined by doing more PT?

Is this some sort of "hazing" prior to hitting the street? Is this supposed to mimic some strange ritual found in fraternities? From what appeared in the comment, it seems a bit unrealistic and more than a little masochistic.

Is it some secret? Are the recruits sworn to silence? What's it all about?

Munoz Battery on YouTube

Aldercreature Munoz tries to throw a constituent down the stairs:



We're pretty sure that's a battery. Being an asshole isn't justification for a committing battery - hell, it's not even an impediment to getting elected in Chicago, Cook County, or Illinois. A wise-ass might even call it a requirement. Munoz's claim that the "asshole" was trespassing seems weak at best, especially in light of his complete attitude adjustment once he sees a camera.

Regardless, we'll expect the States Attorney's Office to refuse prosecution based on the fact Munoz didn't sign a confession and admit that was him on the tape. It could be his long lost twin brother.

What Did Judge Porter Do?

A couple of comments hinting at another amazing ruling from Porter's courtroom this past Friday. What monstrosity of a miscarriage of justice has been perpetrated against the populace of Cook County this week by one of the bottom five legal minds to grace the bench?

UPDATE: Ah, here it is.

• Such warnings are often a harbinger of doom for defendants and their families. But minutes later the entire courtroom—despite the judge's warning—shrieked in joy and disbelief when Porter found Lamell Burns and Melvin Martin not guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder and attempted murder of a police officer. The roar could not have gone unnoticed by a jury in an adjacent room deliberating the fate of their co-defendant, Tristan Scaggs, 21.
  
  The three were charged after a shootout with Chicago police in October 2006 that left two of the defendants' fellow reputed gang members dead.
  
  Prosecutors alleged secret wiretaps revealed Martin and Burns planned a hit on a rival Traveling Vice Lord gang member and were directing a car containing Scaggs and two other cohorts to the victim's location when cops pulled them over to prevent the slaying.

The last defendant was found guilty by a jury and faces 80 years for a gun battle that killed two accomplices.

Holding Pattern?

Dude, we aren't even treading water:

• Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis is downplaying recent reports that the number of officers in the department is down this year, while acknowledging that the department is in a "holding pattern" on hiring as the city resolves its budget crisis.
  
  Speaking with reporters Friday night after an open roll call for about 75 officers across the street from where 17-year-old Kiyanna Salter was shot and killed on a CTA bus last weekend, Weis said the department is down about 350 officers this year. That represents roughly 2.5 percent of the full police force, he said.
  
  "People make it sound like a lot, 'Oh, you've got 350 vacancies,' and that is a lot," Weis said. "We're committed to filling those vacancies, but you've got to keep in mind we're still about at 97 1/2 percent strength, and for any organization that's pretty good."

We were perusing the FOP newsletter archives the other day and found the following numbers:

• January - 35 retirees listed
• February - 31
  
• March - 31
  
• April - 35
  
• May - 16

This includes a correction or two we located for people left off the list, but those five months alone completely wipes out any recruit graduations for all of 2008. And we can't even find retiree lists in the last four newsletters (probably due to space considerations). But even averaging the five months listed, that would be an additional 120 officers. Now include people leaving for greener pastures, firings, resignations, even Leaves of Absence, and we begin to see a problem.

Add in the Detailed Out lists and we see 99 units, down beat cars and ghost assignments becoming the norm. But don't worry:

• "We have more than enough officers to effectively combat crime in the city," Weis said.

What was that homicide rate again? And the Aggravated Batteries? And the clearance rate? Who are you going to believe - the City and Department politicos or your own goddamn lying eyes?

Rumors Rumors Everywhere

Some of the better ones (ALL from the comment sections - not from SCC):

• Word/Rumor outta HQ has J-Fed and Daley(need a word for that) totally revamping the department as we currently know it. The Department will only have 2 Bureaus remaining. Patrol and Investigative. LOTS-O-WEEPING in the exempt ranks with demotions and retirements. A leaner less top heavy Department?
• Yeah it's true, TRU "c" company is being punished for not keeping up with the demanded "head a day". The Commander was overheard lamenting how this "c" company is going to make him lose his gold star because of their poor performance...
• Big changes in the Detective Division coming. There is rumor from 35th street that the DOG's in the D-unit will be changed to one or two options for field detectives: Fri/Sat DOG or SUN/Mon DOG.
• Aunt Bea sent an email out saying that increase in beefs about no police service. she thinks problem is coding of jobs by sgts. but really if you are waiting an hour for the police you may not think that they are coming...completely ignores fact that no PO's to go to jobs. Wants supervisors to monitor time spent on jobs...clueless. as usual 35th st has no idea what we do for a living and how many are needed to do it.

We'd like to see that last e-mail if it exists. Nevertheless, big changes supposedly in the offing due to the ever growing budget shortfall. Hang on!

We're "Motivated"

Darn those FOIA requests:

• Police superintendent is denying a news report that officers in his command are working the streets less aggressively out of fear of being second-guessed by him.

  Jody Weis told reporters Saturday that despite what some people may say, he sees officers who are well supported by their superiors and highly motivated.

  According to statistics provided by police and an internal document obtained by The Associated Press, serious crime is up but arrests are down in Chicago. Officers are also seizing fewer guns and frisking gang members less often than they did before Weis arrived.

  Police have denied that any deliberate ''slowdown'' is taking place. But some members of the department have blamed low morale and fear of investigation by Weis.

This entire "slowdown" thing is just so much bullshit. We got an e-mail the other day and we think it makes a few valid points (summarized to shield the source):

• Officers aren't "slowing down" per se. Chicago Officers for so long did way more than was asked of them - clearing the corners, surveilling street level dope operations, aggressive traffic stops. Now there's no manpower that enabled officers to maybe hold themselves down for an hour to figure out the dope corner (who was holding, where was the pistol, etc) and the dealers know it. Everyone is still responding to priority jobs in a timely manner (at least the ones who always did before) and citizens aren't being shortchanged in terms of safety, but all the other stuff? Everyone is stepping lightly because one single so-called "civil rights violation" is going to land you in a world of shit.

And you can see it in the "reverends" and certain media folk claiming "police should do more" to clear the corners without realizing that when we used to do that, all we got was flak and static. "Reap what you sow" was never a more apt description.

