Chicago, IL-Okay, I have had my differences with the Windy City’s administration over fraud, waste and blatant corruption. I think we all understand the function of police in America. They are the first responders responsible for suppression of violent crime and the apprehension of persons accused of crime.
We also know and understand that criminals are presumed to be armed and that’s why we spend billions to train and arm police.
In Chicago there exists an actual police agency with properly screened, trained and sworn officers that patrol Chicago’s two major airports. It’s the men and women of the Chicago Aviation Police Department.
This police department’s law enforcement for some unexplainable reason their duties are limited to observing and reporting all crime incidents to The Chicago Police Department.
The duties of this outfit would be more logically delegated to the untrained, uneducated, unarmed and minimally screened people from the ranks of the hard corps unemployed. The pay rate for observe and report guards is at minimum wage level.
Under state law, the Chicago Aviation Police must undergo all standard police academy training including qualification with firearms. This department owns no firearms and they forbid their officers from carrying them! Yes, that is at airports, that are at the highest level of potential terrorist targets!
Since the officers are sworn they are allowed to carry firearms while off duty and away from the places they are sworn to protect. They can carry guns anywhere but where they’re needed most, at the airports!
The most amazing part of this insanity is that the airport officers must call the police if police services are needed. Why must taxpayers foot the bill for both departments?
The simplest answer is to mandate that the aviation officers carry the firearms they’ve been trained to actually handle and to prepare them for the protection of the public and incredibly expensive property.
Isn’t this really just part of Mayor Daley’s gun control folly? We need to ask how taxpayers are being served by maintaining a police agency that won’t and can’t protect them. Is the insane intent of Chicago’s politicians to simply provide terrorists with a larger pool hostages and victims?
It’s only a matter of time before the first officer an armed terrorist will see will be a Chicago Aviation cop. How many must needlessly die as a result?
"In Chicago there exists an actual police agency with properly screened, trained and sworn officers that patrol Chicago’s two major airports"
ReplyDeleteI wouldnt say that.I went thru the academy with DOA guys and they were all political hacks.They were "passed" and got their little irish welfare jobs.I wouldnt let them carry guns either.
Paul I believe u said u were just in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteSo to give even more already deserved credibility to your post, tell us about your personal experiences while you were there.
Many cops in America carry UNLOADED AR-15 rifles as well.
One of the parents at school works for DOA. When we first met he introduced himself as a Chicago Police Officer not knowing my husband was CPD. It wasn't until pinned about how he could of only worked at the airport fron DAY ONE without any clout did he finally say it was department of aviation. To this day he still presents himself as an off duty officer and does not correct people when they assume he means CPD. I think that is a bit odd. I agree with you though, they should be able to carry while at work but then there are guys like this and I wonder how f'd up the system truly is. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI almost feel safer in the neighborhoods around Midway than I do *inside* the secure area in that airport. (Note "almost".)
ReplyDeleteThen again, maybe they forbid them firearms because they might try the hot dogs with the blue, yes blue, pickle relish and would consequently be tempted to gun down the vendors.
I believe most of the aviation police were clout hired, but no matter, if they're the police, let them be the police. Or else get rid of them.
ReplyDeleteIt is stupid to send them to the police academy, certify them in all the laws and other requirements of Illinois, then leave them toothless.
Since retiring from CPD an moving to KY................. I was a bit undeducated by "their airport police"............ Well they are security guards with guns................. OMG.............. I happened to meet a girl who's husband has been an airport cop for almost 20 years, and you would think he was on the street in Chicago for 50 years..............They don't like the regular Police. When I called him on his bullshit and his stories he shut up........
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, I don't like to put down other departments, but they are just like TSA........... Hired with guns.......... Makes me sick....................
They hate the regular police, but want to be the "real police" but refuse to go through all of us went through.
Dont' bet me started Paul. It will get ugly.
Gives you a hug.
DOA guys and gals do not provide much security.Its an Irish welfare spot and these people are the bottom of the barrel,much like TSA.
