Saturday, October 27, 2007

MIKE METTE


Tribune, John Kass

The drunk is fine now, golfing, having attended college in Dubuque. The last time I checked he was adding to his résumé with a DUI. And Mette?
"Well, he got framed, and nobody cares," Bob said about his son. "It's just not fair. Since when can you get hit three times and get locked up for five years when you respond with one punch? If you can't protect yourself from being attacked, then we are not in America anymore."

Iowa is in America. They even have a governor, Chet Culver, a Democrat who took office in 2007. We called Gov. Culver to see if he'd take an interest in Mike Mette's case. But the governor is extremely busy. His press secretary said the governor has a full schedule and can't talk about Mike Mette because he's got too much to do.

Iowa is indeed hectic these days, with presidential candidates sweeping the state, selling themselves in cornfields, at roadside diners, using fine words about justice and fairness and so on. Politicians often talk about mercy when one of their own gets in trouble with the law. Their mouthpieces pull the levers, and the machinery begins to whir and purr. The same goes for when a politician's kid gets in a jam.

But Mike Mette isn't a politician's kid. He's no politician. He's never made anyone wealthy with the stroke of a pen on a government budget, so there are no levers to pull. Where's the compassion for Mike Mette?

He's a white cop going to state prison. I usually don't mention race in this column, but that's the fact of things. So the media-political dynamics should be understood by most grown-ups. Because you read newspapers, surely you must have studied the ritualized public theater of other cases, the protests and formulaic media responses accompanied in news narratives by the ambiguous phrase "social justice."

But there is no "social justice" for Mike Mette. No protests, nothing. A few newspaper columns by me, a late-night report on CNN, stories in the Dubuque paper taking the prosecution's side and a fair account in The Des Moines Register, that's about it.

Mike's a cop. Or was a cop, a good one by most accounts. If there were anything kinky in his background, it would have been dropped on my desk by now, anonymously, as such things are done. Mike was a beat cop, a blue shirt in a squad car, the real police, the men and women who show up after midnight when you call 911 and the world has gone to hell.

It went to hell for Mike Mette, too, in Dubuque on Oct. 8, 2005. What happened shouldn't have happened, but it did. Mike and his buddies were drinking, a testament to what happens when young guys mix with alcohol. They heard about a house party, the party was a dud, they left without taking a drink, but the alleged victim and another man, a basketball player standing 6-foot-8, were highly offended.

The victim said his cell phone had disappeared. Angry words were exchanged. Mike and his friends left.

The victim, a college student, and the basketball player chased them down the street, picking a fight. Mike wasn't armed. He tried to avoid the confrontation until the other guy began pushing him, punching him in the chest with both hands.

So Mike did what anyone would do. He threw a punch. One punch. The victim went down. Unconscious.

There was no testimony that he did anything other than throw that one punch. Prosecutors spinning their local paper talk about the victim being kicked, but even the victim's friend wouldn't testify to that. The victim was released from the hospital four days later. A month went by, and Mike was charged with assault causing serious injury, which carries a mandatory five-year term.

I figure that if anyone puts their hands on you, you have a right to put your hands on them. At worst, he should have been charged with a lesser crime and jailed for 15 or 30 days. But five years in state prison for one punch in self-defense?

"It's kind of funny with the negative publicity the Chicago Police Department gets when somebody does something wrong. But when a police officer is getting screwed over, nobody seems to care," Mike Mette said. "Where is the attention for this? You get people doing marches for people who are guilty and they know they're guilty and they try to get them off. What about trying to get an innocent guy off?"

Not for you, Mike. You're not a politician's kid. You're not political enough. You're a cop.

And on Monday, after the Bears game and breakfast at home with your mom and your sister, you've got a long ride ahead of you, with your dad, into Iowa.

