Wednesday, January 30, 2008

REPUBLICAN PARTY

I recently received an email asking me to create a post or at least a link for a man running for 19th Ward Republican Committeeman. I have voted Republican since I was 18 and Ronald Reagan was the first man I voted for President. I have no problem, as most policemen I know, letting it be known that I am a conservative. Unfortunately the City of Chicago and the County of Cook are devoid of any serious Republican candidates. The Republican Party of Illinois has been so weakened by the corrupt George Ryan that a man like Rod Blagojevich can be elected governor and we are represented by liberal senators like Durbin and Obama.
I decided to visit Patrick Guest's website and concluded that Mr. Guest deserves the support of 19th Ward Republicans.
"If the Republican Party is going to be viable in the future it must start at the bottom - at the Ward and Precinct level." Jim Guest
If anyone else would like to place a link for a local Republican candidate please send your request via email to cpdsarge@gmail.com

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

SUFFREDIN PRESS RELEASE (FOP)

The Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge #7 is outraged after learning that a candidate for the office of Cook County State’s Attorney has been a proponent for the release of an individual that was convicted in 1975 for the murder of Chicago Police Officer Ed Barron. Larry Suffredin Jr. at the time was the Public Defender for Joseph Bigsby, who, as the evidence proved, robbed at gunpoint and pistol whipped one of two elderly victims which caused the Police to be called to the scene. Upon their arrival, three Police Officers located the offender and ordered him to drop his weapon, Bigsby responded by drawing the Luger pistol, which was used in the robberies and fired at the officers, striking Officer Edward Barron in the head killing him instantly. Additional responding officers were also fired upon by the offender until he ran out of ammunition. Bigsby was apprehended, charged and convicted of Murder, three counts of Attempt Murder and two counts of Armed Robbery.

Larry Suffredin has been pleading with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board for several years for the release of this killer. The Fraternal Order of Police and Officer Barron’s partner have fought for years to keep Prisoner #C02290 incarcerated. The thought that a potential State’s Attorney, charged with prosecuting those who prey on our society, would turn his back on the Law Enforcement Community in this manner is appalling. The Cook County State’s Attorney needs to be consistently in support of convicts serving their full sentences for the safety of the rest of society, and a tireless advocate for the families of the victims. If Mr. Suffredin is elected, this will create a horrendous conflict of interest.

The 18,000 members of Lodge #7 are outraged at Larry Suffredin’s actions and his attempt to ride this and other issues into the office of Cook County State’s Attorney. Mr. Suffredin needs to know that the Cook County State’s Attorney should be an advocate for justice, not an opponent of it.

Mark Donahue
President

Monday, January 28, 2008

CICERO COMMANDER ARRESTED BY CPD


A reader informed me that Commander Wesley Scott (back row, middle) was arrested last night in Englewood, by TRU, for misdemeanor POC. I waited to see if it was reported in the paper before posting. It appears that the Cicero Police Department announced commander Scott's arrest right away. News Affairs only confirmed the arrest.
A trailblazing and high-ranking Cicero police commander was arrested Sunday on Chicago's South Side on a misdemeanor drug charge, authorities said.

Wesley Scott, who was profiled in a 1988 Time magazine article on racism in some of Chicago's near west suburbs, rose from being Cicero's first black police officer two decades ago to his appointment in June 2005 as the town's first African-American patrol police commander.

Cicero town spokesman Dan Proft said Scott, a 21-year veteran, was taken into custody by Chicago police officers. He said he believed Scott, 47, was off-duty at the time.... (more)


Rumour has it this guy has previously filed beefs against two different law enforcement agencies



Police Week 2008

May 13-16, 2008 Washington DC

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites Hotel in DC. The rate is $279/night. This year rooms are at a premium because of a medical convention in town. This rate includes a free happy hour every night and a free cooked-to order breakfast daily.

We are currently working on airfare in order to ensure the lowest possible group rate.

There will be a private Chicago Police party at Fado Irish Pub in Chinatown, date and time TBD.

194 Police Officers will be added to the wall this year.

The Chicago Police Department has always had one of the biggest groups attending. Please help us keep this tradition.

Contact info:

EMAIL- CPDPOLICEWEEK@aol.com

Please contact us to reserve a room or for more information.