Kass and Trib Rip Daley

Nice Sunday articles:

• [John Kass] Turn on the TV news when John McCain is picking up undecided voters by invoking Barack Obama's relationship with unrepentant American terrorist William Ayers and, invariably, some liberal talking head will sniff in disgust and say Ayers is no big deal where Obama comes from.
  
  Unfortunately, that's true. Ayers is a terrorist. But this is Chicago.

And the Pièce de résistance:

• [Dan Mihalopoulos] At a time when Daley is cutting more than 1,000 workers to plug a $469 million deficit, he is also spending millions to promote the city's image and manage the message coming from City Hall.

Both articles are a blistering indictment of politics as usual in Chicago and the amusing juxtaposition of 1960's radicals and police haters embracing the capitalistic system of the Chicago Machine. Go. Read. Now.

Marathon Minor Bumps

Of course, after last year's debacle, anything was bound to be an improvement. Only 61 people hospitalized and at last report, no one dead. Tribune has full coverage. Other media links on the right.

Anyone have nice, decent stories about the Department coverage?

Blackhawks, Bears

Darn those Blackhawks! Back to back 4-2 loses? At least the bandwagon is still filling up and we got prime seats.


Ah well, time for the Bears! In Atlanta, noon. Bears appear to have a slight edge according to ESPN, but everything would have to go exactly right to earn a commanding win. Of course, we'd settle for a close win, too.

Lesson Not Learned

October is a funny month. You can go from warm days that rival the summer months to night time frost warnings. Tomorrow looks to be one of those days that might, again, throw a wrench in the Chicago Marathon:

• The Bank of America Chicago Marathon plans to add five more aid stations and a lot more water and water-soaked sponges along the race route this year to avoid a repeat of the heat-induced debacle that shut down last year's marathon, organizers said today.

  With temperatures expected to approach or exceed 80 degrees, race organizers said they plan to add more supplies at more stations, bananas and power gels for quick energy boosts and additional misting locations.

We hope we're wrong. We hope every contingency has been addressed. But we still wonder why:

• they don't move this thing to the last week of October when the chances for milder weather are better;
  
• they don't start at 0600 hours to beat the heat;
• they don't institute a qualifying time like Boston and New York do to keep the worst amateurs from coming here and killing themselves.

Any of those things could reduce the chances of a fatality or hospitalization by magnitudes.

More Burke Nanny-Statism

And again, the people hurt most? Chicagoans:

• Under the proposal, annual total compensation for executive officers, including bonuses, would be capped at $400,000. That salary isn't unusual for Chicago's top bankers and mere pocket change for top honchos at Wall Street investment banks, where the head of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. took home $54 million last year.
• The legislation would limit the number of financial institutions that could underwrite city bond deals at a time when investment banks, such as Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., have gone out of business or exited the public-finance arena. Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. and others that remain would not be able to comply with the proposal as written. It is unclear whether these Wall Street banks will participate in the federal bailout.

These investment banks are publicly owned entities for the most part. Their main responsibility is to the shareholders. The shareholders are responsible for setting the contracts and compensations to their executives. The aldercreatures in Chicago have nothing to do with it.

In fact, one has to wonder that the aldercreatures recently voted themselves 6% pay raises while operating in a $400-plus-million deficit mode. CEO's of banks don't usually reward themselves out of shareholder's pockets - they are paid based on share value, performance goals and meeting standards.

If the City can't make bond deals with established banks, who knows what the taxpayers are going to be on the hook for?

Homicide? Or Not Really?

How is this tracked? We're serious:

• A teenage girl died Friday night, a day after jumping out of a moving stolen van as police attempted to approach it. A 13-year-old boy has been charged as the driver of the van, police said. [...]
  

  The incident happened in the 6100 block of South Marshfield Avenue at 4:50 p.m. on Thursday as police attempted to approach a stolen van, according to police News Affairs Officer Daniel O’Brien.

  The driver of the van, a 13-year-old boy, accelerated after seeing police while his passenger jumped out of the van, O'Brien said.

The 13-year-old asshole faces numerous traffic charges (if he survives), but as a death occurred during the course of a crime, wouldn't homicide be an appropriate charge? And if it's charged, does that make the death a homicide, which would make the count climb? D-Unit? Answers?

Olympic Dream Isn't Touched

But everything else? Fair game evidently:

• Mayor Richard Daley is considering increased taxes on downtown parking and tickets to ballgames and live shows and more red light cameras to catch traffic scofflaws as he tries to balance an out-of-whack city budget.

So what happens when people start taking public transit to games, taxis to downtown events and start obeying traffic laws? It's happening right now as we type - Chicagoans are altering their behavior to deny the City fees and fines.

• Mayor Daley said Friday he will consolidate city departments that handle consumer issues, human services, economic development and business affairs to tighten the bureaucratic belt during Chicago’s worst budget crisis in a generation.

  The consolidations will save $5 million. That’s barely a drop in the $420 million sea of red ink that’s forcing the mayor to lay off 1,080 city workers and eliminate thousands of vacancies.

Wow, 1% of the budget shortfall reduced by eliminating redundant bureaucracies! Daley has almost balanced the budget! Wait until the pink slips start hitting - we got a letter from someone who seems to know quite a bit of the inner workings of City government and they're talking about special security details being set up for the heads of Departments that are about to lay off a few hundred people.

We're sure Daley is looking at all the options for jettisoning dead weight, right?

• The Chronicles of Pool Boy continue with news of a stupendous Chicago political miracle.
  
  Commonwealth Edison said late Thursday that its investigation revealed that the matter of Dave "Pool Boy" Ochal and the Generator X fiasco has been resolved to its satisfaction. There was no clout involved. It was all a series of rather amazing coincidences.
  
  Things just happen sometimes.

Especially if you run a small cog attached to the Machine.

Homicide Cleared - Others Occur

One good job wrapping this one up:

• Four Chicago teens were charged this week in the beating death of a 17-year-old boy in the Park Manor neighborhood and arrest warrants were issued for two juveniles who also may have been involved.

One 18-year old, three 17-year olds and looking for two other juveniles who think it's appropriate to beat someone to death with bricks. How touching.

And then these homicides:

• A [32-year old] Southwest Side woman found unclothed with a belt around her neck near a Marquette Park lagoon Thursday morning was strangled, authorities said.
• A mother found her 25-year-old daughter shot to death in a garage outside her Little Village home on the Southwest Side on Friday morning.

