I would love to get paid the big bucks for stating the obvious. Was there really a need for a task force? Are the "leaders" in Chicago completely clueless that they need to have a report on what has been happening in Chicago since forever?
3
Emmanuel needs the White vote so he won't come down hard on the cops. Most Whites see the police as their last defense against a feared Black rebellion. So long as Blacks remain a numerical minority, they'll never see a justice system that views them with human worth equal to Whites.
1
How is the "Chicago Police Dept. Plagued by Systemic Racism"? Especially if:
* Around 70% of perpetrators of Chicago crime as described by victims (in Case Reports) are black
* Around 70% of Chicagoans in contact by police are black
* Around 70% of Chicagoans shot or killed by police are black
I find it questionable that the NY Times in their reporting, like so many stories, makes no effort to add these easy-to-find, extremely relevant, and verifiable statistics for perspective. Instead, they merely regurgitate the Task Force findings, by writing without context, "In a city where whites, blacks and Hispanics each make up about one-third of the population, 74 percent of the 404 people shot by the Chicago police between 2008 and 2015 were black, the report said. Black people were the subjects in 72 percent of the thousands of investigative street stops that did not lead to arrests during the summer of 2014." Only in a single sentence is it mentioned there are "high rates of violence in some of those communities, but that did not excuse abuses of power by the police ..."
Yes, there's police abuse. There's actually discrepancies in whose cases are more substantiated (mostly white persons). According to CNN 12/9/15, "The data showed that blacks filed 61% of the complaints and whites filed 20%. Of the 4% of complaints deemed valid, 57% are from whites compared with just 24% from blacks."
That's possibly racism. This disparities mentioned in the report and this article are not.
* Around 70% of perpetrators of Chicago crime as described by victims (in Case Reports) are black
* Around 70% of Chicagoans in contact by police are black
* Around 70% of Chicagoans shot or killed by police are black
I find it questionable that the NY Times in their reporting, like so many stories, makes no effort to add these easy-to-find, extremely relevant, and verifiable statistics for perspective. Instead, they merely regurgitate the Task Force findings, by writing without context, "In a city where whites, blacks and Hispanics each make up about one-third of the population, 74 percent of the 404 people shot by the Chicago police between 2008 and 2015 were black, the report said. Black people were the subjects in 72 percent of the thousands of investigative street stops that did not lead to arrests during the summer of 2014." Only in a single sentence is it mentioned there are "high rates of violence in some of those communities, but that did not excuse abuses of power by the police ..."
Yes, there's police abuse. There's actually discrepancies in whose cases are more substantiated (mostly white persons). According to CNN 12/9/15, "The data showed that blacks filed 61% of the complaints and whites filed 20%. Of the 4% of complaints deemed valid, 57% are from whites compared with just 24% from blacks."
That's possibly racism. This disparities mentioned in the report and this article are not.
9
The report contains some valid analysis and criticism, but it is plainly biased toward the "left." The only mention of gangs is to list the previous version of the city's gang loitering ordinance, which was struck down by the Supreme Court as vague, as another instance of institutional racism, and to then charge that the current version is also biased because gang members ordered to disperse were 85% Black, 14% Hispanic and only 1.4% white. Come on. Are the police supposed to find non-existent gang members just to equalize these numbers? And why can't the task force acknowledge that the gang bangers shooting up their communities are a big part of the problem?
7
I wish to offer my respect to all who have posted before me on this issue which is so filled with frustrations and challenges. I reported on the Chicago Police Department from 1965-1969 and in my last year on that beat my reporting on racism in the CPD and at City Hall so enraged Mayor Richard J Daley he personally demanded that I be fired, which I was. I was then blackballed at other news organizations in town until NBC News hired me. My career is unimportant in this discussion, but what is valuable as we imagine a better future for Chicago is this: what drove Boss Daley to call my boss ( his lifelong friend) and scream at him to, "get rid of that Jew-bastard," was the content of my documentary, "Black Law and Order." In it, the two founders of the Afro-American Patrolman's organization detailed the racism-driven wrongs of Daley & CPD. Shortly after I went to work at WMAQ, someone planted three glassine envelopes of heroin in my apartment. The discovery was made by a friend who had been a US intelligence officer. He flushed the heroin and had me call the police to report a possible break-in. Unbelievably police arrived in less than a minute and when they looked through the apartment they first went to the three places where my friend found the heroin. After the officers departed, the intelligence guy said, "They are setting you up! Get out of town!" I did. Back then, there were many noble cops but corrupt racist system Nothing changed.
14
So my comments about systemic discrimination and hate crime against Asian didn't show up. Good to know crimes against Asian aren't important enough to be included in a discussion on racial discrimination. I don't know why so many Asian still support the left when the left consider them below all other races.
2
I don't know anybody on the left, including me, who think Asians are below other races. Asians should make their concerns known to the powers that be, and they need to do it loudly. I would like to see Asians form coalitions with other people of color to really be a force to recon with. Don't fall for the divisive politics and tactics that cause us to fight among ourselves for the crumbs left behind.
2
Why is it that almost all of the posts chosen as Times Picks fall comfortably within the realm of the oh-so-correct, right-thinking and, dare I say it, self-righteously, ill-informed orthodoxy. And I say that as a person who has volunteered in the pre-engineering class at an inner-city Chicago school. A lot of people put a lot of time and money into trying to make that program work. That puts the lie to the idea that access to all good things is beyond the reach of these kids. However, I stopped going because it was too depressing watching the teacher pour his heart out to 10th graders with 4 th grade reading levels who couldn't have cared less. They definitely seemed more interested in flirting and texting than they did in taking advantage of the amazing opportunity that had been dropped in their laps. Hope that helps.
9
You can be forgiven for thinking that you were the recipient of some sort of selfless charity, since you have no idea where the money went in that endeavor, or who got paid what, or who knew in advance that it would fail because it was designed to from the beginning. The only ill-informed orthodoxy I see here is yours. That the government is handing people things on a silver platter and it's being slapped away because they're barbarians.
4
To all the judges out there, be careful. If you work in an environment every day where the residents are a very real threat to your life how would you behave? Not condoning bad behavior by cops but there's another side to the story no one wants to talk about. It's is easy to criticize from the sidelines. Big city cops protect us from chaos and anarchy - more dangerous job than serving in Iraq. We owe them a great deal of gratitude.
5
I would never want to be a white cop in a minority neighborhood. Seems like no matter what you do it's wrong.
Minorities should police their own neighborhoods.
Minorities should police their own neighborhoods.
7
If minorities police their own neighborhoods they should have a reciprocal right to govern their own neighborhoods. That's called secession. Unfortunately, the city government cannot legally do that. It has a definite obligation to provide the same quality of services, including policing, to everyone within its jurisdiction. No matter how personally difficult you may find that.
2
I don't find it personally difficult at all, because I'm not a cop and I don't live in those neighborhoods. But it seems like the residents of those neighborhoods and the police department find it very difficult.
And it also seems like the residents of those neighborhoods find the quality of services as they currently exist sorely lacking.