ReplyDeletePart of the reason that they don't carry is the contract F.O.P. Lodge #7 has with the city. Only the real police can be the police in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteITS REALLY FUNNY HOW YOU GUYS SAY DOA POLICE ARE NOTHING BUT SECURITY GURADS, BUT EVERY TIME THE NEWS REFERED TO THE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER THAT CAUGHT THE INMATE HE WAS CALLED A SECURITY GUARD
ReplyDeleteWhats going on is that the city doesn't want to give them full responsibility of the airports. They have CPD over there in wich they are paying overtime to have them over there patroling. But the city says there short of officers in the streets and wont hire because they have no money. How about turn it over to the aviation police and put those CPD officers in the streets.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteITS REALLY FUNNY HOW YOU GUYS SAY DOA POLICE ARE NOTHING BUT SECURITY GURADS, BUT EVERY TIME THE NEWS REFERED TO THE CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER THAT CAUGHT THE INMATE HE WAS CALLED A SECURITY GUARD
July 14, 2009 11:32 PM
Thats because he was a security officer.The CPD detail to Mayor Daleys home in Michigan has no police powers.They can carry their firearms due to HR218,thanks to the NRA.
So in reality they are private security.
Thanks Paul,
ReplyDeleteI've been bitching about this for years. I'm CPD and my wife is DOA Police. NO CLOUT. At O'Hare they have them making traffic stops on city streets around the airport unarmed. Do people realize the DOA Police are stationed at the gates with immediate access to the airfields. A terrorists dream. But it has been brought to the Mayor's attention after 9/11. What did King Richard reply, we don't need more people with guns. Years ago Channel 7 news also did a story regarding this, but still it stays the same. I have wriiten every news agency trying to get them to do a story about this and the fact that it is a tragedy waiting to occur. But nobody cares. The one thing you didn't mention, is even though they are unarmed, they have to follow the State mandate and pass a yearly weapon qualification. How ironic. Years ago it was a clout job, but now the clout positions are just the high ranking bosses. I thought Maurer would do something when he became their boss, but still the same old song and dance. Except Maurer has them doing even more police duties while unarmed. Until one of the DOA officers is shot or killed, I can't see our Mayor doing anything different. Truth is if they did arm DOA, we could free up some of the CPD officer's who are badly needed on the street. Maybe you can make some noise. I've tried to no avail. It's Chicago politics at it most ludicrous point.
TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT. IF YOU WANT AN ARTICLE ABOUT HOW THE CITY OF CHICAGO WASTES TAX PAYERS MONEY JUST COME BY THE AIRPORT AND SEE WHAT CPD OFFICERS DO. THESE OFFICERS ARE GETTING PAID ALOT OF MONEY TO DO A JOB THAT AVIATION POLICE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS. YOU SEE CPD AT THE AIRPORT ARE FOR OFFICERS WHO CAN'T MAKE IT ON THE STREETS OR HAVE THE CLOUT TO HIDE AND GET PAID BEFORE RETIREMENT. THE CITY SHOULD LOOK INTO THE PRODUCTIVITY OF BOTH DEPARTMENTS AND COMPARE THE WORK. I CAN SURELY GUARANTEE THAT THE RESULTS WOULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF. I'M NOT TRYING TO BAD TALK CPD, BUT THE TRUTH IS AT THE AIRPORTS THEY ARE NOT NEEDED WHEN YOU HAVE AN AVIATION POLICE DEPT. CONSISTING OF OVER 300 SWORN AND TRAINED POLICE OFFICERS. THERE SQUADS, BADGES, ID'S, AND PATCHES ALL SAY POLICE, AND IT IS TRUE APD OFFICERS ARE CONDUCTING STREET TRAFFIC STOPS AND EMERGENCY CALLS WITH ONLY AN ASP, CUFFS, AND OC SPRAY. YOU SAY THEY ARE SECURITY OFFICERS. ASK ANY POLICE OFFICER IN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT TO GIVE UP THERE GUN AND GO TO WORK. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME WHEN ONE OF THESE OFFICERS WILL GET HURT IF NOT KILLED DOING THERE JOB. PUT CPD BACK ON THE STREETS TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF CHICAGO. ARM APD AND LEAVE THE AIRPORTS CITIZENS TO THE CHICAGO AVIATION POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ReplyDeleteDOA is TOTAL CLOUT job.You dont get on without a phonecall.If there was a real hiring process,their current force could not get on.These irish welfare recipients should be greeters at Wally World.
ReplyDeleteArming them will do little to stop determined and trained for real bad guys.Just because you went thru a police academy do not think you are trained.
If they want REAL airport security then get real about it and stop doing the Crook County shuffle.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BAD TALK CPD.