The killing rate stays high and the clearance rate, unfortunately, doesn't seem to be moving.

Inauspicious Beginning

But it's a long season, right?

• NEW YORK - Brandon Dubinsky scored once and added two assists, and newcomers Wade Redden, Aaron Voros and Nikolai Zherdev chipped in with goals, too, leading the New York Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the vastly improved Blackhawks on Friday night.

We'll try to keep the hockey talk to a reasonable level. We have a weekly Bears post after all and no one seems to mind. We covered both baseball teams unceremonious early exits and gave almost everyone a forum to rip the opposite side of town.

But the Blackhawks are on free TV for the first time in a few decades and they've made good moves. We expect big things this year. Plus it gives us filler over the slow winter months.

Vacancies

Everyone knows the Airport is a choice spot. Always has been. And most of the non-police at the airport actually treat the police decently and like to see the police, especially the tourists. So why is this place short staffed, especially after 9/11 and the Federal dollars available?

• More than a third of the Chicago Police positions at the city's two major airports are vacant, but officials say cops are helping to fill the gap by working overtime.

  Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th), chairman of the City Council's Police Committee, said there are a combined 77 vacancies at O'Hare and Midway airports.

  Of O'Hare's 177 budgeted positions, 66 are vacant, officials said. And at Midway, 11 of the 57 budgeted positions are vacant.

32.9% vacant to be exact. The airports are about the size of a very small district in terms of manpower. How does that manpower shortage translate to the actual Police Districts?

In anyone beginning to see the problem? Besides the boys and girls working the Districts?

IPRA Says What???

Recall back before J-Fed and before Ilana Rosenzweig, there existed an organization known as OPS.

The Office of Professional Standards was despised by the reverends and portions of the public because they cleared about 95% of the cases put before them. They were also hated by the police because they sustained 5% of the cases based on some of the most asinine, arbitrary and capricious reasoning known to man. Of the 5% sustained, most were overturned by the Superintendent, Police Board or various arms of the court. They were truly between rocks and hard places.

Now comes this item in the Sun Times:

• The office that investigates Chicago police misconduct released its annual report Thursday afternoon, providing for the first time an accounting of its cases.

  The report includes a breakdown of complaints and the outcome of investigations by the Independent Police Review Authority.

• The report said 42 of the 2,158 investigations closed by IPRA between September 2007 and August 2008 were sustained by IPRA — meaning the complaints were determined to be true.

Calculator Time!

• 42 = (unk)% of 2,158
• 42/2,159 = 0.01946

OPS is widely thought to have sustained around 5% of the cases it handled. IPRA sustains 1.9% of the cases against officers? Wow. Should we be thanking Shortshanks for the better investigations that actually clear officers and close bullshit ones?

Christine Flowers Letter

The lawyer/columnist who wrote in the Philadelphia paper about the low life scum who killed a Philly copper evidently got a boatload of mail from people reading this site. And she's been writing back to each and every person who reached out to her:

• SCC, I just got a wonderful reply from Christine Flowers who wrote regarding the murder of Philly PD Officer Patrick McDonald...
  
  Thank you so much for writing. I apologize for the delay in responding, but I received over 400 emails to this piece, some from your wonderful colleagues in Chicago, and wanted to make sure that I wrote to each of you personally. It is with a very heavy heart that I learn of Officer Taylor's murder, (I received a link to the story from another Chicago officer) and I will add him to the prayers I am already praying for Patrick McDonald. You have such a difficult job, and so many of us who sit behind desks and go about our lives without a care for our own safety never take the time to express thanks. The least we can do is refuse to play the race or poverty card to excuse our own weaknesses. I was disgusted when I heard my fellow Philadelphians make excuses for the inexcusable, for a worthless man like Daniel Giddings whose final act extinguished a life of service and courage. Pat McDonald was, like your brother Nate, an exceptional human being, one we couldn't afford to lose. I hope that you know how much I, and so many other people, appreciate what police officers do for us.
  
  God bless and keep you,
  
  Christine

We've been getting letters and comments for a few days now telling us this effort by Ms. Flowers. And a few people have been sharing her replies with everyone in the comment sections.

Kass On Mette

John Kass writes what may be the final chapter in the Mette saga:

• Mike Mette, the wrongfully convicted Chicago cop released from an Iowa prison Wednesday, sat in the backyard of a family friend, finally free.
  
  
• He wanted to say something to you, the readers of the Tribune, for sending him all those letters and cards, for not forgetting him when he waited on his appeal of his 5-year prison sentence.
  
  "The Tribune readers who wrote to me, people wrote me who I didn't know—that worked the best for me," Mike said. "I can't tell you what it meant. Of course my family loves me, and I got support from them. But I'd get all these letters and cards from strangers.

Maybe one more chapter?

• And now Mike Mette wants to go to law school.
  
  "I've been thinking about it and thinking about it, going to law school," he said. "I think I'd make a good lawyer. I've been on both sides of it. I think I'd bring a perspective to the law that most people don't have. I've been there."

Take your time, enjoy the family. Again, welcome home.

Cop Wounds Two Robbers

Off duty:

• An off-duty police officer shot and wounded two men during an alleged attempted robbery late Wednesday in the Southwest Side’s Ashburn neighborhood.

  Two or three men approached an off-duty Chicago Police officer in the 2500 block of West 83rd Street at 11:38 p.m. in an apparent attempted armed robbery. The officer fired his weapon, striking two men, police said. The district where the officer works was not immediately known.

And before the "altar boy" pictures start appearing:

• A weapon was recovered on the scene

Good job Officer.

Documented Waste

But don't worry, we'll stop hiring police and eliminate 300-plus spots. Nothing to see here:

• A top city official in charge of garbage collection said today he is "disgusted" by an inspector general report alleging widespread loafing by garbage truck crews.

• Workers on Chicago’s garbage pick-up crews spend about two hours a day loafing on the clock, according to a report released today by the city’s inspector general.

  Between May and September, investigators for Inspector General David Hoffman spied on 77 garbage truck drivers and 145 laborers in 10 wards. They reported what they called "systemic, pervasive" waste and fraud.

  In 10 weeks of surveillance, they "did not see a single laborer doing a full day's work," according to the report.