And it also seems like the residents of those neighborhoods find the quality of services as they currently exist sorely lacking.
Stop whining about racist cops. Give young residents an opportunity to police their community. Create Police for America.
3
I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. I am a product of the Chicago Public Schools K-12.
The South Side of Chicago is the oldest largest contiguous black African American community. The home of Oscar DePriest, Harold Washington, William Dawson, Ralph Metcalfe, Charles Hayes, Bobbie Rush, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Jeremiah Wright, Jeff Fort, David Barksdale, Larry Hoover, Henry Cogwell, Johnnie Coleman, John Johnson and Michelle and Barack Obama.
I was regularly stalked, harassed and arrested by mostly black Chicago cops. And I had the same experience with street thugs. I was nobody from nowhere with no one. But Pony Soldier aka Mickey of the Main 21 of the Almighty Black P Stone Nation was my godfather. And I had two very prominent powerful famous family members who could and would move heaven and earth to protect me.
This report is akin to confirming that water is wet and the sky is blue. No one who was white and Irish Roman Catholic in Chicago like our former mayors or white and Jewish like the current mayor had to worry. The Loop, Gold Coast, Mag Mile, Hyde Park, Kenwood and the North Side were safe for white folks. I have CPD relatives and Chicago criminals in my family. My cop kin never violated any rights. And my criminal family got what they deserved from cops and crooks.
The South Side of Chicago is the oldest largest contiguous black African American community. The home of Oscar DePriest, Harold Washington, William Dawson, Ralph Metcalfe, Charles Hayes, Bobbie Rush, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Jeremiah Wright, Jeff Fort, David Barksdale, Larry Hoover, Henry Cogwell, Johnnie Coleman, John Johnson and Michelle and Barack Obama.
I was regularly stalked, harassed and arrested by mostly black Chicago cops. And I had the same experience with street thugs. I was nobody from nowhere with no one. But Pony Soldier aka Mickey of the Main 21 of the Almighty Black P Stone Nation was my godfather. And I had two very prominent powerful famous family members who could and would move heaven and earth to protect me.
This report is akin to confirming that water is wet and the sky is blue. No one who was white and Irish Roman Catholic in Chicago like our former mayors or white and Jewish like the current mayor had to worry. The Loop, Gold Coast, Mag Mile, Hyde Park, Kenwood and the North Side were safe for white folks. I have CPD relatives and Chicago criminals in my family. My cop kin never violated any rights. And my criminal family got what they deserved from cops and crooks.
5
I hardly *ever* see anything written (anywhere) about what kind of screening/testing procedures (including "mental attitudes") that are used in selection of law enforcement personnel.
So...if such procedures are inadequate (or largely missing, period), are we just reaping what we sow? -- in getting the kind of law enforcement people that might be "inappropriately" attracted to such a profession that involves a significant use of power and violence?
So...if such procedures are inadequate (or largely missing, period), are we just reaping what we sow? -- in getting the kind of law enforcement people that might be "inappropriately" attracted to such a profession that involves a significant use of power and violence?
7
Can we PLEASE try getting the guns and drugs off the streets ? Otherwise it's like squeezing a tied balloon....it just pops out in another area. IF the Chicago police have racist views it's because of the people committing the majority of the crimes in Chicago. It's not taught in their training. They don't, in my opinion, go into law enforcement with racist views. It is, in my opinion, mostly due to what they are dealing with on a daily basis. It's hard to maintain a positive attitude toward ANYTHING or ANYONE who continually murders innocents, as well as police officers. There is a Wild West atmosphere in Chicago.
1
Unfortunately, the rottenness as well as the criminality, in this potentially "great" city may take decades, and heroic effort, to correct.
Any taxpayer would hope that the hiring practices would change for the better, too.
Just what kind of person is the C.P.D. hiring?
Furthermore, good luck--Mazeltov!--to anyone who makes an effort to clean up this mess; one that has been allowed to fester far too long.
Any taxpayer would hope that the hiring practices would change for the better, too.
Just what kind of person is the C.P.D. hiring?
Furthermore, good luck--Mazeltov!--to anyone who makes an effort to clean up this mess; one that has been allowed to fester far too long.
1
So if it is a person of color who commits a crime or is disregarding traffic laws while driving the Chicago PD needs to turn a blind eye towards them!! This solves all the racism charges doesn't it??? Let those folks do as they please and then the numbers will go down as to black arrests, etc. Problem solved!!
9
You're missing the point. The article didn't say that. The article says blacks in general are more likely to be pulled regardless of whether they did something or not. Other race are less likely. And even if other race do something wrong they may not be caught because police is not actively looking for them. The influenza kid that killed 4 people got 4 months in jail but if he was black that's game over for him.
Be objective and deductive in your comment and stop being bias. At a time in America, the police was the rod used by government tk discipline black slaves; that in itself have damaged the reputation of the police. Even bigger problem was that when slavery was abolished, police and government didn't stop from being too cruel on blacks, hence the collapse of trust between these set of people
Be objective and deductive in your comment and stop being bias. At a time in America, the police was the rod used by government tk discipline black slaves; that in itself have damaged the reputation of the police. Even bigger problem was that when slavery was abolished, police and government didn't stop from being too cruel on blacks, hence the collapse of trust between these set of people
4
Really? How about telling us something we don't already know to be true for every city and town across the country.
Why do these reports continually ignore a major factor in Chicago police incidents, Pat Camden? He is a Police Union rep who appears whenever there is a violent confrontation and feeds the reporters false scenarios. Camden is the reason the Laquan case remained buried for a year. Camden brags about being the commenter on over 500 police incidents.
You can't fix a problem when there is a storyteller making sure no one knows the problem exists.
You can't fix a problem when there is a storyteller making sure no one knows the problem exists.
5
It generally takes two to tango, but determining who is in the dance can certainly be problematic. It seems to me that the community culture itself is a problem here, too. You have blacks engaging in activity that causes a disproportionate amount of trouble, too, so it's not fair to lay it all on the police. After all, when was the last time en masse they looted, pillaged, raped, burned and murdered the inhabitants of an area because something happened? Hmmm?
I've encountered Chicago law enforcement 3 times. Once when on Michigan Ave, once Cook County Sheriff's Dept. in the Rosemont area following a very minor fender bender and once when trying to locate a missing person the airport police arrested.
The Michigan Avenue police were on foot and seemed very professional and competent, but that is just observation. There wasn't anything going on. The Cook County S.O. guys were rude, insolent, overbearing and incompetent and fit the profiles in this report. The Cook County/Chicago law enforcement system was so disjointed and overwhelmed by indifference and laziness that it took hours on end to find the person they had in custody from the airport and when and where they would go to court. They also fit the profiles in this report.
Where there is smoke there is fire, but it's actually a nationwide problem and not really based upon race. I can cite many similar examples as this Chicago report. It's simply easier to single that out.
I've encountered Chicago law enforcement 3 times. Once when on Michigan Ave, once Cook County Sheriff's Dept. in the Rosemont area following a very minor fender bender and once when trying to locate a missing person the airport police arrested.