It's that state where politicians are busy, standing tall before TV cameras, talking of justice.


jskass@tribune.com

I received this email from Dennis McEnerney:

MIKE METTE'S REQUEST DENIED

If you have not spoken with Mike or his family lately,
Dubuque County Judge Ackley has denied a request from
Mike's attorneys, to keep Mike out of prison, while
efforts to obtain an appeal hearing date continue.
Obviously Mike is not a flight risk, nor is he the
violent felon, that Dubuque County is making him out
to be....But then again we would not want him walking
in Dubuque,where he could get attacked, defend himself
instead of running away, then smack some spoon fed,
alcoholic punk attacker, now would we! Once again we
can only hope and pray that the sitting judges of the
Iowa appellate court have more common sense,
experience and better judicial values, then what Mike
and his attorney's have had to deal with so far!

Mike's journey to Dubuque will begin Monday October
29th, 2007 at approximately 0700 hrs when members of
his family along with some MMDF committee members will
escort him out to Iowa. He has a reporting time of
1200 hrs. On behalf of Mike and his family, we the
members of the MMDF Committee, want to thank all of
you, who have supported the cause. We will continue to
keep you updated on Mike's fight and appeal process.
We will supply you with a mailing address for Mike as
soon as we obtain it.

Please keep Mike and his family in your thoughts and
prayers.


Dennis McEnerney
MMDF

Thursday, October 25, 2007

DENIED!

Judge refuses to release names of accused officers

THE LIST AND THE 28 ALDERMEN

The 28 will have their petition heard by Judge Lefkow today at 930.
Read the the lawsuit here.

AILING PENSIONS & MIDWAY LEASE

The state of our underfunded pension should be a concern to all. Read the TRIBUNE and see how Daley plans to use the revenue if a Midway lease deal ever materializes.

Monday, October 22, 2007

OPS AND NONSENSE

Some cop complainants seek to 'enhance their case in court,' superintendent says

It should have also been noted that (anecdotally)90% of the remaining complainants are for nonsense. I have seen CR complaints that should have never seen the light of day. An officers is responding to an assignment when he encounters a traffic accident, it is determined that there are no injuries and that the involved vehicles are drivable. The officer instructs the involved parties relocate to the station to prepare a traffic crash report. A complaint is filed against the officer for failure to take police action. Another example has two officers respond to a fight between two 8 year olds and the parent of the looser in the altercation files a complaint because the officers failed to take police action and arrest the offender. There are countless examples out there of such nonsense. Please post your examples of complaints that should have never been generated in the first place.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

GRILL THE COMMANDER

City to investigate Tunney cell-phone ticket incident
Chicago police said today they will investigate whether any city policy was violated in returning a driver's license to a Chicago alderman who was ticketed for using a hand-held cellular phone while driving.


According to Monique
"An officer issued a citation to an elected official, and he accepted the ticket," Bond said. "The issue here is whether everything was properly done after that."


Police were waiting to interview Town Hall District Cmdr. Gary Yamashiroya, who has gone on scheduled furlough since the incident last week, Bond said.

Hows that furlough going Commander?

Tunney's office tries to get in front of this one
In a statement released by Tunney's office this morning, the alderman said he phoned the commander after returning to his office to question "why, in an understaffed police district where we have serious crimes unsolved, officers are assigned to pull people over solely for cell phone violations."

"Although I did not ask him to, following our conversation the commander had my driver's license returned to me at my office," Tunney said. "I must emphasize that at no time did I ask for any special treatment."

A few points to note:
1. Does the Alderman advocate all citizens call the Commander's office after being ticketed or is that "special treatment" reserved for elected officials only?
2. He knows the district is understaffed. How many other Alderman know this about their districts?

3. Serious crimes are investigated by Area Detectives not patrolmen in a beat car.
4. I'd be willing to bet the farm that the officers "duties" for the day weren't " to pull people over solely for cell phone violations."


The Alderman emphasized that he didn't ask for any special treatment but the fact that he called to bitch out the Commander resulted in his D/L being hand delivered to his office. By the way, the license was hand delivered by an officer in an understaffed district while serious crimes go unsolved.
Alderman Tunney you sir are nitwit!
Second City Cop has already made it clear that they will keep an eye on the officer for any retaliation.

Friday, October 12, 2007


Read Kass' column "Only a casino can stop Mayor Chucky"

Me: Your Honor, do you support the plan to create a Chicago gaming commission to oversee a city casino and cut out the Illinois Gaming Board?