Hey Tony Soprano, we'll take a no-show and two no-work spots. You can have the other three no-show and four no-work spot. John says he needs two no-show electrician jobs over at McCormick and Joey is asking about that new project over by there. Needs a few spots.

Anyone think the Outfit (and other corrupt entities) isn't alive and well and making a killing in the big city?

Mette Event

We were debating the wisdom of publishing anything about a celebration, but since the info is out there, we'll just sound a note of caution:

• The event runs from noon until five pm (Bears game at noon - has anyone rented a big screen TV or three?) There are going to be media covering this event. We'd imagine that a number of Mike's supporters from the media might drop by and maybe a few persons who figure the fastest way to get a headline or byline is to highlight a copper or two acting dumb. Please, for the love of Mike, know when to say when, be responsible and don't do anything that could possibly rain on Mike's parade.

Mike and his family deserve the best possible showing by his CPD brethren.

Evanston Cop Wounded

Prayers and well wishes only:

• An Evanston police officer on the street three days was shot during a confrontation today with a convicted felon, who also was shot, sending both men to hospitals with injuries, authorities said.
  
• Police were not saying who fired which shots during the morning domestic violence call on the city's west side. In a news release, police described the scene as "highly volatile" and said police took "appropriate measures of self defense."
  
• The rookie officer, whom police would not name, was shot in the arm, Cmdr. Tom Guenther said. A training officer also was at the scene working with the new officer, Guenther said.

Baptism by fire. Hopefully, a full recovery and a nice quiet career after this.

Chase Video

Guardian Angels doing their part to earn Chicago Police pensions:



Oh wait, they're volunteers. It's not like they're connected and clouted, pretending to have earned a police pension by jumping five promotional ranks overnight, moving to OEMC, becoming the mayor's chief-of-staff and then pushing buses and pulling trains, then claiming it all falls under the "security" heading so they ought to get more of our dwindling pension money.

Underwood had it right - the Guardian Angels have done more security on the CTA than Huberman has done his entire career.

Not a Homicide?

Hopefully, this is just preliminary paper shuffling:

• A 17-year-old Gage Park High School student died Tuesday, two days after his family said he was struck by a brick the same night that another Chicago Public Schools student was fatally shot on a CTA bus about a mile away.
• Bowens was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:31 p.m. Tuesday, according to the medical examiner's office. His death has not been labeled a homicide.

Because last time we checked, bricks weren't just falling out of the sky onto CPS students heads.

Lambert Tree Awarded

Here's the story:

• The Lambert Tree Award, this year’s highest honor for police bravery, went to Deputy Chief Alfonza Wysinger.

  On June 23, 2007, Wysinger was attending his grandmother’s 80th birthday party when he saw someone firing a gun down the street. Wysinger jumped off the porch, exchanged gunfire and chased the person down the street, apprehending him. The gunman, who wounded one of Wysinger’s neighbors, was charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

  “I didn’t have time to think. I just reacted — basically instinct and training. The final mission was to apprehend the bad guy who had wounded an innocent bystander,” Wysinger said.

  Asked if heroics by the boss sent a message to the rank-and-file, Wysinger said, “It’s much better if you lead by example. I’ve always been a firm believer that, if I’m gonna ask you to do it, I’m gonna go out and do it myself. It goes a long way toward boosting morale and showing them how to do things.”

Congratulations.

NOTE: We know that this post is going to head south in a hurry. Overly insulting comments will be removed. Please attempt to make a legitimate cognizant case if you feel the need to go to town. We will confess we aren't happy about this outcome, we have our reasons and we're entitled to our opinions. We're also entitled to keep our opinions to ourselves.

For Revenue You SIlly People

By hook or by crook, Daley will get his money:

• Bucktown residents remained perplexed Monday as to why 127 cars were towed Sunday to make way for a neighborhood fun run.

  A map posted on the Bucktown 5K Web site showed a race course that neighbors said wasn't used by runners.

  The posted map also doesn't entirely match the route where Streets and Sanitation Department spokesman Matt Smith said tow zone warning signs were hung Thursday, and where cars were towed.

This reminds us of the upcoming annual "Snow Route" tows that usually net about 100 cars from people who forget to check the calendar for the winter parking restrictions. Anything to steal money from taxpayers, Daley is all over it.

Sneed Droppings

Sneed picks up on blog rumors:

• Hmmm. Sneed hears rumbles a surprise police protest at City Hall is being organized. Complaints of low morale, outdated equipment and no police contract may result in a public outcry.

  • • The big question: Will it take place before Mayor Daley returns this week from his trip to the Black Sea?

Whoever was using the blog comment section in an attempt to drum up support for some informational picketing or a wildcat protest never made the effort to contact us for support or even a post outlining what they were attempting to accomplish. So we have no idea what is supposed to happen or supposed to be accomplished. We're as interested as the next guy to see what's coming up.

Soccer Fundraiser

The 4TH Annual Call Box Cup will be held 12 October 2008 at 6:00PM

De LaSalle High School 3455 S. Wabash, across the street from HQ

$5.00 Donation to benefit The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and Bucks for Burns Camp Free Parking enter off of 34th St.

For tickets contact cpdsoccer@yahoo.com or any member of the team

And as of yet, the CPD hasn't lost to the CFD in previous events. Here's to hoping they keep the streak alive.

Um...They're ILLEGAL, Remember?

What did they think was going to happen at some point?

• GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) _ Federal agents swept through a chicken processing plant Tuesday, detaining more than 300 suspected illegal immigrants, sending panicked workers running and screaming through the hallways. Worried relatives collected outside, fearful their loved ones would be deported.
  
  Police and agents during a shift change ordered all workers at the House of Raeford's Columbia Farms to show identification, according to officials and witnesses. The business had been under scrutiny for months and the raid comes on the heels of even larger roundups at plants across the country.

They are here illegally, most times with forged documentation. The government has a responsibility to find and remove them. So-called "sanctuary" cities aid and abet lawbreaking and cost everyone else untold billions in services.

24 Hours to Freedom

Iowa authorities have indicated they will not be appealing the Court's directed verdict and Mike Mette will be free within 24 hours.

Party starts in 25 hours.

Retread training better be discussed within 26 hours.

Welcome home Mike!