The Michigan Avenue police were on foot and seemed very professional and competent, but that is just observation. There wasn't anything going on. The Cook County S.O. guys were rude, insolent, overbearing and incompetent and fit the profiles in this report. The Cook County/Chicago law enforcement system was so disjointed and overwhelmed by indifference and laziness that it took hours on end to find the person they had in custody from the airport and when and where they would go to court. They also fit the profiles in this report.
Where there is smoke there is fire, but it's actually a nationwide problem and not really based upon race. I can cite many similar examples as this Chicago report. It's simply easier to single that out.
3
How often have we heard that a systematic racism exist in many of our police department, but it continues. As an EEO teacher for many years I taught this, but it still exist today; when are we going to do something about this. As a reader of the words of God it tells me that lawlessness is coming to this world, but can be stopped if our system turn back to Him to include the police departments. Are we going to change a system that is creating the problem and feed it everyday? Changes can be made if all of us work together to do it. Our police departments need to represent all of our society and not just one part, as they are today.
Don't they know, all the cops gotta do is paint a sign on their cars: "Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect." It works in NYC, and it should work the same all across the country!
1
You're funny or sarcastic.
You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. Trying to police the crime ridden streets of Chicago's ghetto is a no win situation. Obama's right hand man is finding out how true that is. Remember when Michelle sat down with the gang members? Right after the little girl who visited the White House was shot and killed? The look on Mrs. Obama's face said it all. Some people are beyond help. The daily shootings in every black neighborhood in this country on a daily basis is not a result of bad policing techniques, it's a result of a group of people who have been raised to see criminal opportunity not as their only option, but the best option. Rappers have the sway that teachers don't. Is it jobs? Is it social ills? Is it poverty? Probably all of those, but it's a fact that there are poor neighborhoods all over this country where people are not shooting each other daily. The cost of trauma care, prison administration, policing.....exorbitant! Why? Who's doing it? Who is pulling those triggers over a "disrespectful look", or someone walking down the wrong street, or hanging on the wrong corner? Who isn't cooperating with the police out of fear, or just plain stubborn ignorance? I'd answer that, but then I'd be a racist.
Correct?
Correct?
10
No!!!" You don't say?!" A truly revealing and unforeseen revelation!!" Cue painful violins basted and marinated in sarcasm.."
The report, apparently, found exactly what it was supposed to. I'd be curious to see what would happen to those most critical of law enforcement if, suddenly, nationwide, there were no law enforcement.
5
Uh, oh. Detroit went through this same thing 40 years ago.
1
The Chicago mayor's limited and timid response so far, to this report, is pathetic. Im glad to hear he is open to the report's suggestions, otherwise why bother doing the study?
1
Why do you stop at race? Chicago police is sexist.... More than 50% of Chicago population are women, but the arrested people were 97% man. Oh wait, they also discriminate against age... People 16 to 35 year old make 40% of population but 90% of the arrests. You see... I just gave you new ideas about "great" articles, well supported by statistics. What, is anything erroneous in my judgment?
12
Oh, what a surprise! Racism in the Chicago Police Department! What will the next task force "discover"? Steam? Gravity?
This stuff has been going on since before Dick Daley was a cowboy at the Stock Yards. Stay tuned for the next amazing revelation in twenty years or so. And don't stand around on one leg waiting for anything to change.
This stuff has been going on since before Dick Daley was a cowboy at the Stock Yards. Stay tuned for the next amazing revelation in twenty years or so. And don't stand around on one leg waiting for anything to change.
3
the mayor is still not in compliance. he should not have hand pick no one into office.
News this isn't. Residents of Chicago have been saying this for years, but now it's "official" because Mr. Emanuel convened a committee to write a report. And the only reason he commissioned the report was CYA, since he'd stonewalled regarding the video Laquan McDonald's murder at the hands of the Chicago Police. Given how toxic the department's culture seems to be, that morale is low is no surprise.
Now what are they going to actually do to clean up this mess?
Now what are they going to actually do to clean up this mess?
6
Chicago is done; cooked. And, like Baltimore, there hasn't been a Republican fingerprint on the place in eons. Thank you, Democrats, for another spectacular urban failure.
7
If you had that "task force" run the police department, within a year they would get similar complaints of "systemic racism".
3
I would love to get paid the big bucks for stating the obvious.
Why is this described as systematic racism?
About 25% of Chicago cops are black. About 20% are Hispanic. Are the black cops treating the black community better? How about the Hispanic cops, are the exempt from the racism charges? And are the approximately 55% while cops the only ones responsible for the racism charges?
And what kind of racism should be ascribed to Chicago's black community if they're claiming racial harassment by the white police when in fact the police department is largely integrated with minority cops?
And if the entire department Is practicing systematic racism, black, white and Hispanic cops, why is it trams racial? Doesn't that suggest the black community in Chicago is contributing or inciting police animosity against them through behavior, and not as a result of their skin color?
About 25% of Chicago cops are black. About 20% are Hispanic. Are the black cops treating the black community better? How about the Hispanic cops, are the exempt from the racism charges? And are the approximately 55% while cops the only ones responsible for the racism charges?
And what kind of racism should be ascribed to Chicago's black community if they're claiming racial harassment by the white police when in fact the police department is largely integrated with minority cops?
And if the entire department Is practicing systematic racism, black, white and Hispanic cops, why is it trams racial? Doesn't that suggest the black community in Chicago is contributing or inciting police animosity against them through behavior, and not as a result of their skin color?
10
In other news, the task force determined that breathing is useful.
1
Chicago is a democratic mecca of progressive policies, laws and low income assistance of every form, so how could this be ?
3
A very damning report. The mayor needs to react to this and start implementation of reforms immediately.
The real issues and questions that plaque our inner city's will never be spoke of. So create a 'task force' to conclude that African Americans had so much more contact with the police in an area where African Americans commit so much more crime.... Your Kidding ! We are all forbidden from suggesting these communities have been destroyed by broken families, fatherless children, and a self destructing cycle of government dependency..... So lets go back to pretending its the cops fault....
8
Comments from James Baldwin in 1967 that resonate to this day:
The following is from an interview with James Baldwin after the uprisings of 1967/68. Keep in mind that approximately 40 people died in an uprising in Detroit in 1967
Q. What would you say ought to be done to improve the relationship of the police with the black community?
BALDWIN : You would have to educate them. I really have no quarrel particularly with the policemen. I can see the trouble they're in. They're hopelessly ignorant and terribly frightened. They believe everything they see on television, as most people in this country do. . .The country has got the police force it deserves and of course if a policeman sees a black cat in what he considers a strange place he's going to stop him; and you know of course the black cat is going to get angry. And then somebody may die. But it's one of the results of the cultivation in this country of ignorance. Those cats in the Harlem street, those white cops; they are scared to death and they should be scared to death. But that's how black boys die, because the police are scared. And it's not the policemen's fault; it's the country's fault.