Daley: No. I don't know anything about that.

City Hall suit sitting next to Daley: I don't know anything about it.

Daley: Gee. I don't know.

But it turns out that at 10 a.m. Wednesday on the 16th floor of the Thompson Center, there will be a public meeting about proposed Chicago casino legislation, including a plan to let the mayor appoint a board that would govern a casino.

According to a Better Government Association analysis of the legislation, there would be no competitive bidding for professional services contracts to manage the casino. And once passed, City Hall could never lose its license, even if it runs the casino as it ran the scandal-plagued Hired Truck program.

Also, the legislation that the mayor doesn't know anything about would create a five-member Chicago Casino Developmental Authority to oversee everything, with three members picked by Daley and two picked by Tony Rezko's governor.

How's that for reform?

VIA PB&PA

Lt’s Promotion Exam: UPDATE 12 October 07
Once again, the City of Chicago and the Department have further complicated the lieutenant’s exam promotional process. On Friday, 5 October 2007 the Department announced that it would begin the process for merit nominations for the position of lieutenant from the 2002 eligibility list. On Thursday, 11 October 2007 this announcement was rescinded pending the issuance of the test results from the 2006 Lieutenant’s Examination Test.

The unfortunate aspect of this current situation is that it serves to further divide and demoralize our members who are affected by their placement on the 2002 promotional list, as well as our members who are awaiting the results of the 2006 examination. The Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association, along with our attorneys have continually argued the fairness issues of certain portions of the 2006 examination process. During the recent months we have continually demanded that the City either release the test results or provide an explanation as to the reasons for the delay. It is now anticipated that the 2006 test results will be issued in the near future.

It has been and remains the position of the Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association to encourage the Department and City to maintain full staffing of these positions in order to provide the best possible service to the citizens that our members serve on a 24/7 basis.

John Pallohusky
President
Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

WELL IT HAPPENED

news release
Chicago Police Department

CHICAGO POLICE ANNOUNCE RE-ORGANIZATION OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS SECTION
Specialized Units to be Assigned under Special Functions Section, 5th Platoon to be added to the Targeted Response Unit, More Officers
Reassigned to Patrol and IAD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2007
CHICAGO—Chicago Police today announced the reorganization of the department's Special Operations Section (SOS) assigning all of the specialized units under one unit called the Special Functions Group. The Group will remain under the Bureau of Strategic Deployment.
Operationally, the Special Functions Group will become even more strategic and tactical in its focus. Eight of the department's specialized units that include SWAT, the Marine Unit, the Helicopter Unit, the Mounted Patrol Unit, the Canine Unit, the Animal Abuse Unit, the Critical Incident Response Unit and the Dignitary Protection Unit, will fall under the direct command of the newly created Special Functions Group utilizing those officers who have tactical training and specialized skills.
"As we have stated in the past, we are tightening up our processes and we believe that all of these measures will no doubt strengthen community relationships, enhance our violence reduction strategies and make us better police officers," said Interim Superintendent Dana V. Starks.
He added that the reorganization had already been underway for the last two months beginning with the assignment of a new commander.


The Targeted Response Unit will add a 5th Platoon assigning officers to targeted areas where violence is known to occur. The officers will be highly visible on the streets in uniform and in marked squad cars with vehicles equipped with GPS. Officers will operate under a tactical team concept, armed with intelligence from the Deployment Operations and Crime Prevention Information Centers, targeting gang violence and the seizure of weapons.
Members will also be assigned to the Patrol Division focusing on areas where gang retaliations and shootings have spiked.
In a effort to continue to demonstrate the department's commitment to the integrity of officer performance, more police officers will be assigned to the Internal Affairs Division to enhance the department's investigative process. Internal Affairs will also increase integrity checks. Officers will visit district station supervisors to follow up and monitor complaints.
Some of these unannounced visits are designed to ensure that community and police service is being provided in a professional and courteous manner by the police. This pro-active approach is designed to analyze citizen complaints, and how supervisors are responding to identify potential problems.
Additionally, the Interim Superintendent's Office is meeting on a regular basis with top command staff to address and closely monitor the complaint process. These meetings are designed to identify patterns before they become problems by evaluating assignments, and comparing data from the Personnel Performance System.
None of these assignments will add additional costs to the police department's operating budget.
All of these measures demonstrate the department's ongoing commitment to building trust within the community, strengthening the resources for police officers and fighting crime to make everv communitv safe.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