Media Notices SOS Return

Evidently, whomever sent us the draft document mailed it all over the place:

• Tribune
• Sun Times

Even the TV stations were doing pieces on it, but they don't have links up yet.

We still don't know where they're going to come up with 100 people for this thing. Well, that's not true, we know exactly where they're going to snatch bodies from - Patrol. And once again, Patrol will be left holding the bag that contains nothing but backlogs, broken down cars and bullshit.

We certainly didn't join this Department to get rich. But we didn't sign up for what they're handing out lately either.

Quick Hits

Bringing back an old favorite when there's just too damn much news to cover:

• Federal prosecutors on Monday sent the strongest hint yet that convicted influence peddler Antoin "Tony" Rezko is ready to spill his political secrets, moving to postpone his sentencing indefinitely while they and defense attorneys "engage in discussion that could affect their sentencing postures."
  

Well the Feds better hurry the hell up. There's under four weeks to election day and should Obama win, judges and prosecutors are going to be reluctant to move forward when they know there's wholesale change coming just after Inauguration Day. Rezko is playing the feds like he never got convicted of anything.

• The Chicago Police Department is renewing its pledge to not engage in racial profiling.

  The city council's human relations committee met with police representatives Monday afternoon to hear about the department's new anti-racial profiling campaign.

  The department is also launching a new series of public service announcements and materials that will be handed out at various community meetings.

  Officers are also being re-trained on the department's policy to not ask about citizenship or immigration status.

Oh lord, not this crap again. Why won't the Feds just cut off funding to "sanctuary cities" so they fall into line regarding illegals? They threaten all sorts of funding cuts to force states to comply with rules, why not this? If the government makes it uncomfortable enough for illegals to ply their trade here, they'll deport themselves. Hell, if the economy keeps taking, they'll voluntarily return to their country of origin as jobs dry up.

• Daily Herald: "Violent crime on the rise in Chicago."

  ABC 7: "Third Chicago policeman killed since July."

  With nerve-rattling news headlines like those, who would ever want to be a Chicago cop?

Who indeed? The article is actually pointing out how different a Department Mike Mette will be returning to shortly. We're going to point out it has now been six days with no word on Mike's return and whether or not the Iowa DA is going to appeal the decision. This isn't over until Mike is home.

Making Us Proud

This is a nice letter:

• My uncle was waked at Blake & Lamb on Thursday night along with Officer Taylor. On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the entire Chicago Police Department for showing respect to our family during our time of sorrow. As you know, there was never a slow moment in those lines. You did a great job allowing our family to come and go and not get lost in the sea of blue. Some of you even stopped by to pay your respect to our family. James McNulty was a devoted Chicago fireman who lost his life from lung cancer associated with his work on the CFD. On Friday, while leaving the funeral parlor on our way to the church it was an honor to have the CPD stand at attention and salute him.
  
  We are sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all while you battle this vicious city.

Even in the midst of their own loss, a family member at the other wake appreciated the respect and kindness shown by the men and women in blue. We wouldn't presume to speak for the Department, but simple courtesies like the ones that inspired this letter writer to seek out the blog and thank all of the attending Officers give us hope that all is not lost in this Department and instills a sense of pride in our calling.

Fire Huberman

After all, security is supposed to be his job:

• As the bus stopped at 71st and Cottage Grove, she said, a younger man passed by, accidentally brushing the hand of the man who was talking to them

  That touch set off an argument, which led to both men showing guns, Wilcox said.

  When the younger man got off the bus, he turned and fired a single shot back inside, she said.

Guns? On buses? Those are gun-free zones, aren't they? Isn't all of Chicago? But everyone is running around packing lately. Too bad Super-Huber wasn't around to demonstrate his security "expertise" that might have entitled him to years and years of our pension money.

Well, That was Pointless

Everyone getting excited about baseball in October:

• Worst in the majors last year, the Rays will play for a spot in the World Series after finishing off the Chicago White Sox 6-2 Monday in Game 4 of the AL playoffs.
  
  Ray-markable!

Spring training starts in less than five months! By which time the Blackhawks ought to be closing in on a playoff spot for the first time in quite a few years.

Mobile Strike Force (SOS version 2.0)

We were e-mailed a document, purportedly from the Department, outlining the preparations for a new unit called the Mobile Strike Force. The entire thing is labeled "DRAFT" so we don't know yet how much of it will be implemented.

Some highlights:

• The goal is to have the unit up and running by 31 October. Lieutenant James M. Roussell has been tapped to run it.
• Only Officers with 5 years can apply and allegedly, CR history will not be that big a deal (depending on the nature of the complaints we imagine).
• HQ will be the 3rd floor of Homan Square (i.e. SOS's old digs) and it's a straight afternoon operations in two fixed day off groups.
• 1 Commander, 2 Lieutenants, 13 Sergeants, 115 PO's and a timekeeper. 69 vehicles to be assigned to the unit and they're all marked.
• BDU's or plain clothes with a special unit patch. Emphasis on gangs, working with NAGIS and TRU and access to 1505 money.
• It will also assume the old SOS duties of gas teams, cut teams, and all the old SOS personnel are to have first crack at the Unit.

Wow. It's going to be almost like SOS never left. The missive also has a section that states members do not have to worry about TRR's and CR's being used to launch them from the unit and another section states supervisors will be held strictly accountable for their subordinates behavior, which would be something different.

In any event, we're sure we'll be hearing all about this one very shortly if they want to be up and running by Halloween.

Weekend Tally

According to WBBM, around 5 dead, another bunch wounded and seemingly concentrated in 010, 011, 015 and 025.

Has anyone heard about a shooting in Area 5 involving someone shooting up an ambulance after the victim was loaded on board? A paramedic mentioned that he's bringing out his bullet proof vest to wear at work because of something he heard.

Bears Win; Sox Alive

The Bears looked pretty good. Of course, everyone looks petty good against Detroit this year, but at least they executed everything they tried and emptied out the bench.

The Sox finally put together a complete effort and it paid off. And just like clock work, various media outlets showed Sox fans gloating about their team winning to play another day while the Cubs fans sat at home. We don't begrudge south sider fans their victory, but we know that either a north or south sider would travel the length of the city to rub their rival's noses in their misery.

We don't really care one way or the other - we like hockey. And the Blackhawks lost a preseason game tonight.