Friday, January 25, 2008

MORE ON BURKE

A few days ago SCC pointed out the big scoop by blogger Paul Huebl. Hueble's site, Crimefiles, has a post speculating the pending criminal investigation into Alderman Edward Burke and his wife, Illinois Supreme Court Justice, Anne Burke.
Via email Paul told me that he will have more post to follow on this subject. Paul didn't disappoint, go over to Crimefiles where Paul questions who really is in charge Daley or Burke.
Advise from SCC "Frank Main, if you work this story, you damn well better credit Crimefile"
It’s Alderman Ed Burke the Finance Committee Chairman that doles out millions of taxpayer cash like water to campaign contributors like Jenner & Block to do the work of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel’s lawyers. This is done with little or no oversight...... (more)

Contract 2007-08 Update: 24 January 2008

The following comes from the Sergeants Asscociation website...
On 22 January 2008 we had our 7th formal contract meeting with the City since we began negotiations this past August.

Both sides of the bargaining table have presented various proposals and discussions are moving forward. Thus far the major focus has been on health insurance related issues, discipline / intervention procedures and current contract verbiage. Economic issues such as salary increases and benefit packages have yet to be presented and discussed.

As of this last meeting no formal agreements have been reached. Several of our members have inquired as to when we might expect the contract to be formalized and presented to the membership. At this point due to economic issues and ensuring that our member’s contractual rights are preserved it would be premature for me to speculate on a completion date. It is our position, as well as the City’s that it is in the best interest of all parties to reach an agreement in an expeditious manner.

The next contract meeting with the City is scheduled for 29 January 08. We have also scheduled two meetings for February.

John Pallohusky
President
Chicago Police Sergeants Associations

Thursday, January 24, 2008

GET A BEEF BECOME AN INSPECTOR

Rumor has it that a 4th district Lt. is an accused on a CR# that was initiated by a Sgt. Rumor also has it that this same Lt. was detailed to Audit and Internal Control shortly after the complaint was initiated.

OFFENDER IN CUSTODY

Man charged in police officer hit-and-run
A 25-year-old driver has been charged with a felony after a hit-and-run accident in which a Chicago police officer was seriously injured Tuesday, police said this morning.

Marcus Stanley is accused of hitting a plain-clothed Austin District tactical unit officer who was making a street stop in the 5500 block of West Congress Parkway around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Officer Amina Greer.... (more)

Monday, January 21, 2008

WELCOME HOME JOSEPH PANNELL


Over at the FOP website, under Fraternal Issues, you can read a letter sent to the lodge by Terry Knox.
My name is Terrence Knox and I am writing this e-mail to request assistance from your Police Officer Fraternal Organization membership.

Briefly, in 1969 I was working as a Chicago Police Officer when I was shot by Joseph Pannell. Joseph Pannell has been one of the most wanted offenders in Chicago history as he has been in hiding for over 30 plus years for this Attempted Murder of a Chicago Police officer.

In July of 2004, through the efforts of Chicago Police Superintendent Cline, the Chicago Police Cold Case Squad, Local FBI and the GREAT Officers of the Canada Police forces, Joseph Pannell was finally located and arrested.

Since July, Joseph Pannell (AKA Gary Freeman/Douglas Norberg) has done everything possible not to be sent back to face trail in Chicago. This includes having his family set up rallies, web pages, letter writing campaigns, saying it is legal to have shot a police officer in 1969 due to the then civil unrest, and putting pressure upon the Canadian government not to send him back per our US/Canadian treaty.

Because I am only one person, I am asking that you ask your membership to write the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice and Canada's Prime Minister asking for their immediate assistance in this matter in sending Joseph Pannell back to Chicago to finally stand trial. Their mailing address is below:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Main Switchboard:
202-647-400

Paul Martin
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2
e-mail address pm@pm.gc.ca

I ask your membership to support a former fellow police officer. Remember "Victims of Crimes" deserve their day in court just as offenders do. Lady Liberty is "Blind" to offenders and victims when passing out justice but at the end of the day :We all (including the victims) need our day in court to come to some form of closure.

Without the support from all police officers I fear Joseph Pannell will use his side in the press to present only one side and use what ever means is at his disposal to force the Canadian Government to allow him to stay in Canada even though he is not a citizen and there illegally for over 30 years living under a false name.

I really need the voices of the U.S. Law Enforcement Community and Victims of Crime Community to help me ask the Canadian Government and the U.S. State Department to approve the return of Joseph Pannell to Chicago to finally stand trial before the witnesses and the victim die as we are all in our later years of life.

Thank you for taking time to read this and your consideration in assisting me.

