The Feds in the Windy City
Since 2010, the Chicago Police Department has racked up 70 fatal shootings, topping the list among America’s biggest cities. Not one police officer has ever been prosecuted for murder or for that matter disciplined for abuse, misconduct or making racial slurs against some citizens.
Chicago cop Jason Van Dyke probably had these numbers in mind when he used Laquan McDonald for target practice in the middle of the street. He also knew that police cameras were rolling, and that there were witnesses who saw what happened.
But he didn’t care.
Van Dyke kept firing into another human being crumpled on the street who was no threat to him or anybody. Van Dyke was certain he’d be able to hide behind his Chicago police badge. After all, he got away with misconduct and verbal and physical abuse eighteen times before while working as a Chicago cop.
It was no secret.
Van Dyke knew that management allowed rogue cops to run rampant and with impunity.
When he kept pulling the trigger, sixteen shots in less than 15 seconds, Van Dyke banked on the “Code of Silence” to protect him, and that good officers would also keep their mouths shut. They always did. He knew that his pals in cop uniforms who swore to “protect and serve” the public wouldn’t let him down. And, he was right. They would even go so far as to falsify police reports to protect him. And, he was confident that the Chicago police union chief would boldly show up at the crime scene, stand in front of a camera and lie about how Luquan McDonald died. And, that’s what happened.
Van Dyke was sure the prosecutor’s investigation of the shooting would find there was justification for it like they had dozens of other police-related fatal shootings, mostly of unarmed, young black men.
And, for more than a year, Van Dyke was right, and it looked like he might get away with pumping 16 bullets into a man with a troubled past who was walking away from him.
That is until the video recording of McDonald’s killing turned up and angry people took to the streets, demanding change and justice, and then, everything changed.
Now, everybody is running for cover as those involved in this alleged coverup will be reminded that it is a federal crime to lie to an FBI agent during an investigation.
The FBI finally made it to the Windy City.
Chicago News Media and Cop Press Releases
The Chicago Police Department had the most fatal shootings among the biggest U.S. cities, according to Better Government.
Chicago has also settled many excessive force and wrongful death lawsuits involving its police officers for hundreds of millions of dollars.
But for years, the Chicago newspapers and media have apparently chosen to ignore these numbers and lawsuits. Basically, ignoring a large segment of the community that is significantly impacted by these shootings along with the abuse and misconduct.
Now, many of these same “reporters” are pointing fingers and questioning local politicians on how this was been allowed to continue to fester for years, and what City Hall plans to do to make changes.
It’s sad that it took an independent journalist with limited resources to discard the police press release about McDonald’s death, start asking tough questions and demand to see the video of the police shooting.
Newsrooms are laying off reporters and editors and management put the blame on a sluggish economy and the Internet. But much of it is because newspapers have become insignificant in the lives of those in the communities they serve.
Much of it is because of lazy journalism that simply rewrites press releases, including those from cops and prosecutors justifying fatal shootings by police officers. No questions asked.
“How did all this get broken?” asked one TV news pundit today about the Chicago PD.
Maybe, part of the reason is because many of your colleagues in the newsrooms across the nation aren’t doing their jobs.
The Cash Register Factor in Chicago
Much of the Illinois’ state attorney general’s request to have the U.S. Justice Department look into the Chicago Police Department’s shooting gallery is economically driven — the protests are taking a toll on the Chicago Christmas shopping and tourism in that city, especially downtown.
The Chicago Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Bureau have the bottomline: cash register totals and hotel occupancy numbers. The Chicago political machine is fueled by business contributions.
Many in the Chicago’s business community are losing money during their busiest time of the year, and they aren’t happy about this.
Does anyone believe that phone calls weren’t made to City Hall or state representatives demanding something be done quickly to resolve this festering problem?
The Chicago PD mess is taking a toll on tourism and the Windy City’s economy.
The Deadliest Cops in the USA
This is an excellent newspaper story by The Guardian.
Police in Kern County, California, have killed more people per capita than in any other American county in 2015. The Guardian examines how, with little oversight, officers here became the country’s most lethal.
Crime-Fighting Tool
I have, what I believe, is a great idea that can be used as a crime-fighting tool against terrorists and other criminals.
First of all, when those two killers in San Bernardino shot and killed 14 innocent people and injured others, the two drove off in the black SUV. They were found quickly because police were able to identify the SUV.
But what if those two terrorists were from another city, nobody knew who they were or what they were driving?
Here is my idea: Give tax credits to businesses and homeowners who put surveillance cameras on their properties. I wrote a column about how this would work
This will discourage criminals from committing crimes in certain neighborhoods with surveillance cameras on some houses.
Now, suppose there is a terrorist attack at 2 p.m. and the terrorists speed away in a vehicle after they commit a crime, and police are hunting for these killers.
A program system can be set up where police ask residents through a crime-alert app and who live in certain zip codes where the crime occurred to please submit video recording from their surveillance cameras between 12:30 pm. and 2:30 p.m.
Under this system, property owners will be able to access their surveillance cameras from work, download the video recordings and immediately forward this information to the police department.
This system also can help police solve murders, kidnapping, rapes and other crimes.
This would decrease crime because cameras would discourage criminals from going into certain neighborhoods. Also video recordings could be used as evidence in court and that would cut down on the number of criminal trials.
Like with my idea, let Congress know. Click here: Open Congress