The following is from an interview with James Baldwin after the uprisings of 1967/68. Keep in mind that approximately 40 people died in an uprising in Detroit in 1967
Q. What would you say ought to be done to improve the relationship of the police with the black community?
BALDWIN : You would have to educate them. I really have no quarrel particularly with the policemen. I can see the trouble they're in. They're hopelessly ignorant and terribly frightened. They believe everything they see on television, as most people in this country do. . .The country has got the police force it deserves and of course if a policeman sees a black cat in what he considers a strange place he's going to stop him; and you know of course the black cat is going to get angry. And then somebody may die. But it's one of the results of the cultivation in this country of ignorance. Those cats in the Harlem street, those white cops; they are scared to death and they should be scared to death. But that's how black boys die, because the police are scared. And it's not the policemen's fault; it's the country's fault.
4
The Mayor needed someone to tell him that, really?
These police are a nasty crew. Many are criminals and have been protected by the union and their brethren while committing outrageous crimes. And, yes, they have always felt confident in killing and terrorizing the poor, the black, the latinos. Their system has been set up to encourage it. These are the same cops who admitted murdering Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, which was sanctioned by the states attorney and the FBI. These cops act like terrorists.
2
Look at the latest cop-involved shooting in Chicago and you'll see what an intractable mess this all is:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-home-square-police-...
A 16-yr ran away from a car the cops stopped because they thought it was involved in a shooting earlier that day. The kid scales a fence and is shot in the chest by the cop, who says the kid was pointing a gun at him. A semi-automatic weapon is recovered at the scene.
Now everyone will justifiably argue about what really happened at that fence. The black community has already held marches to protest his death.
But lost in all this will be why a 16-yr old kid already had a gang tattoo on his neck and had "prior contact with the police". His mother was 18 when she had him, her 1st child, and now has 4 more children. Coincidentally, she'd been profiled in a 2000 Chicago Trib article about efforts to encourage truant students to attend school & was quoted as saying back then: "It's not like I'm just out hanging in the streets...my baby needs me at home. That's where I'm going to be, school or not."
So yes, cops shooting young black men & boys is tragic. But just as tragic is teens having babies when they haven't even graduated from high school, and then having 4 more kids that they can't possibly afford to take care of. No amount of public spending can counteract this. This poor kid's life was ended at 16 by a cop's bullet but he never had a chance.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-home-square-police-...
A 16-yr ran away from a car the cops stopped because they thought it was involved in a shooting earlier that day. The kid scales a fence and is shot in the chest by the cop, who says the kid was pointing a gun at him. A semi-automatic weapon is recovered at the scene.
Now everyone will justifiably argue about what really happened at that fence. The black community has already held marches to protest his death.
But lost in all this will be why a 16-yr old kid already had a gang tattoo on his neck and had "prior contact with the police". His mother was 18 when she had him, her 1st child, and now has 4 more children. Coincidentally, she'd been profiled in a 2000 Chicago Trib article about efforts to encourage truant students to attend school & was quoted as saying back then: "It's not like I'm just out hanging in the streets...my baby needs me at home. That's where I'm going to be, school or not."
So yes, cops shooting young black men & boys is tragic. But just as tragic is teens having babies when they haven't even graduated from high school, and then having 4 more kids that they can't possibly afford to take care of. No amount of public spending can counteract this. This poor kid's life was ended at 16 by a cop's bullet but he never had a chance.
12
The issue is complex. Minority residents and the local police look upon each other with suspicion. Church groups hold local meetings, which I have attended in the past, and no one from the police department was ever invited. At the time the chief lived less than a mile away. Somewhat insular, no?
Leadership is absent. Positive change does not exist. No lawyer or politician can help unless he/she knows how to bring about dramatic change and is intimate with the complex city that Chicago is.
It is the lack of leadership at city hall. Being timid does not work in Chicago.
You do not want a timid police force. But you need good leadership. That is what is lacking.
Leadership is absent. Positive change does not exist. No lawyer or politician can help unless he/she knows how to bring about dramatic change and is intimate with the complex city that Chicago is.
It is the lack of leadership at city hall. Being timid does not work in Chicago.
You do not want a timid police force. But you need good leadership. That is what is lacking.
1
Is one of the underlying assumptions here that all ethnic groups commit the same proportion of crime, in terms of percentage? just asking. That would seem to be significant.
6
If 80% of the violent crime in Chicago was being committed by accountants, would you expect that the police would focus on window washers when looking for suspects?
Of course not. But for some reason, people expect the police To do this with race.
Of course not. But for some reason, people expect the police To do this with race.
8
So, the long-standing mayor, who appointed the prior police chief, sets up a committee to report on the PD he has been in charge of for years? Now he will pound his chest and declare some war on racism in the PD which he oversaw for years. When will the Mayor take responsibility? When will the Democratic Party, which has run Chicago for decades be held responsible?
Can't wait to hear how this is Republicans fault, probably Trumps, right?
Can't wait to hear how this is Republicans fault, probably Trumps, right?
6
Chicago's world famous gang and homicide problems can't all be race related and Black gangsta's in Chi-town kill more Black innocents than the Po Po. That said, a siege mentality dealing with the daily grind of calls for street violence in the "self Cleaning Oven" is good for Street Survival but when the Police become just another Gang the results are obvious. Task Force and Study Group or Outside Consultant is code for wait till the next news cycle and forget it and pass the buck.
1
This may sound Politically incorrect. Just for an example as many know the Chinese from China they don't like their government from freedom to economical reason or Indian from India doesn't like the country treated them even its their own country their own people these group of people readily to pack-up and leave their homeland looking for better future to every corner of the world. But they have many successful communities all over the world. So If I can change the government (which never happen anyway) I change my self and look for brighter future than keep complaining which lead to no where. So Open mind and move on or move out of the country.
50% of the cpd is either black or Hispanic.
850 people have been shot this far this year in Chicago. I have no doubt blacks in the city are harassed more than any other group but to conclude it's solely because of racism and not because, unfortunately according to the bureau of Justice statistics, blacks commit homicide at a rate seven times that of whites and therefore attract more police attention is disingenuous and turns a blind eye to the actual truth of what's going on there.
850 people have been shot this far this year in Chicago. I have no doubt blacks in the city are harassed more than any other group but to conclude it's solely because of racism and not because, unfortunately according to the bureau of Justice statistics, blacks commit homicide at a rate seven times that of whites and therefore attract more police attention is disingenuous and turns a blind eye to the actual truth of what's going on there.
6
If Chicago would only get rid of its PD, there probably wouldn't be any killings at all. Chicagoans are generally peaceful, except when they get stirred up by law enforcement. I hope someone starts a petition to make Chicago a police-free zone. It is the only branch of government in that town that has corruption year in and year out. Another alternative would be to take the guns away from the police so they can't shoot anyone. I think I speak for everyone in suggesting these are common sense measures for removing crime and giving the community back to the neighborhood to police itself and show kindness and respect to each other.
2
Was your comment sarcasm?
1
Why not just Legalize Crime.
1
That is another excellent suggestion, Anna.