I can be reached at terryknox@comcast.net or 312-364-7878

Thanks again,
Terry


Today we read with great joy that Joseph Pennell will be tried here in Chicago. This is not the end of the Terry Knox story but after 39 years Joseph Pennell will finally be brought to justice.

Joseph Pannell has given up his fight to stay in Canada.

The Mississauga News has learned that the 58-year-old Mississauga father of four will be extradited to Chicago in the coming days, where he will soon appear in a Cook County courtroom to face allegations he tried to kill a police officer there years ago.....(more)


Saturday, January 19, 2008

BUSINESS AS USUAL

Judge gives city a shot on hiring
City Hall can police itself in separating jobs, politics, he says
By Todd Lighty and Laurie Cohen | TRIBUNE REPORTERS
January 19, 2008
U.S. District Judge Wayne R. Andersen acknowledged that critics have questioned whether the administration ever will keep hiring free of politics after years of abuses. Just last month, a hiring monitor appointed by Andersen found that the city had slipped backward in 2007 in cleaning up patronage..... (continue)

GRODNER GUILTY

John Kass on Grodner....the criminal part of the story is over.
Man who keyed car gets day in court; so do Marines
By John Kass | Tribune columnist
January 20, 2008

Grodner pleaded guilty in a Chicago courtroom packed with former Marines. Some had Marine pins on their coats, or baseball jackets with the Marine insignia. They didn't yellor call him names. They came to support Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty, whose car Grodner defaced in December, but who couldn't attend because he's preparing for his second tour in Iraq........ (continue)

Friday, January 18, 2008

ADMINISTRATIVE STATEMENTS/BREATHALYZER

This issue of self incrimination was brought up by Second City Cop a couple days ago and I have reproduced the statement from FOP's website that was issued today.

Prosecutors Attempt To use administrative breathalyzer results at DUI trials 01/18/08
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has made it clear that it will seek to introduce the administrative breathalyzer test results against any Chicago Police Officer who is charged with a DUI. The State has already done this on a previous case and at a bond hearing on January 17, 2008, the State propounded its intent on using an administrative result in an upcoming case. Several months ago, the State attempted to use these results in a case against a CPD officer. The Lodge immediately intervened and filed a motion to bar the administrative result. The Lodge outlined its argument in great detail and on November 15th, 2007, the Judge ruled in our favor when he determined that the State could not use the results of the breath test. The State announced that it will appeal the decision and the Lodge will again take the arguments to the Appellate Court. Until there is a ruling from the Appellate Court, the State will continue in its efforts to use these results. The Lodge will fight them in each and every case. However, officers must realize the State’s Attorney will attempt to use these results if an officer is arrested for a DUI. Although the Lodge, and at the very least the Judge who ruled in our favor this past November, believe that results from an administrative breath test must be barred at a criminal proceeding similar to administrative statements, there is a recent Illinois Appellate Court decision that ruled that administrative test results should not be afforded the same protections as do administrative statements. The Lodge believes it is a difference without distinction. The State views it differently. The Appellate Court will ultimately decide.

In the interim, officers must be cognizant of the fact that even though the State will seek to introduce the breath test results, officers should comply with the administrative breath test after being given a direct order to do so. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office believes that Chicago Police Officers should be treated as a sub-class of citizens who are not entitled to the same rights as others, such as those afforded to state’s attorneys. The Lodge is confident the Appellate Court will disagree with the opinion of our state’s attorneys. Until the decision, we will continue to fight the State on a case-by-case basis.

GENERAL MEETING


I was unable to attend this months General Meeting. Anyone who did attend please use this as an open post for discussion about the meeting.

GANGS IN THE MILITARY

The History Channel has a series presently running called Gangland. Some of the episode titles are "You Rat, You Die", "Code Of Conduct", "Gangster City", and "Stone To The Bone". Last nights episode was "Basic Training". The episode dealt with the increasing infiltration of gang bangers in the US military. I found a document that was prepared by the National Gang Intelligence Center and released in January 07. It appears that the producers of this episode received most of their data from this document.
This aticle from Stars & Stripes links to various FBI and DOD reports.
¶ Regardless of the number, several high-profile incidents in recent years have cast an unwelcome light on the issue of gangs in the military, including a murder in Germany, several assaults and cases of service members selling or giving stolen military equipment — including weapons and body armor — to street gangs. Most have occurred in the United States.

¶ The loosening of recruiting standards has experts worried that people with criminal backgrounds, particularly association with gangs, are more likely to get into the military than before.