Bears v Detroit

These are the "must win"games for the Bears to have any shot at the playoffs. Fatten up on mediocre division rivals - and Detroit is 0-3:

• ESPN coverage here

We have a good feeling about today.

Cubs Swept - Sox Next?

No Subway Series or El Series or whatever you want to call it.

Should the Sox win today though, we guarantee south side natives will be walking around like it's 2005 all over again because their team won a playoff game.

Our Tax Dollars at Work

Can we just put bars on the windows?

• A fight among students at Foreman High School, at 3235 N. Leclaire, spilled into the street Friday, resulting in the arrests of 24 people.

  About noon, a fight started among students inside the school, police said. School officials called police to control the situation, a Chicago Public Schools spokesman said.

  Police inside the school were unable to restrain the fighting students, police said. The school was placed on lockdown and dismissed at 1 p.m. But as students exited, the fighting resumed. Police said 10 adults and 14 juveniles were arrested.

How about Steinmetz - racial beatings in the bathrooms just about every day. Crane? Police escorting buses to various gang territories so the rivalries don't flare up. Orr? Bogan? Curie? Marshall? Collins? Farragut? Manley? How many others? Last year the Illinois House voted $20 million dollars to pay coppers time-and-a-half to keep a lid on twenty of these gang factories. No money this year, no extra police, tons more violence. Dismissal time is backlog time. And it's only getting worse.

Someone really ought to videotape these schools and YouTube it.

Fact Checking Fails

Thank goodness that the main stream media has numerous layers of fact checking and proofreaders). Otherwise we might see something like this:

• [Editor's note: On the front page of its Saturday edition, the Sun-Times erroneously printed the name of the slain officer Nathaniel Taylor. The Sun-Times sincerely regrets the error and will correct it in its Sunday edition.]

Not just leaving out a vowel or mixing up a letter or two - but calling Nathaniel Taylor "Daniel Taylor?" What a bunch of strokes. And then they black out the offending portion of the picture on their website:
Originally, the error appears just above the officers hats. But the photo shopping experts at the Slum-Times, are working overtime to cover someone's butt.

UPDATE: Corrected for spelling

Another Violent Weekend?

It sure seems like the media links are full of batteries, aggravated batteries and homicides. Someone said it was one of the worst weekends of the year. Any facts on the ground supporting this? WBBM 780 has been tallying up the whole weekend on Mondays. We'll keep an eye on it. Be careful out there because everyone is running around armed lately.

What Happens in Vegas...

...equals twenty to life:

• O.J. Simpson has been found guilty on all charges in the gunpoint robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas casino hotel room more than a year ago.
  
  The 61-year-old former football star faces up to life in prison. A somber Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read Friday in Clark County District Court. He was immediately taken into custody.
  
  The verdict comes 13 years to the day after Simpson was acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles.

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Thirteen years too late.

Funeral Coverage

Here are some links:

• Channel 2
• Channel 5
• Channel 7
• Sun Time/Southtown
  
• Tribune
• Tribune Photo Gallery

RIP Nate.

Open Post

Use this for other stuff covered or not covered during the week. Don't use Officer Taylor's thread. We have a page and more of posts open to address anything under the sun.

Thanks.

Direct Correlation?

This isn't rocket science:

• As the warmer months came to an end, crime in Chicago showed no sign of abating, with shootings up at least 300 and the murder tally inching toward 400.

  Through August, there were 316 more shootings in the city than in the same period last year. As of Sept. 30, there were 392 murders -- 50 more than at the same time last year, according to unofficial statistics.

  The toll includes three Chicago police officers killed since July.

And if someone would be kind enough to tally up the retirements and total up the recruits we'd see the number of officers short for this year alone. Then figure in the 329 spots eliminated that weren't filled in the first place. We're way short.

Nice Article

By Harry Porterfield no less:

• Through hard work and donations, volunteers have been able to identify and add gravestones to the resting places of many police officers who died in the line of duty.

  Rosehill, located in the Ravenswood community, is Chicago's oldest and largest non-sectarian commentary. It's the final resting place for Chicago Police Officer Phillip Robinson killed in the line of duty in 1887. The gravesite is old but the marker is new; it was put there recently by a group of volunteers because the burial took place without one. Norman Schwartz of the Chicago Jewish Historical Society is one of them.

  Officer Henry McDowell was killed in the line of duty on September 7th 1892. His marker and others placed by volunteers were donated by Tom Gast of Gast Monuments.

A noble cause to remember our fallen. Especially in light of today's funeral. God Bless Nate Taylor and all of the CPD Officers taken before their Tour was completed.

TASER Tragedy Fallout

NYPD:

• The man was naked, teetering on a building ledge and jabbing at police with an 8-foot-long fluorescent light bulb as a crowd gathered below.

  Lt. Michael Pigott responded by ordering an officer to fire a stun gun at the man, who froze and plunged headfirst to his death in a scene captured on amateur video and replayed frequently on the Internet.

  The officer was remorseful and distraught. He apologized and sought the family's forgiveness. Then he went to his unit's headquarters Thursday morning, his 46th birthday, and fatally shot himself just hours before the family laid the victim to rest.

A horrible outcome to what was pretty much a no-win situation. If the subject fell before police took action, cops would be blamed. If the police backed off and the subject hurt himself or others, cops would be blamed. If the cops put hands on the subject and anyone got hurt, cops would be blamed. Beanbags, TASERs, OC, any of the supposedly "less-that-lethal" options don't really work when a subject is 10 feet in the air waving broken glass around. And waiting him out isn't a realistic option when dealing with an emotionally disturbed person.

But pushing the Lieutenant over the edge by stripping him of police power and looking into criminal charges for what was essentially him looking out for his guys and possibly failing to appreciate the damage a fall could do is a failure of the disciplinary system. Obviously, the subject didn't deserve to die. But the Lieutenant didn't deserve to feel he had only one way out of a single questionable judgment call.

ASA's Continue Attack

This is getting ridiculous:

• Cook County Circuit Judge Thomas Gainer set bail today at $50,000 for a Chicago police officer who had DUI charges dismissed against him in a fatal November crash only to be indicted last week in the same Roscoe Village car accident that killed two men.

  The judge also rejected a request from prosecutors to confiscate the John Ardelean's service weapon.

