Chicago gangs vs. Chicago cops

I remember a great quote from the 1981 film Absence of Malice when Sally Fields writes a story on the son a local mob boss played by Paul Newman. When getting ready for the story, the paper's lawyer suggest she call Newman for his side of the story and Fields responds "We generally don't call the mob for comment."


Now we have another example of truth being stranger than fiction. In Chicago mob chiefs held a press conference to discuss violence in the city. What a surprise....they think cops are a problem and say don't blame us for it....

Chicago gangs vs. Chicago cops

An open feud has erupted over who is to blame for street violence in the city


Chicago cops to gangs: Stop the killing — or else


CHICAGO — The number of police officers shot in Chicago is escalating, most recently two wounded early Wednesday, and gang leaders here say they are being unfairly blamed for the escalating violence that has rocked the city this year.


In an unusual move, gang representatives held a press conference Thursday on the city's far West Side to tell their side of the story - in the face of law-enforcement threats to come after them via a federal statute that targets organized crime. Their point: They can't put a stop all street violence, and Chicago police themselves have a lot to answer for in their own behavior.


Street violence "is not always organized. It's spontaneous," community activist Wallace Bradley, a former member of the notorious Gangster Disciple gang, told the Sun-Times Thursday.

A community activist...from Chicago...haven't we had enough nightmares from that type...

The press conference follows on the heels of an explosive weekend report from the Chicago Sun-Times about an Aug. 17 secret meeting between local gang leaders and federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies - including Police Superintendent Jody Weis. At the meeting, authorities reportedly said that if one more gang member shoots another, they would prosecute the gangs' members and leaders - not just the assailants - under the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act. Gang members were also told to expect more parole visits and traffic stops in their neighborhoods, according to the newspaper's report.

Gee...letting the target of your investigation know what you are going to do...not too bight...then again we're talking politicians.

The revelation about the meeting has touched off a ferocious debate over how best to address the rising violence and the gang problem in Chicago. Mayor Richard M. Daley has defended the summit. But many local alderman criticize the approach. It's an "admission" that Chicago police "can't control the streets," said Alderman Bob Fioretti. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) said a more sound approach is better enforcement of assault weapon bans...

How about this...put the people who commit the crimes (sometimes know as criminals) into jail for a while...while they are in jail they cannot commit crimes.  Let's try that.

...For their part, gang leaders on Thursday said they were coerced into meeting with law enforcement officials last month, and they complained that authorities' efforts to blame them for the rising violence - and threats to dog their members - verge on violating their constitutional rights.


Police Superintendent Weis "is not interested in solving [violence] from a community perspective," Mark Carter, a former gang member who helped organize the conference, told the Sun-Times on Wednesday. He criticizes the police department and Mayor Daley for using techniques that gang members feel are harsh and unjust.

Good to know the gang bangers are concerned about being constitutionally violated. 

The police will continue to have a perception problem here until Weis speaks out about the systemic abuse revealed in the Burge trial and roots out others who support it, says John Hagedorn, who researches gangs at the University of Illinois at Chicago.


"You don't torture people for decades and get away with it and have the consent of silence within the police and not expect it to have an effect," says Mr. Hagedorn. "This accountability thing should cut two ways."

OK...the cops have a perception problem but the gang bangers tell it straight...have I woken up on Planet of the Apes...this is a Class A planet with humanoid life but something is just not right! Then again we're talking about an academician...just because you're educated it doesn't make you intelligent.