According to the various listed reports gang members account for 1%-2% of all members of the armed forces. I am grateful for the work done by the 98-99% of those who serve their country honorably. We as police officers should be concerned by the knowledge, training and ultimately, combat experience that these bangers are acquiring and bringing back home.

This video from You Tube.....

As a prior service veteran I have stopped guys who have produce military ID cards and I have been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Don't let your guard down, be vigilant and stay safe

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

HOWARD BROOKINS AND BLAME THE POLICE

This from the Northwestern University, Medill School publication called
Medill Report.
Police corruption divides candidates in domestic abuse debate
by Erica L. Green
Jan 16, 2008

Racial profiling, police intimidation and surface-level investigations by the police department are primary obstacles in domestic abuse prosecutions, according to some Cook County state's attorney candidates.

In a forum sponsored by the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network Tuesday, candidates tried to explain dwindling numbers of domestic abuse prosecutions, to which some attributed to an intimidating front line.

“The problem is trust,” Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) told a crowd of law students and domestic abuse advocates at a candidates forum at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. “The problem is that the first responder is the police and people have an inherent distrust of police.”


Nice try Howard. The forum was about dwindling prosecutions not arrest. The ineptness of the CCSA is widespread. As usual Howard rather blame the police then assign any responsibility to the judges, prosecutors and uncooperative victims.

Be aware of this hack too. Larry Suffredin is no friend of the police.
Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin said that one of the crisis of the criminal justice system is the belief that the state’s attorney’s office is an extension of the police department.

He contended that instead, police departments need to be audited more aggressively, confronted when their tactics are crossing the line with victims, and officers should be indicted when victim complaints are found to be true.


The reporter for Medill, Erica Green, does some real digging.
Brookins’ ward police responded to 42 reports of domestic abuse in an 8-day time span, between Jan. 1 and Jan. 9. Only seven arrests were made.

Did Ms. Green ever think to ask someone from the police department how that could possibly be? Here are a few points to consider Ms. Green.

1) How many of the 42 calls did a victim actually allege violence or the threat of violence? Does that term "domestic abuse" include domestic disturbance calls? There is no crime when two "adults" have a argument.

2) Of the calls that violence or the threat of violence is alleged, how many case reports were generated? I would be willing to bet 100%. How many of the victims were advised warrant and order of protection procedures? I would be willing to bet 100%. How many of the victims were given domestic violence information sheets? I would be willing to bet 100%.

3) In cases where the victim alleged violence or the threat of violence, how many times was the offender on scene upon police arrival? I bet At least 7 times and if there were more then the victim more then likely refused to sign complaints.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!!!!!

Today I was watching the Channel 9 News at noon and the lead story was the dogie day care van that was stolen and contained 5 dogs. The scene was a media circus with interviews of the dog owners, the guy who discovered the van and the idiot of all, owner of "Fetch and Play", Jose Varela.
This was a true heater case. The media was all over it and so were we. At the reporting of the story the dogs weren't allowed out of the vehicle because an ET was processing it. Are they kidding? In the background I saw an animal control van. First one I've seen in a long time. Try requesting animal control with a vicious dog on the loose. Good Luck!
Mr. Varela was whimpering how terrible he felt for these dog owners. Mr. Varela was grief stricken because he has two little girls and he knows how horrible it would be if someone took them away in a car. Is this guy serious? It's a dog you moron!
But Zellner, the daughter of noted defense attorney Kathleen Zellner, said she was unlikely to send Chloe back to Fetch & Play, which she had been using for the last year and a half. "I'm a little too protective," she said. "I understand it was a mistake. I understand they feel horrible. They've always been good to Chloe. . . .If it was a child [at day care] and they lost your kid for a day, you wouldn't send them back."...more in the Tribune

How do people even make that comparison?

This quote from John Heinrich, the man who discovered the dogs and stands to receive a $7000.00 reward.

"I poked my head out of the door, saw the dogs and made a call [to police]," Heinrich said "I never saw such a commotion over a few dogs."

AMEN!