$50, 000 is about the lowest possible bail in a case like this. For a judge to set a bail this low, he knows that something stinks. And even after the judge set bail so improbably low, the ASA makes a request for Ardelean's gun.

Is this because Ardelean has been threatening witnesses? No. It's because without a gun or being banned from carrying a gun means Ardelean can't be assigned to callback and therefore he has no income (at least no City income) and therefore he wouldn't be able to mount a vigorous defense based on the inadmissibility of the State's "evidence."

After the Nifong disbarment out east, one would think that lawyers everywhere would take a step back and maybe actually review and understand the law. But then again, Illinois has always been friendlier to incompetent lawyers. They usually end up getting elected here.

Pension Debacle Gets Bigger

Now the Sun Times jumps on the bandwagon:

• CTA President Ron Huberman today defended his controversial attempt to hang onto his police pension on grounds that part of his $198,000-a-year mass transit job revolves around security.

  Earlier this week, Huberman asked the police pension fund for permission to keep paying into that fund, even though he hasn’t been a police employee since 2004. The board deferred action on the request, which has drawn ridicule in some police circles.

  “This is, in no way meant to be disrespectful towards anyone in law enforcement. I have the greatest respect for Chicago Police officers and the work that they do," Huberman said before testifying at a City Council committee on transit issues.

  "Part of my responsibility is security at the CTA. I'm not saying I'm a police officer because I'm not. But the law says if you're involved in security work and that's part of your responsibility, you have the right to pay in if you're on leave of absence from the Police Department, which is what I am. I’ve been paying into the fund for the last 13 years.”

Huberman's been paying into the fund for 13 years, even without being a sworn police officer for the past seven years? Well that's just great - we'd like to pay into the aldercreatures' pension fund and the State Representatives' fund too. That way we can get something where we don't hav eto live on cat food after we retire.

Officer Underwood (retired) said the Guardian Angels do more security work that Huberman does and amazingly, they prove him correct within 72 hours:

• An 18-year-old South Side man seen carrying a gun early today in a Loop subway tunnel was arrested with an assist from the Guardian Angels

  Tyrese McKay, of the 1100 block of East 130th Place, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon and other weapons offenses after pointing the gun at two members of the volunteer neighborhood patrol group who were pursuing him, said Office John Mirabelli, a police spokesman.

That's probably more security work than Huberman did in 13 years.

Death Penalty Case?

Just one little zap, please:

• Dorothy Tillman was found guilty today of misdemeanor trespassing in Montgomery, Ala. — but that didn’t stop the outspoken former aldermen from proclaiming her innocence.

• Tillman said at the time she was “brutalized” by local police and hospital security guards, who she claimed pointed a Taser at her.

  Montgomery Municipal Presiding Judge Les Hayes III didn’t see the case the same way today, ordering Tillman to pay a $350 fine and $191 in court costs and serve 10 days in jail, said Ken Nixon, deputy court administrator.

Montgomery isn't Chicago Dorothy and your bullshit posturing doesn't play there. Thank god.

Lies Lies Lies

But what do you expect from Chicago Machine politicians and their spawn?

• [Channel 2 Jay Levine] No one in Chicago could believe the original ruling by a rookie Iowa court judge, who sentenced the four-year Chicago cop to five years in prison. Mette's supporters included everyone from Mayor Richard M. Daley to Sen. Barack Obama to State's Attorney Devine to Police Supt Jody Weis.

Devine and Weis had to be shamed into writing letters. Daley wrote a letter that was conveniently kept under wraps for over a month just in case the Mette appeal went south. Obama, if we aren't mistaken, was approached by numerous family and fundraiser entities and refused to even write a letter.

We're glad Devine and Weis were susceptible to pressure. Daley has been an opportunist since birth. Levine claiming support from Obama is just plain crass, wrong, and diminishes the work of the Mette family and John Kass.

The Mette Defense Fund is promising a list of supporters to be released shortly. How about a list that would have "Dates of Support" in the margin so we could all spot the bandwagon jumpers?

Re Districting Coming?

This rumor pops up every few years. We've posted it here before. But in light of:

1. current economic realities,
   
2. the Olympic dreams of Shortshanks,
   
3. the fact that Daley might not run for reelection in 2011,
4. and a patsy for Superintendent that he can saddle with the political heat

Why couldn't this be a reality?

• In order to reduce the CPD budget J W will be eliminating several units, exempt positions and demoting several others. Word in the halls of 35th is no one is safe..(Except maybe the FBI guys).... Deputy Sups, Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs reduced, Street Deputies eliminated. Units like Graphic Arts ...closed.

The reply:

• Funny you mention this, I heard the exact same thing.
  Marv Shear is telling his "friends" that come Jan 2009 that three districts are to be closed, numerous elite units to be eliminated, exempt positions eliminated, and the city is pushing hard to get rid of the non IOD Limited Duty.
  This is Daley's way of balancing the budget on the hands of public safety.

As stated here and elsewhere, we've been long time believers that we are woefully shorthanded. We still remember the days of all 10-4 units, two wagons, multiple rapids, two traffic cars and a fully manned 06 contingent aside from the Tact/Gang teams. Much of the shortage is units and inside spots draining Patrol - look at your District "Detailed Out" list. Daley is attempting a paper shuffle by eliminating unfilled spots. By getting rid of 300+ unfilled spots, he's reduced the manpower shortage by a large percentage. If we're short 1,000 cops, he's just eliminated 30% of the shortage without hiring anyone.

So where does he get another 700 cops? Along with the equipment?

By closing three Districts.

Actually, they'd probably have to close four Districts, then chop 008 into two Districts. But the net effect would be something along the lines of three fewer Districts, one each in the white, black and hispanic parts of town to spread out the political impact. 012 is off the drawing board, so that might be the logical first choice. Who else has an old station that hasn't been replaced yet and likely isn't going to be replaced due to cost cutting measures? 023?

Debate.

Pension Board Meeting Info

Huberman goes to the Pension Board. The Board listens to his spiel. But no one was prepared for Officer Shields, his camera, FOX News and their camera. At this point, the Board has to know their actions are going to attract all sorts of unwanted attention to their votes and they are going to be called on it.

The Board is made up of an elected Patrolmen's rep, an elected Sergeant's rep, and elected Lieutenant's (and above) rep, and an elected Retiree rep along with four spots appointed by the mayor.