I do not doubt the conclusions of the report, but when a minority community commits a disproportionate amount of a city's violent crime, one has to suspect disproportionate interactions with the police.
5
Send in the thought police and subsidize the community. This can not but help our brand. - the Democratic Party.
1
Chicago has an awful lot of non-white officers for "Racism" to be considered "systemic".
I think maybe this task force started out with a conclusion and tailored their investigation to match up with that pre-determined conclusion.
I think maybe this task force started out with a conclusion and tailored their investigation to match up with that pre-determined conclusion.
2
Once they join the CPD they are all blue. The union needs to recognize that protecting and defending the criminal behavior of their officers just encourages it.
2
Just a brief observation. I've not read this report. All I know about the roots of this problem (the headline) are the many NYC cops I grew up with, who grew tired of getting caught between the DAILY dysfunction and negative interaction in the ghetto during their 20 years of service on the NYC police force. Look back at the brutal circumstances of our Civil War fought over slavery which has never really ended in the USA. It is still ongoing. The recent Jackie Robinson film by Ken Burns repeats the same old same old story, on and on. Nothing is new. Anger and frustration and impatience from all sides within the ongoing endless war and competition for meager resources.
While the world at large has greatly diminished poverty over the last 20 years through introduction of free enterprize only the US continues to subdizes it.
2
I am a forty something affluent white woman and during a very routine traffic stop by a member of the CPD, I was yelled at and intimidated. My offense wad flipping the mirror of an unmarked police vehicle while trying to get around the vehicle on a busy street during rush hour. There was no damage to either vehicle, but I was yelled at, my license and tags were run and I had three officers surrounding my car. I can only imagine how I would have been treated if I was African American. Yes, CPD is likely racist and the department is also full of bullies.
16
From page 28 of the Report:
'Non-supervisory officers and detectives are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police (“FOP”) and are covered by FOP’s collective bargaining agreement with the City. The agreement governs watch and beat assignments, as well as the bidding process for transfers. Under the agreement, these processes are generally based on seniority, which means that new officers often end up in high-crime beats and the most difficult watches.'
From page 34 of the Report:
'Jon Burge. From 1972 to 1991, CPD detective and commander Jon Burge and others he supervised tortured and abused at least 100 African-Americans on the South and West sides in attempts to coerce confessions. Burge’s methods included administering electric shocks to victims’ genitals, suffocating them with typewriter covers, threatening them with loaded guns and burning them on radiators. For years, Burge and the City denied allegations of torture, reinforcing community beliefs in a police “code of silence.” Burge was eventually suspended in 1991, and the Chicago Police Board fired him in 1993. After Burge’s firing, the FOP attempted (unsuccessfully) to enter a float in the South Side Irish Parade honoring him.[87]'
Yep, the good ole' boys Irish American Fraternal Order of Police, who right from the beginning have tried to run the Chicago Police Department the way they like it.
Nepotistic white-run police unions in New York and Chicago are the main source of corruption in the public sector.
'Non-supervisory officers and detectives are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police (“FOP”) and are covered by FOP’s collective bargaining agreement with the City. The agreement governs watch and beat assignments, as well as the bidding process for transfers. Under the agreement, these processes are generally based on seniority, which means that new officers often end up in high-crime beats and the most difficult watches.'
From page 34 of the Report:
'Jon Burge. From 1972 to 1991, CPD detective and commander Jon Burge and others he supervised tortured and abused at least 100 African-Americans on the South and West sides in attempts to coerce confessions. Burge’s methods included administering electric shocks to victims’ genitals, suffocating them with typewriter covers, threatening them with loaded guns and burning them on radiators. For years, Burge and the City denied allegations of torture, reinforcing community beliefs in a police “code of silence.” Burge was eventually suspended in 1991, and the Chicago Police Board fired him in 1993. After Burge’s firing, the FOP attempted (unsuccessfully) to enter a float in the South Side Irish Parade honoring him.[87]'
Yep, the good ole' boys Irish American Fraternal Order of Police, who right from the beginning have tried to run the Chicago Police Department the way they like it.
Nepotistic white-run police unions in New York and Chicago are the main source of corruption in the public sector.
4
Pure D1 propaganda that came straight from the Ministry of Information. I work closely with CPD in my own job and see them every day at lunch. The composition of the Chicago Police Department pretty closely reflects the racial makeup of the city as far as percentages and its face is anything but that of a monolithic white force. Those who have no respect for life: the gangbangers of every color. Just because the cops have to intervene in the ugliest and most dire crime scenes, they shouldn't be demonized as if they were some kind of Gestapo force for doing their very difficult jobs, a kind of work that most of the people criticising them here would not be able to handle under any circumstances.
5
Rahm Emanuel is playing politics on the national stage. Do not believe anything coming from Chicago at face value. In 2011 he forced a phony teachers strike.
The teachers wanted a 4% pay increase. After a week, he gave them 7%, almost 2x what they wanted. This was just 2 months before the presidential
election. Now he complains that the city is going bankrupt. After November,
he'll have get serious about solving his own problems.
The teachers wanted a 4% pay increase. After a week, he gave them 7%, almost 2x what they wanted. This was just 2 months before the presidential
election. Now he complains that the city is going bankrupt. After November,
he'll have get serious about solving his own problems.
The study seems to indicate that poor leadership and judgment on the part of the African-American and White leadership to have produced a Department full of inept police officers who saw fit to deviate from even customary norms in order to enforce the law. No matter how many recommendations regarding "Racism" we point to, the basic tenents of law enforcement were ignored.
2
Not surprising. This is a police department that had a site where they used to torture people.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/13/homan-square-chicag...
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/11/homan-square-chicago-poli...
This police force is so far from a professional organization, I don't know if any one person can fix it. The amount of people that defend this type of behavior is disturbing and they are part of the problem. This organization is rotten and something drastic needs to happen to fix it.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/13/homan-square-chicag...
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/11/homan-square-chicago-poli...
This police force is so far from a professional organization, I don't know if any one person can fix it. The amount of people that defend this type of behavior is disturbing and they are part of the problem. This organization is rotten and something drastic needs to happen to fix it.
2
While this report's findings are shocking in their frankness, and while Emanuel goes on in his egomania, what really sticks out in my mind is that this is not only prevalent in Chicago, but in all three of our largest cities. In NY, Stop and Frisk targeted black and brown people with such racial vigor that even the mayor had to instruct his child to be careful not to encounter them. In LA, racially motivated beatings and slayings seem to be the norm, going all the way back to Rodney King.
In truth, if it is happening in the three largest cities in America, and if it happens in Cleveland and Ferguson, it is EVERYWHERE. And the code of silence and willingness to lie, obstruct justice, and condone all of it points to grossly racist leaders of exceptionally poor character. Makes me wonder if they purposely hire racists and if the racists know that's where they go to "work in their field of choice".
How else could such widespread, systemic, and seemingly insurmountable resistence to change not only ocur, but proliferate and expand?