Monday, January 14, 2008

FOOD FOR THOUGHT



I found this video at PoliceOne.com and I obtained the embed code from YouTube. Not here to second guess anyone but a similar incident happened to me when I was working 99. Please go down on your traffic/street stops. Look how long it took for any citizen to help this guy out.
That brings me to another issue and that is those in our profession who don't extend professional courtesies....Cops Writing Cops

Sunday, January 13, 2008

HERE SHE GOES AGAIN


Mary Mitchell, aka Mope-rah, via SCC, is at her journalist best again. Mary claims 12 P.O's and 2 detectives showed up at the "victims" apartment to "railroad" her son of a serious crime...blah, blah, blah.
Mary takes the word of the complainant at face value. Did this "so called" journalist do any investigating? I seriously doubt it. Beside the complainant and her children, are there any corroborating witnesses i.e. other residents, the land lord? Mary is a race baiting police hater and the truth is not as important as the target of that hate.
Mary writes this article as a letter to new Superintendent Weis. The sad part is the Sun-Time and its editorial staff chose to make this a Sunday front page headline. If you want to read the whole rotten piece, be my guest. The demise of that rag sheet couldn't come fast enough for me.

Friday, January 11, 2008

GRODNER UPDATE

John Kass keeps the story alive.

Lawyer Jay R. Grodner, 55, is set to appear in court next week to answer the criminal charges against him, and those charges could be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony.......more

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

SUPERINTENDENT WEIS

The city council confirmed the appointment of Jody Weis as the new Superintendent of the Chicago police Department. Tribune Sun-Times
In a nearly unanimous vote, the Chicago City Council today approved the appointment of Jody Weis as the next Chicago police superintendent, the first outsider to hold the post in four decades.

Jody Weis will consider hiring someone outside the department — possibly from the FBI like himself — to run the Internal Affairs Division that investigates police misconduct.

“That’s an area where I would consider bringing in an outside person to head that up,” Weis said in an interview today with the Chicago Sun-Times before he was confirmed by the City Council. “I just think it might be a fresh time for that.”

A couple of weeks ago I predicted that Debra Kirby would be one of the three big heads to get the axe.

In recent City Council hearings, Weis was pressured by some aldermen to pick an African-American as first deputy, but he has refused to make any promises about whom he will select.

Good for him! He should be picking someone based on their qualifications and not their skin color. According to certain aldermen, whites, Latins and
Asians need not apply for the First Deputy position due to the fact that the Superintendent is white.
The politics of race has been running this department far too long.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

WEIS PHILOSOPHY

Jody Weis was given the "opportunity" to spell out his philosophy on policing before the city council.

"Right now, I don't see any radical changes coming about," said Weis, outlining his policing philosophy at length for the first time. "I say that because if you measure a police department in a normal way -- is crime going down? -- Chicago passes the test. Crime has gone down consistently for the past five or six years, which is an incredible accomplishment. I don't want to do anything to mess that up. What I want to try and do is build upon that."

"Supervisors who let minor rule violations slide are making a mistake"

"Supervisors will be on the hook when things go wrong with an officer"

"I am going to be looking for that sergeant and say, 'How did that happen? Where were you in all of this process? You are a manager and you should have been taking care of that young officer."
............(entire story)

Saturday, January 05, 2008

KASS ON METTE, KASS ON IOWA

Got to hand it to John Kass for sticking with the Mike Mette story. This story has the potential to just fade away but with the help of Tribune writer John Kass at least it has a chance to stay in the arena of public opinion.

There's no real justice in Iowa politics
John Kass
January 4, 2008


During the caucuses, with national media crawling through their state, the Iowa establishment ignored Mette. Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat who no doubt has heard the words "social justice" and perhaps even used the slogan, informed Mette's family there was nothing he could do. He's only the governor.
........read more

Our heart goes out to the Mette family. According to the story Mike appreciates the letters he gets and would like to get more.......keep the letters coming.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

KASS ON GRODNER

John Kass is now running with the Jay Grodner story. Obviously this story has legs.
And I wanted to get Grodner's side of it because he's been accused but not convicted of anything. So we called all the Grodner numbers we could find -- home and business -- including those on the police report and others in the suburbs and Chicago. Many were disconnected, and his cell phone voice mail was full.

I'd like to ask him two questions:

Why?


You are truely a coward Jay.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

MORE ON THE IDIOT LAWYER JAY GRODNER


That is the wonderful Mr. Grodner. Pompous asshole!
I googled this story and plenty of blogs are running with it.
Here are just a few
Michelle Malkin nominates Grodner "Jerk Of The Year"
Instapundit
Ace of Spades
Buzz Tracker
Confederate Yankee
A Soldiers Perspective

Just google his name and you will have at least 80 hits from the various blogs. There is even one blog that refers to him as an asshat and it isnt SCC.

UPDATE:Second City Cop has an actual copy of the case report.
Please keep in mind that this is an open blog
that can and is read by people other than Chicago Police Officers.