As Jack pointed out, the last Chicago police officer killed was a uniformed officer that was targeted by “thugs” for his vehicle. A cop in uniform getting carjacked? That cannot be right! This is a poignant example of how bad Chicago has become – yet nothing has changed!
Why are we surprised? It is not as if Chicago is known for wholesome, good governance, low crime and quality of life. Intuitively, it is easier to argue the opposite.
Apparently the negative perception of the City and the police department was a major reason to hire an outsider – an FBI man. Mr. Weiss is paid $320,000 annually for running the CPD and to have an FBI agent in charge of the second largest police department in the U.S. without any local police experience brings to light the sheer political decision it was. The perception of corruption is mitigated with Weiss at the helm.
The adept political machine that gave us the Daleys and our current President are alive, well, and most capable with roots firmly dug into Chicago neighborhoods. Maybe some of that political clout could be uprooted to propel Chicago from its perch as the nation’s “Second City” to the first, by first getting a combined effort involving the community, law enforcement, the County Attorney (District Attorney), and the U.S. Attorney to catch, try, and imprison criminal suspects.
Too bad, because there’s a great city just dying to poke it’s head out from under the corruption, graft, and ineptness of Chicago’s leaders. In a republic, if a government consistently fails to protect the citizenry, then that government must be must be thrown out. Then and only then, will one of the shooters be charged, convicted and imprisoned for shooting any number of people in Chicago.