The police in this nation are wholly untrustworthy. All citizens should have their own phones on record when encountering them - body cams are great but personal cams are the only way you can protect yourslef from these predators. Given the willingess of police to obstruct justice and cirt's willingness to turn a blind eye to it's officer's behaviors, it's all we have.
In truth, if it is happening in the three largest cities in America, and if it happens in Cleveland and Ferguson, it is EVERYWHERE. And the code of silence and willingness to lie, obstruct justice, and condone all of it points to grossly racist leaders of exceptionally poor character. Makes me wonder if they purposely hire racists and if the racists know that's where they go to "work in their field of choice".
How else could such widespread, systemic, and seemingly insurmountable resistence to change not only ocur, but proliferate and expand?
The police in this nation are wholly untrustworthy. All citizens should have their own phones on record when encountering them - body cams are great but personal cams are the only way you can protect yourslef from these predators. Given the willingess of police to obstruct justice and cirt's willingness to turn a blind eye to it's officer's behaviors, it's all we have.
9
Keep voting democrat for decades and this is what you get. Hope and Change? Somehow the problems are much less severe where conservatives are in charge and businesses can provide jobs for those who want to work.
wow, so easy to rip police officers as corrupt and awful based on stats comparing police interaction with blacks to other races. let's not consider other factors like out of wedlock babies, welfare rates, poverty rates, unemployment rates, drug/alcohol addiction, and poor education of blacks compared to whites. poor life choices just like obesity, have become so common that they are now considered normal, and to suggest they are abnormal is to be called racist or rude or mean. the simple truth has become unbearable.
4
The tittle should not have been Chicago is plagued by systemic racism it should have been America is plagued by systemic racism. Racism tou8ches every aspect of our lives. It’s not centralized to one town or one profession it is in the DNA of America. With the election of Obama racism has come out of the closet. For anyone to think that it is only the policies of the president that people object to they are in denial. What the right has done to Obama is unprecedented in American politics. The left is complacent in the present state of affairs. The left loves to tell us about the battles they fought a half a century ago. The rights answer is to put racism in the same category as climate change. Someone needs to tell both sides that Denial is not a river in Africa. The very fact of having a study on racism in the Chicago Police Department is insulting. It’s like moving to a higher deck on the Titanic after it hit the iceberg. I am waiting for the normal knee jerk reaction after such a report. The norm is to have a photo-op with a mayor a police chief and a few people of color placed in camera shot. We are going to be told the police are going to get more training on their dealings with people of color and that will solve the problem. In the real world they should hire cops who got that training at the breakfast table when they were children!.
20
If the kids in the communities they server had such training the behavior of cops would not be an issue.
1
OK I understand your logic. Correct me if I am wrong. If the girl wasn't wearing the short skirt? If gay wasn't gay? If the fat kid wasn't fat? If the poor kid wasn't poor? Thank You for making me understand that the victim is not really a victim but in truth is a volunteer!
3
Political investigations/reports with pre-determined outcomes, such as this one, should always be viewed with skepticism. Assuming, however, that the report is accurate and there is systematic racism within the CPD, the GOP has been handed another issue they can use to chip away at the overwhelming knee jerk support minorities have for democrats. Large cities that are cited for systematic racism have been almost exclusively run by democrats for many years, including left leaning judges and police unions that support the democrats with votes and donations. The GOP should be out pounding the drum about systematic racism in democrat controlled cities and how they can change this inherent culture. Democrats have obviously failed, and seem to be part of the problem.
The GOP can go after the mess democrats have made of inner city education. Communicate that GOP solutions such as vouchers, charters, local business/community partnerships, and reigning in the teachers unions will help improve education in both the short and long term. Let them know that no amount of additional state and federal money will help as long as the power structure stays the same. Communicate that sanctuary city status the democrats love to self impose on themselves is not good for struggling young inner city youth, who will not get the jobs being taken by illegal immigrants. Entry level jobs lead to higher paying jobs and learned skills that will improve their economic future.
The GOP can go after the mess democrats have made of inner city education. Communicate that GOP solutions such as vouchers, charters, local business/community partnerships, and reigning in the teachers unions will help improve education in both the short and long term. Let them know that no amount of additional state and federal money will help as long as the power structure stays the same. Communicate that sanctuary city status the democrats love to self impose on themselves is not good for struggling young inner city youth, who will not get the jobs being taken by illegal immigrants. Entry level jobs lead to higher paying jobs and learned skills that will improve their economic future.
3
I'm surprised the NYT published your post. Admitting that the illegal alien invasion embraced and supported by the NYT is a problem for inner city blacks is anathema to this "publication," who is tasked to defend illegals at all costs by their paymaster Carlos Slim.
2
Racial makeup of the group? or biographies? 5 to 4 black to white
Guess the outcome from the membership?
- -
Lori Lightfoot, president, Chicago Police Board, chairwoman
- Black woman
-
panel advised by Deval Patrick, former Massachusetts governor, part of his childhood in Chicago.
- Black man
- -
Randolph Stone, a clinical professor of law at the University of Chicago;
- Black man, public defender
- -
Sergio E. Acosta, White man, former federal prosecutor;
bio is unrelated:
an experienced criminal litigator and investigator. has represented companies, government entities and individuals in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, health care fraud, complex financial fraud, criminal tax violations, export regulations and criminal and civil forfeiture. Mr. Acosta’s practice also encompasses corporate governance, corporate internal investigations, regulatory enforcement, commercial litigation and gaming law.
- -
Victor Dickson, leads organization that helps former inmates;
-Black man, prisoner advocate
= =
Joseph Ferguson, Chicago’s inspector general;
-White man
= =
Maurice Classen, white man,
former prosecutor; his views?
cf http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/guest-the-top-3-things-seattle-needs...
- Summary? Seattle police have lost the trust of the communities or neighborhoods
= =
Alexa James, white woman,
a licensed clinical social worker;
= = =
Sybil Madison-Boyd, Black woman
-a psychologist who works with urban youth.
Guess the outcome from the membership?
- -
Lori Lightfoot, president, Chicago Police Board, chairwoman
- Black woman
-
panel advised by Deval Patrick, former Massachusetts governor, part of his childhood in Chicago.
- Black man
- -
Randolph Stone, a clinical professor of law at the University of Chicago;
- Black man, public defender
- -
Sergio E. Acosta, White man, former federal prosecutor;
bio is unrelated:
an experienced criminal litigator and investigator. has represented companies, government entities and individuals in matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, health care fraud, complex financial fraud, criminal tax violations, export regulations and criminal and civil forfeiture. Mr. Acosta’s practice also encompasses corporate governance, corporate internal investigations, regulatory enforcement, commercial litigation and gaming law.
- -
Victor Dickson, leads organization that helps former inmates;
-Black man, prisoner advocate
= =
Joseph Ferguson, Chicago’s inspector general;
-White man
= =
Maurice Classen, white man,
former prosecutor; his views?
cf http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/guest-the-top-3-things-seattle-needs...
- Summary? Seattle police have lost the trust of the communities or neighborhoods
= =
Alexa James, white woman,
a licensed clinical social worker;
= = =
Sybil Madison-Boyd, Black woman
-a psychologist who works with urban youth.