So after Huberman makes his play, the Board votes to table the motion for a future date. The vote was 7-1. The one? Robbins, the Patrolman's rep. Robbins actually wanted to call the matter for a vote and make the mayor's people declare themselves, but he was undercut by the Sergeant, Lieutenant and Retiree representatives. Seems like there ought to be at least new Sergeant, Lieutenant and Retiree reps in the upcoming election.

Does anyone doubt that the mayor's four appointees are going to wait for a date to come up when the cameras aren't there and one of the elected reps is absent or late, then do an end around and give Huberman the credits he's asking to steal? We certainly don't discount that possibility. And why was Commander Roy there to testify on behalf of Huberman? Who ordered him there to support Huberman's bullshit? At least J-Fed sold his soul for almost a million dollars over three years. How does Huberman own Roy's ass?

UPDATE: And if Huberman is comparing CTA work to police work, why are people still getting stabbed on his El platforms?

• A South Side man is hospitalized with a stab wound that possibly pierced his heart after an altercation at a Red Line subway station early Wednesday in the Loop.

  A 38-year-old man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition after being stabbed at 2:30 a.m. at 230 S. State St., Central District Police said.

Visitation Today

2 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St. in Oak Lawn.

St. Jude at 7 p.m.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Bede the Venerable Roman Catholic Church, 8300 S. Kostner.

Good Luck With That

Burke swings again:

• On Wednesday, a Chicago City Council committee put its foot down, taking steps to prohibit drivers from texting while driving and ordering a blitzkrieg of tickets against those who defy the proposed ban.

  Law enforcement personnel and operators of emergency vehicles would be exempt. All other drivers would be prohibited from texting and surfing, except when the vehicle was in a “stationary, parked position and not in gear.” Violators would face a $75 fine for each offense, or $200 if it involves a crash.

  Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) pushed through the crackdown three years after striking out in his attempt to add all forms of distracted driving to Chicago’s ban on the use of cell phones without a hands-free device.

  “I know the arguments against this — that we shouldn’t be a nanny state, that we shouldn’t be a nanny city, that people should be permitted to have some freedom of choice,” said Burke, who also wanted to ban trans fats and impose mandatory calorie counts.

We assume that Burke will be enforcing this one on his off nights? Along with his transfat ban and the mandatory calorie count? What a snactimonious ass.

Once Again, A Bike Ride

The Doc Marks Run:

• This coming Sunday is our charity ride Doc Marks Run for Kids. Check in is at The New Horizon Center at 6737 W Forest Preserve Dr 0800 hrs with the first bike out at 1030 hrs. There is a 50 mile route we have planned for our riders and a great after party at The Brewery at 3848 N Harlem. We are riding rain or shine but I am sure it will be a great day. The donations asked are either $25.00 donation or a toy of the same amount. More information can be found on the doc marks web site at www.docmarksrun.com

It's supposed to be 68 and partly sunny. Almost a perfect day.

FREE!

Congratulations! Hurry home, Mike!

IOWA APPELLATE COURT RULING

10/1/2008

No. 07-1207. [8-329] STATE v. METTE

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dubuque County,

Monica L. Ackle, Judge.

REVERSED AND REMANDED. Heard by Huitink, P.J., and Vogel and Eisenhauer, JJ.

Opinion by Per Curiam (10 pages $5.00)

Michael Mette

appeals from his conviction of assault causing bodily injury. He asserts that the district court erred in rejecting his self defense claim and in finding his victim suffered serious injury. OPINION HOLDS: The district court's finding that Mette had a duty to retreat is not supported by substantial evidence; thus, we conclude the district court erred in rejecting Mette's defense of justification. We need not consider Mette's serious injury argument. We therefore reverse and remand for entry of judgment of acquittal.

• WBBM 780
• Chicago Tribune
• Sun Times
• Channel 2
• Channel 7
• Mette Defense Fund

Re-Opening Closed Cases

Remember, they can keep these open for seven years thanks to Bill Nolan and the old Board:

• Off Topic: Has anyone else heard of J-Fed reopening excessive force complaints and then requesting 30 days pending? One example is a Narcotics Officer, the same unit that lost a member while executing a search warrant. This beef is 3 yrs. old and made by a drug dealer. It claims excessive force and the complainant could[n't] be reached and never pushed the issue for 3 years and was suspended by investigators. J-Fed ordered the case re-opened and after an exhausted search the complainant was found and basically forced to pursue the complaint. The Narcotic officer was placed in call back and J-FED just gave him a 30 day suspension and is seeking his separation. A benefit is being held for this officer now. Anyone with similar stories please come forward. J-Fed is just here to fire as many p.o.'s as possible.

Now don't forget to run out and be aggressive! Seven years isn't that long - after all, they're offering Cozzi eight years.

Ruling From Iowa Today?

Word coming in from Mike's family and a bunch of folks close to the case that something is expected today. Obviously, we're hoping for a total reversal, but as we understand it, the option of sending the case back to the lower courts for a misdemeanor trial is another scenario. In that case though, Mike would be eligible for bail. The prosecution can appeal within 20 days, but the Court's language during proceedings makes that seem like a long shot.

Hopefully, October is looking up for Mike.

In the mean time, WindyCitizen blog had an article up concerning Mike and their correspondence with him while he's been behind bars.

Wrigleyville

Rumors abound about security work running afoul of the Rule and Regulations.

And still nothing about a clout-heavy individual beating a handcuffed prisoner in front of numerous witnesses then leaving a couple of blue shirts to take the beef.

Ladies and Gentlemen, why in god's name would anyone even come within 1,000 years of a Rule violation in these trying times? Especially a slam dunk one like this? We have someone in charge who has shown no compunction in referring previously settled cases to the US Attorney for prosecuting, has lied through his teeth to the rank and file, has had to backtrack not once, not twice, but numerous times from assorted contract violations, and who might even now be opening cases that were closed/suspended for years because Complainants didn't want to pursue them.

We hope this is just BS.

They Pulled it Off

It was a hell of a game.

• ESPN Coverage here. See the rest of the media links for local coverage.

Three "must-win" games and they manage to win every one of them. So the chance for a "Subway Series" is still on. Slim chance, but still on.

New Voice Mail

We've seen this before in print. Actually hearing it makes it better:


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