100,000

Today we will make our 100,000th hit since November 15, 2006.
Thanks for the support,

SHOOTOUT IN 004, BAD GUY DEAD

Police shoot man on South Side
A South Chicago District tactical officer chased the man, who earlier fled police, through a series of alleys and lost sight of him in an empty lot near the 7800 block of South Cregier Avenue just after 10:45 p.m., according to News Affairs Deputy Director Pat Camden.

The officer began looking around parked cars but couldn’t find him, when the man “comes out” and opens fire on the officer, Camden said. The officer began to retreat for cover because his gun was still in his holster, Camden said.

“The guy fires two more shots, and the officer draws his weapon and exchanged gunfire with the offender,” Camden said. The man was hit multiple times and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he later died, Camden said.

A .38 caliber revolver was recovered from the scene, Camden said.



The police officer went home the way he went work. Stay safe everyone!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

MAKE THAT TWO THIMBLES!

Daley told to add 100 police
Normally one of Daley's staunchest City Council supporters, Carothers is threatening to withhold his vote from Daley's request for a $108 million property tax increase unless the police hiring is doubled in response to a wave of shootings that have claimed the lives of Chicago Public Schools students.

"We've had a lot of marches, rallies and prayer vigils. But we haven't hired more police. The rubber band is stretched too far. Hiring 50 police is like taking a thimbleful of water out of Lake Michigan," he said.


Do you think any of us believe that the addition of 100 new police slots will have any more of an impact then 50 new slots? Its ridiculous to even think that the addition of 2 police officers to a district, let alone 4, is going to alleviate this manpower crunch. I do not subscribe to the popular theory that there are only 9800 sworn members of the department. So where is everyone? Well one place would be TRU. TRU is comprised of 4 companies and that equals 320 patrolmen, 33 sergeants, 4 Lts and 1 Commander. I can think of at least 5 districts that do not need manpower like other more desperate districts. So imagine if the patrol division had an infusion of 320 PO's and 33 sgt's. The 33 sergeants could be spread out to the districts that have less then 28 sergeants and bring all the districts up acceptable supervisory levels. Now imagine 320 PO's infused into the roughly 20 districts that are hurting for blue shirts. On average the 20 districts could each receive 16 desperately needed coppers. I personally think that the districts are better suited to handle their problems over an outside unit coming in to lock up the nonsense MCC violation of the week.If the department continues at this pace the districts will have only one function, answering calls for service. It is already getting to that point with the lack of rapids and 99 units. Word has it TRU will be adding another company in the future. Goodbye to another 80 coppers, 8 sergeants and 1 lt.
So Ike, your demand for 100 new police officers is admirable but it hardly scratches the surface.

2007 P.B. & P.A. 71st Annual Convention

04 Oct 2007

On the 5th, 6th & 7th of October 2007 the P.B. & P.A. of Illinois will hold its 71st Annual Convention. This year’s event will be co-hosted by Bloomington Unit # 21 and Normal Unit # 22.

In accordance with the By-Laws of the P.B. & P.A. elections are to be held every two years for all positions on the State Board and this year is an election year. As President of the Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association, I believe it is essential that we obtain a position on the Executive Board of the P.B. & P.A. to ensure that the interests of our members are represented at the state level. With the support of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association (Unit 156A) and in conjunction with the Chicago Lieutenants’ Association (Unit 156B) and the Chicago Captains’ Association (Unit 156C), I plan on seeking a position on the Executive Board of the P.B. & P.A. at this year’s convention.

Sincerely,

John Pallohusky
President
Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association
Please keep in mind that this is an open blog
that can and is read by people other than Chicago Police Officers.