1
I feel bad for law abiding black people who have to suffer the stigma of constant suspicion because the minority within the minority of black people commit so many violent crimes. If I were black I would be blaming the drug dealers and the gangbangers and not the cops, who basically have to maintain a war-footing just to make sure they go home alive at the end of their shifts.
10
That's because you are rational and most readers of the NYT are not.
"The minority of black people commit so many violent crimes" YES!
And "the drug dealers and gangbangers" ARE blamed by blacks ....but police presence must be a trustworthy presence and law abiding within themselves! Only when we have the highest ethical standards for police will they have the respect that they need.
And "the drug dealers and gangbangers" ARE blamed by blacks ....but police presence must be a trustworthy presence and law abiding within themselves! Only when we have the highest ethical standards for police will they have the respect that they need.
2
This is about Democrats who talk out of both sides of their mouths. Racism is everywhere, even in Democratic strongholds. Amazing the Times even printed this story.
3
The primary statistic is that stops of blacks are LESS likely to lead to an arrest. This is a constant finding. Another one is just common sense: wealth increases the ability of people to hide their stuff.
2
Why is that common sense? It's easy to claim it is in retrospect, but by what specific mechanism would you have arrived at that conclusion? How specifically does wealth increase the ability of people to hide their stuff? From whom? What stuff?
1
The picture included with this article shows that, Eddie Johnson, the new police superintendent is black. So are several of the other officers who are shown. What is the racial makeup of the police department? How many are black, hispanic, white, etc.? How many are women? Is changing the racial makeup of the police force to more accurately reflect the racial makeup of the city something that needs to be done?
1
There have been numerous reports that have uncovered similar findings over the years and guess what? Nobody cares. The proof of this is in the fact that no police department has ever done anything to stop it. The killing of black people in America by legal authorities in perpetuity is in the very framework of the country. These reports and the coverage of them serve only to generate revenue because race has always been and will always be a money maker.
If you're claiming that the primary purpose of law enforcement in this country is (and always has been) to differentially enforce laws more harshly against minorities and largely ignore the crimes of well-to-do white men, I would agree.
So the solution, short of doing away with law enforcement -- or at least the public sector monopoly on law enforcement -- is to drastically redefine the role of police.
So the solution, short of doing away with law enforcement -- or at least the public sector monopoly on law enforcement -- is to drastically redefine the role of police.
75% of murders in Chicago are committed by blacks. It is not surprising that the percentage of blacks shot by the police is higher than the 33% one would expect if all people had an equal chance of being shot by the police. This disparity, by itself, is not necessarily indicative of racism.
2
Who could have dreamed that leaving Progressive Socialist Democrats and their union shills in charge of a city for generations would have produced such mayhem?
Shocked, I tell you.
Shocked, I tell you.
3
I can't believe the NY Times would print such an obviously flawed "study" -- that concludes there is racism based on disproportionate negative interactions between police and one racial group without factoring in that group's higher rate of crime. If, for example, that group has 3 times the negative interaction but also commits 3 times the amount of crime, that is simply what would be expected as matter of logic and statistics and there is ZERO evidence of racial bias by police. The article doesn't even note that limitation of this report. This statistics in this report (and therefor the report's conclusions) are meaningless. Journalism is dead -- it's just about selling the narrative...
5
I am perplexed as to how you can infer any causation by comparing police incident statistics with the city's demographic data. Doesn't each incident need to be reviewed and a determination made as to whether any aggressive tactics or excess force was justified? Is anyone a statistics expert who can explain this to me?
4
Time to take white cops out of a black neighborhood. The only way to stop this.
News flash, The cops don't like the crooks,, the crooks don't like the cops.
4
There seem to be a lot of people focusing on the high level of minority crime as a justification for blatant racism. If this justifies the current response, which is the over identification of minorities, then why isn't the strategy working? Clearly there is another issue at hand. Rather than blaming the victims, how about looking logically at the conclusions and start reforming a clearly corrupt organization.
3
Why is the percentage of Blacks committing the more than 400 homicides in Chicago in 2015 absent from this report?
Without statistics of how many Blacks commit crimes,the other statistics, that are cited, are meaningless.
This task force report is a political exercise to benefit Rahm politically while accomplishing nothing to reduce crime.
Without statistics of how many Blacks commit crimes,the other statistics, that are cited, are meaningless.
This task force report is a political exercise to benefit Rahm politically while accomplishing nothing to reduce crime.
5
This report clearly describes Chicago Police Department problem and recommends necessary changes. No one can say this report was changed, held or swept aside. This is encouraging result.
1
This story gives you the irrelevant information that the task force members were diverse but not the relevant information that the criminals and criminals' victims are not diverse.
And, naturally, typing CNTRO-F and "Democrat" brings up no matches. Coincidence that the most dangerous cities in America - Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago - are thoroughly controlled by Dems and public sector unions? Maybe so/maybe not, but you'll never get this discussion from the NYT.
And, naturally, typing CNTRO-F and "Democrat" brings up no matches. Coincidence that the most dangerous cities in America - Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago - are thoroughly controlled by Dems and public sector unions? Maybe so/maybe not, but you'll never get this discussion from the NYT.
3
if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck.. most likely it's a duck..
1
It's interesting that all of these articles are one sided.
3
Too many people conflate the word racism with hatred. You don't have to be an outright bigot to have a bias, to treat people as less than or less well, or without the benefit of a doubt simply based on their ethnicity. That is racism. It exists. Try accepting that truth and let go of the yeah but, or not me attitude is the first step. I am white and grew up in Chicago, a city I loved and in some ways still do. I'll never forget the day I was driving from one North side work location to a West side location, dressed for work, mid day. I cut through some "less desirable" perceived streets near a housing project to get to my destination. Im not afraid in black neighborhoods. However, I was stopped by the police for no driving offense other than "what are you doing here." The assumed no white person would drive these streets unless they were buying drugs I soon learned! It happened to be my birthday. I was not let go with a happy birthday, we're sorry, white privilege -- not yet! Instead they concocted this scenario that I must be buying drugs to celebrate my birthday, it made perfect sense to them. It was so absurd I laughed, which made them angry. I kid you not I found myself standing behind my car with my hands on the trunk. I complied. I had no drugs. I could prove I was between meetings at work, but why should I have to? If you saw a black guy with his hands on the trunk of a car being hassled by the cops would you think he was in the same situation as me?
3
In the last ten years the city of Chicago has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements after cases of police abuse of power of one sort and another. Emmanuel is well aware of this. Did he really need a report to tell him he had a major problem.
3
Mr. Emanuel's initial comments, before the report was released, speaks volumes: "I want to work through the issues," and "racism .. obviously could be in our department." Could be? Therefore, I'm not going to hold my breath that any substantive changes will be made.
1
It is sad and infuriating how very many comments suggest that since more crime happens in black neighborhoods the cops' racism is not really racism and/or is somehow justified. Having lived in Chicago for decades I have heard many stories from middle class and above well-educated blacks about being singled out by police; pulled over for no apparent reason; stopped in a nice neighborhood where they were looking for a party to which they had been invited (dressed professionally) and asked what they were doing there.
