Our congratulations (belated) to our new sergeants. Hurry up we need you.



013 URSITTI, Antoinette M.

124/021 WEST, Laura A.

193 BLANKS, Kelvin M.

196 HARRIS, Alonzo D.

606 / 640 FLAHERTY, Thomas G.

610/008 SEDEVIC, Mark T.

610 CHUDZIK, Walter T.

610 / 606 DICKERSON Jr., Samuel L

610/001 HAUSER, Brian A

610/ 196 HASAN, Andre' A.

610 /002 DELAO, Edward A.

610 / 145 HUFFMAN, Sharon M.

610 ELKINS, Eric J.

610 / 001 PRICE, Matthew D.

620 OSIKA, Thomas J.

620/189 HORTON, Thomas M.

620 / 009 POPPISH, Michael J

620/ 153 Mc GUIRE Jr., Danny L.

620 / 006 WILSON, Michelle E.

620 / 008 DOWLING, Richard P.

620 / 005 BURRELL, Robert A.

620 ULLEWEIT, Frederick C.

620/189 CATO, Eric D.

620 / 006 FORD, Christi

630/ 193 WHITMORE, Gregory A.

630/017 SEDLACEK, Paul M.

630/001 BLOCK, Andrew M.

630 / 025 CALLAGHAN, Brian A.

630/013 HARAN, Patrick A.

630 / 020 KWONG, Norman P.

630 DANIEL, Heather L.

640 / 253 SCHULER, Joseph

640/012 NOVALEZ, Angel L.

640/ 011 GARDNER, Roderick L.

640/189 SANCHEZ, Alejandro

640/377 DZIAK, Steven E.

640 LAURICH, Marlene A.

640/014 WEIGLEIN, Timothy R.

640/013 DE LA TORRE, Miguel

640 / 024 VERGARA, Francisca I.

650 VIVERlTO. Vincent P.

650/015 STACK, Thomas P.

650 / 025 BARTOLI, Daniel A.

650/019 DONAHUE, Patrick E.

650 / 020 NOWACKl, Michael S.

650 / 001 SALADINO, Michael V.

650 / 253 MANNION, Sheamus

650 / 020 GENTILE. William F.

Monday was their first day at the academy. Anyone have a date of graduation?

MUST SEE

I found this video at Duty In The Desert a blog run by an Air Force Lt. Col.

Doesn't the anti-war crowd constantly belittle the intelligence of the fighting men and women of our armed forces?

Same Old Song And Dance

Now for some shocking news!
$217 million budget shortfall expected next year

Taxpayers escaped any increases a year ago as Mayor Richard Daley prepared to run for re-election, and today's gloomy financial picture comes as City Hall negotiates new contracts with its union employees.

Tribune

Remember the money from the Skyway lease? $1.83 billion....according to Daley it was money set aside for a rainy day. The only ones that are going to get soaked are the city employees and taxpayers.

Jon Loevy Makes Me Sick

Since I have had the displeasure of being deposed at this man's "edgy" loft styled law office I get nauseous every time I see his hideous face on t.v.
Jon Loevy is one of the most well to do ambulance chasers in the city. All he needs is some "citizen" to go into his office and claim he was beaten by the police and Jon sees $$$$. Go to the Loevy website and see for yourself what these "guardians" of the down trodden think of you the police.
In today's Tribune another lawsuit was announced by Loevy.
I'm sure this suit will the talk of the blogs but I for one am getting tired of the piling on.

"The only reason they thought they could get away with that is because in this city the system for disciplining and investigating an abuse [by police] is broken and dysfunctional," Jon Loevy

One day a member of the "down trodden" is going to have a pistol pressed up against Jon Loevy's pretentious little head demanding every penny he has and while he is pissing his pants he will be begging for two things; his life and a cop.
Oh well we can always dream.

Backing Mike?

The department's blog, Checkerboard Chat,
makes a statement concerning Mike Mette and links to the Mike Mette Defense Fund website. This is an official site operated by the department and all content must be approved by the superintendent. Its a start.

I Have A Problem With This One

I wanted to see how the dispatchers were reacting to the Durkin Park ordeal. I saw a comment on SCC where it apeared a dispatcher was thanking SCC for putting up the post. Then I found this on ChiTown 911:

What would you have done?
Well once again we are in the middle of chaos! OEMC has for the past 2 weeks been in the newspaper in some not so good articles. It is easy to say well I would of simulcasted that call, or I would not have given lunches out, or I would've put a backlog in the minute I sat down, but what it comes down to is NOBODY knows unless you are put in that situation. One thing is for certain, the 8th district is far too large for what they give us as far as cars to dispatch to. That district needs to be cut in half. At this point what is done is done and there is no way to go back and change what happened. But in the future please dispatchers, put those raps in asap, watch your p's and q's and here's a big one, make your cars go on the air with any transmission instead of that pdt. Like it was told at a roll call, you can party all you want with them, but in the end if a beef comes down, do you really think the guy on the other end of the radio has your back?