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Not "trying to bad talk CPD." The agency you wre not trying to bad talk is DOA. You did not say one negative thing about them. So I guess you are right-you are not trying to bad talk CPD, it just comes natural. I am one who feels they should be armed but they knew they would not be when they took the job. I had an encounter with a DOA employee where we needed to go on the runway for something. This guy just let us in without asking for ID. We could of been anyone with any intention and we were given permission to go on the secure runway. Yes, yes, I KNOW-Chicago Police make mistakes also. It just sounds to me that if they want to be armed officers, they knew they would not be. If they still want to be DOA, then they need to fight to be armed but not on a blog. If they really feel the system is wrong they should get an attorney of go to their union as I am sure many have. Maybe just start with changing this little city ordinance:
The duties and powers of a special police officer are laid out in the Special Policeman and Security Guards Ordinance of the City of Chicago. ("SPSGO") sec. 4-340 Chicago City Code (1993)
I don't know what bothered me more about your post, all CAPS or the word THERE instead of THEIR.
July 18, 2009 4:53 AM
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
I'M NOT TRYING TO BAD TALK CPD.
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Not "trying to bad talk CPD." The agency you wre not trying to bad talk is DOA. You did not say one negative thing about them. So I guess you are right-you are not trying to bad talk CPD, it just comes natural. I am one who feels they should be armed but they knew they would not be when they took the job. I had an encounter with a DOA employee where we needed to go on the runway for something. This guy just let us in without asking for ID. We could of been anyone with any intention and we were given permission to go on the secure runway. Yes, yes, I KNOW-Chicago Police make mistakes also. It just sounds to me that if they want to be armed officers, they knew they would not be. If they still want to be DOA, then they need to fight to be armed but not on a blog. If they really feel the system is wrong they should get an attorney of go to their union as I am sure many have. Maybe just start with changing this little city ordinance:
The duties and powers of a special police officer are laid out in the Special Policeman and Security Guards Ordinance of the City of Chicago. ("SPSGO") sec. 4-340 Chicago City Code (1993)
I don't know what bothered me more about your post, all CAPS or the word THERE instead of THEIR.
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Did the Mayor or Commisioner Maurer write this?
What is funny is Metropolitan Sanitary District police, UIC police, University of Chicago Police, Cook County police and Cook County Forest Preserve police are all armed. But yet DOA police are unarmed. They must all be bigger targets of terrorism than the airports would ever be. CPD may be at the airports, but all the gates that have direct access to the airfield and all the flights are manned by unarmed DOA police. Most of the CPD assigned to the airports are there waiting out retirement or just don't like to work. For the record I am a CPD officer. Arm DOA police and put these CPD officers back on the street where they are needed. With the districts as dangerously short as they are, why have CPD at the airports. Maybe Daley and Weis should wake up and look at an easy solution to both problems.
ReplyDeleteAs a cop, all I can say is if your making street and traffic stops without a gun, you need your friggin head examined. Find another job.
ReplyDeleteDOA Police actually train with Cook County Police. Not run by clouted city of chicago. So they are certified LEO's but can't carry guns. The training they get is the same training a street cop outside of chicago would get. Chicago goes through extra training that teaches Chicago stuff such as ordinances and other general orders that do not pertain to suburban policing. Although I don't believe there is a need for DOA police, I do respect them since they ARE the police. CPD is already stationed at the airports why have DOA police at all?
ReplyDeleteNot properly arming the Chicago Aviation Police is a tragedy waiting to happen. What a sad situation it is that in our two major airports the men and women who are their to protect us, and are trained to do so at the Police Academy are not allowed to carry the very tools which other police are required to keep with them while on duty. What kind of weird backwards logic is this? These men and women are trained at the Academy, and allow me to say, as a person who had taught at the Academy for many years, these men and women are indeed fully trained. I have traveled all over the world and I feel much safer at airports in foreign countries than I do at O'Hare and Midway. Go just about any airport in Europe and the police are armed with heavy weapons. But here in Chicago, the political hacks who were hired by former mayor Daley and the current mayor do not even have police training and backgrounds. In fact the current head of the Aviation Police is a former fireman (?), who takes in his large fireman's pension and then a salary to oversee officers who, unlike him, are trained police officers. I'm only mentioning this because this helps prove that the City administration is not treating this department as a full law enforcement department, not in the leadership they employ and not in allowing them to be properly armed to protect me and my family. Heck, I just read that the training manual for unarmed officers tells them to run and hide if there is a life threatening situation. Yeah, Chicago,, thanks for putting the the lives of my family members and me at greater risk than in any other US airport which properly arms their officers.
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