Did I miss something or did the coppers on the street throw the dispatchers under the bus? Your immediate supervisors and Tony Ruiz put you there.

SCC Makes Southtown Newspaper

Two police dispatchers put on leave South Town

Several anonymous posts on a local police blog say the first officer to arrive was a patrolman on special assignment in the Gresham District who got a phone call from a family member at the scene, pleading for help because no police were there.

HAD THE FLUE THE LAST FEW DAYS

I'm not 100% but I'll try to keep everyone up to date.

METTE INTERVIEW

Read Mike Mette's interview via Mike Parker CBS2

Shots Fired At And By The Police

July 15, 2007 (CHICAGO) - Three officers of the Chicago Police Department were shot this evening while responding to a call on the city's West Side.

Chicago Police spokesman John Mirabelli says the shooting occurred shortly before 9 p.m.
A woman, believed to be in her 50s, was killed in the incident.

Chicago police were responding to a call in the 1500 block of West Adams. Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Monique Bond said the woman was firing a shotgun out of her second-floor apartment window while police were on the ground below.

"In their attemp to make entry [to the apartment building], the female offender lunged out of the building armed and shooting, striking three police officers," said Bond.

Police shot back at the woman.

Two officers were shot in the arm, and one was grazed in the head. The injured officers were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. All are in stable condition, and their injuries are not lifethreatening.

Dozens of police officers remained on the scene Sunday night. Authorities do not have a motive.

ABC7


Thoughts and prayers with the officers in the hospital this evening.


Earlier today on the far south side officers were involved in a shooting.

The shooting occurred near 11530 S. Stewart Ave. in the Pullman neighborhood about 11:30 a.m., according to police News Affairs Deputy Director Pat Camden.

Officers were driving in the 11500 block of South Princeton Avenue when they attempted to pull over a vehicle for a routine traffic stop. The vehicle then pulled into a vacant lot and a man fled on foot carrying a gun in his hand, Camden said.

Police officers chased the man while other officers arriving to the scene were coming around on Stewart Avenue. The arriving officers saw the man hiding in the bushes holding a 9mm glock with an extended clip, capable of shooting more than 30 rounds, Camden said.

The man then threw his gun into the street and officers attempted to arrest him, when he tackled and attempted to disarm one of the officers. The officer then yelled for his partner "He's got my gun," when the officer shot the man in the shoulder, fearing for his partner's life, Camden said.

"The officer started calling out for help saying, 'He's got my gun.' His partner, at that point, discharged the weapon," said Asst. Deputy Supt. Robert Lopez of the Chicago Police Department.

ABC7
Of course neighbors see it totally different.

One witness says she saw what happened to Coleman after he was shot.

"The guy raised his head up and said, 'So y'all are just going to shoot me like that?' and the other officer came and kneeled down and started punching the guy in his face," said witness Stephanie Henderson.

So Ms. Henderson is all upset that a policeman allegedly cracked a fleeing felon who just attempted to disarm a police officer. Well she can just kiss my ass! What if your child was on the street when this piece of shit was running from the police?
What if asshole was able to dump his Glock and nobody saw it? What if then a small child found it later and then shot himself or someone else? Huh Ms Henderson?
Stupidity is the issue here. I have worked in the ghetto my whole career. Lets face it...when asshole is shot his "people come out of the woodwork wolfing".
When all is said and done there are usually a few witnesses that saw it as we did. I have been personally thanked by hard working decent people who are sick and tired of the "bullshit" but sadly the assholes are the ones who get airtime.

Outrage!!!!

Second City Cop as you probably know is running a story about an off-duty Chicago Police Office who is being sentenced to 5 years in prison for defending himself. Read the story at ABS7 and become as outraged as I am. My outrage is directed at a judge (bench trial) who advocates "turning the other cheek", a prosecutor who didn't feel the officers response was "warranted" and most of all at a police officer/officers that felt the need to arrest Mike Mette.
According to SCC this will be the subject of a Sunday John Kass article. I really don't expect to any hear any kind of a comment out of 35th street. I know we'll get the usual "where is FOP on this one" but the question asked should be where are we?.......There are plenty of people you, the rank and file, should be contacting........
The FOP Grand Lodge
Iowa, Governor Culver's Office
Dubuque Police Chief, Kim Wadding
Dubuque County Attorney's Office (563) 589-4470
Our real hope here is that Mike is able to successfully appeal this outrageous verdict and that justice will prevail.

UPDATE:Excellent piece by John Kass

So You Hate The Media

http://view.break.com/330538 - Watch more free videos

AWESOME

The Dillon Mini-Gun can fire up to 6000 30mm rounds per minute but are usually programmed to 3000 rounds per minute. Just plain awesome!

Revenue

City takes step to water meters for all

Mayor Richard Daley signaled the move toward universal metering in 2003, saying it was part of a strategy to improve conservation and better manage the precious resource Chicago has at its doorstep: Lake Michigan.......

full story in the Tribune
Who is he kidding?

More Revenue

Push to impound vehicles driven by motorists with suspended licenses

Aldermen advanced a measure Thursday that would mandate impoundment of cars and trucks driven by motorists with revoked or suspended licenses despite warnings by Daley administration officials that the city's pounds could not handle the thousands of vehicles a year that would be taken off the street as a result......

Read the whole story in the Tribune

Are They Serious?????

'Smile, you're on camera!' Police to get 'head-cams'

Police officers in the UK are to be given head-mouted video cameras to film incidents and arrests, the footage of which can then be used in evidence............

from the Evening Standard

TASER ROUNDS

I found this one at Ace Of Spades.

Continuing to strike fear into the hearts of, well, everyone, Taser has released an electrified round that works with any 12-gauge shotgun. The Wireless eXtended Range Electronic Projectile, or XREP, is a fin-stabilized, self-contained round with no wires leading back to the gun and a maximum range of 100 ft. Previous Tasers, such as the C2 civilian model I was hit with a few months ago, are only useful within around 30 ft.
The XREP punctures the target with multiple probes, and then unspools to dangle from the unfortunate belligerent's body, all the while applying Taser's infamous rapid-fire electrical pulses. As an added bonus, any helpful passerby trying to yank the XREP out of the target before the 20-second discharge cycle is finished will also get zapped, thanks to a "hand-trap wire" that's nestled
in among the other hanging cables.

Down to 3

Two senior Chicago Police Department officials and a former New York City commander emerged Monday as finalists to become Chicago's next police superintendent.

After conducting a two-month search and taking nearly 50 applications for the job, the Chicago Police Board submitted the names of Hiram Grau, Charles Williams and Thomas Belfiore for Mayor Richard Daley's consideration........Tribune

Does anyone believe Belifiore has a snowball's chance in hell. In essence we are down to two and and the politics of race will ultimately eliminate that down to 1.
I am not trying to be racist nor am I trying to make race the issue but lets be adult about this. The reality of politics makes Charles Williams the obvious choice. Belifiore is not only white but he is an outsider and therefore destined for failure. Hirum Grau and Charles Williams are both "minorities" but Williams is in the running at the right time. There are no blacks that are heads of any major department in the city and Daley will make his decision based on that.
God help us all...........the upside is he is out of patrol.

NEW WEAPONS ORDER

I found this on the departments website.

Striker-fired pistols manufactured by Smith and Wesson, Springfield Armory, and Glock have been approved

The calibers of 9mm Luger (Parabellum), .40 S&W, and .45 ACP have been approved

Department members will be allowed to transition to striker-fired pistols as their primary weapon after they have completed a voluntary transition course during off-duty hours

Transition courses will consist of either 24 hours of instruction for revolver officers or 16 hours of instruction for semi-automatic officers

Transition Courses are being planned for the last three months of 2007; a schedule of courses has not yet been posted

Department members will not be allowed to carry a striker-fired pistol until they have either completed their basic recruit training with a striker-fired pistol or completed the required transition course

Department members will not be required to transition to a new firing system

Department members will be allowed to transition to a semi-automatic pistol as their primary weapon in lieu of their prescribed revolver

Shooting in 004

At approximately 1100am officers were involved in a shooting at 8300 S. Exchange. A 9mm pistol was recovered and the offender was taken to the hospital. Neither of the officers was injured.....Tribune

City Looks To Outsource Hiring Duties

Chicago's City Hall plans to outsource some hiring duties following a federal trial in which former city employees were convicted of corrupting the employment process, according to a published report.
A CBS2 story is reporting that the city recently asked companies to submit their qualifications to take over part of the city's hiring duties.
The selected firm or firms will

"administer examinations in an environment that will ensure the proper administration and the integrity of the exam process,"

So we must assume that the city is admitting that tests in the past were not administered properly and vacant of integrity.

Attorney Michael Shakman's lawsuit against the city served as the catalyst for the deal. Shakman told the Tribune that he was not aware of the outsourcing plan but said it appears to involve a private firm taking over many of the city's personnel duties.

"We'd like to understand the reasons for this approach," Shakman said.

Shakman seems to be a bit pessimistic. Many questions will need to answered regarding this one.
What departments will be effected?
Will the hiring firm only be administering hiring tests or promotional tests as well?
As far as the firm chosen to "administer examinations in an environment that will ensure the proper administration and the integrity of the exam process," we wonder if they will be selected with the same standards.

Indiana State Trooper Murdered

Tribune
Master Trooper David Rich was fatally shot in the chest by a Michigan man who then reloaded the shotgun and killed himself, state police Sgt. Tony Slocum said....

Open Post

Been out of town the last few days.

I caught this one at Second City Cop and needless to say I was as impressed as they were.
From The Munchkin Wrangler:

WHY THE GUN IS CIVILIZATION

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.
Posted by Marko at 7:06 AM