If YOU had the misfortune to live in a poor, crime ridden, gang riddled neighborhood, would you think that that gave the police the right to harass you, a law abiding citizen, to search you, pull you over, and shoot your kid unarmed kid first and ask questions later? The culture is putrid and needs to change.
As to the political opportunists who are proclaiming that this is Rahm (and Obama)'s fault - this issue goes back decades. It is not about Democrats and Republicans, but rather about a police culture.
If YOU had the misfortune to live in a poor, crime ridden, gang riddled neighborhood, would you think that that gave the police the right to harass you, a law abiding citizen, to search you, pull you over, and shoot your kid unarmed kid first and ask questions later? The culture is putrid and needs to change.
As to the political opportunists who are proclaiming that this is Rahm (and Obama)'s fault - this issue goes back decades. It is not about Democrats and Republicans, but rather about a police culture.
9
Police cultrue created by decades of old, rich, and white liberal democrats using the force to keep the people of color under the thumb of the old, rich, and white masters.
Just more proof that the Democratic Party has just created a new plantation system to replace the one they lost in 1865.
Just more proof that the Democratic Party has just created a new plantation system to replace the one they lost in 1865.
4
This is not news. The news is when/how is this going to be corrected.
6
This is breaking news? The police force is systemically corrupt from top to bottom.
14
Not to minimize the problem, but this sure looks like a Rahm Emmanuel misdirection play, as we say in football.
God bless Chicago, because it really needs a miracle to stop all the violence,
God bless Chicago, because it really needs a miracle to stop all the violence,
10
Conservative Democrat: How do you manage to vote for the Democrat party when the 30% of progressive democrats are in control? I just don't understand why the democrat voters aren't rebelling?
1
This is "regime policing" where the police behave with impunity. Look at the in Russia, Iran, Syria, Iraq.
They are a force with no accountability or transparency. Just impunty.
There are no consequences for misconduct or corruption.
There is no civilian oversight.
The prosecutors are in bed with the cops.
Remember according to the Bureau of Labor statistics it is more dangerous to be a garbage collector than a cop.
So put this "lives on the line baloney" in the garbage can.
Teachers also get beaten, assaulted and killed by students and parents.
They are a force with no accountability or transparency. Just impunty.
There are no consequences for misconduct or corruption.
There is no civilian oversight.
The prosecutors are in bed with the cops.
Remember according to the Bureau of Labor statistics it is more dangerous to be a garbage collector than a cop.
So put this "lives on the line baloney" in the garbage can.
Teachers also get beaten, assaulted and killed by students and parents.
7
Abolish police force.
Reinstate draft
Include a domestic policing component.
Reinstate draft
Include a domestic policing component.
2
Sean, I assume you're packing your bags and moving to Chicago to become part of the "domestic policing component"
> "The task force amassed data that shows the extent to which African-Americans appear to have been disproportionately focused on by the police"
REALITY-CHECK: Crime victims, and crime perpetrators are disproportionately black
. . . if the police were NOT disproportionately focused on African-Americans, then something would be massively wrong
REALITY-CHECK: Crime victims, and crime perpetrators are disproportionately black
. . . if the police were NOT disproportionately focused on African-Americans, then something would be massively wrong
33
Again the police are not a liberty to use "any means necessary". Their pursuit of justice obviously must be within the law. It is ridiculous to think that the people responsible for maintaining the law could violate the same laws. Additionally are part of being an American citizen is freedom from illegal search and seizure freedom from illegal detainment and so forth.
Interesting... Hillary clinton tells us to fear Republicans who want to take away the rights of minorities and the Democrats have been doing it for 60 plus years. I wonder if the very many African American voters in Chicago have figured out who is running he show? Rahm and Obama are both from chicago and are part of the establishment. Is this news to them? What hypocrisy on many levels.
18
Point will taken... But, what does Hillary, Obama, Rahm have to do with a report done by the little people for the little people. What does Republicans and Democrats have to do with local corruption in our police force. Our system has to be allowed to work for all the people no matter where they live.
2
If 70-75% of the violent crimes in Chicago are committed by black people, why is it racist that police encounters with its citizenry reflect the same percentage?
36
Not every black person is a criminal. It's lazy and racist to stop any random person because they happen to share skin color with a perpetrator. 72 percent of thousands of stops did not lead to arrests. Nobody is denying that there are bad actors and violent criminals out there who are black. But assuming that therefore every black person that sets foot in Chicago must be a criminal is just ridiculous. Once upon a time, people thought that heroin and other drugs were problems that happened in high numbers in black communities because of some inherent inferiority or culture of acceptance among black people. Now that heroin has reached the white community, we are urged to take a different approach. Try to understand the problems with this policing problem instead of blaming the victims. Otherwise, don't be surprised when the policing problem spreads to the white community as well.
11
point well taken if we were talking about percentages.
Your stats are incorrect.
According to department figures, the race of CPD its approximately 12,000 officers and supervisors breaks down to about 52 percent white, 23 percent black, 22 percent Hispanic and 3 percent Asian. many of you saying the WHOLE CPD is racist or are you saying just the 52 % white are racists. That means this 52% are making 85% of all the stops on AA who make up 33% of the population ? They need some overtime pay they are working too hard or is their another answer?
15
Why are you assuming that only white cops are racist? Get a clue.
Racism is not something that occurs based on one's skin, it's about one's raced-based prejudice against others. The article points out that the police disproportionately target people of color, meaning all police.
1
I agree with what you say about hard work. The Police/CPD, Military, Fire Department are all underpaid. As a black women I love and respect the officers. But, I have seem the uglier side of the force also and know it existed. We can no longer afford to close our eyes to unfairness or corruption in our system. That will only contributed to as they call it systematic racism it's to the point that these officers don't know any better because this has been what was taught. ISIS sees no color.
3
As usual Rahm Emanuel will side step any responsibility. Does anyone believe that anything happens in Chicago without his knowledge?
11
Toronto has the same population. As Chicago in 2012, 2013' 2014 and 2015 they had 56, 57,57,and 55 for a grand total of 225 homicides Chicago had 514,455,461 and 506 for a grand total of 1936 homicides. We ar up to 166 this year so far . The only answer Toronto had a great Mayor in Bob Ford Chicago has Rahm
9
I'd take a hard look at demographics.
2
I am no supporter of Rahm, but certainly you cannot be saying that his presence alone is the cause of the disparity between homicide rates in Chicago and Toronto.
2
Toronto, like all of Canada, is overwhelmingly white and asian. Yes, they have immigrants, but nearly all are from Asia, India and the Middle East. Most are educated and skilled. They have little poverty, and control immigration very strictly.
What Canada and Toronto do NOT have is black people. Canada is 2% black, and even then, most are educated skilled Caribbean immigrants. There are almost no hispanics, and certainly no illegal aliens from Mexico or Central America in the Great White North.
I live near the Canadian border, and before the passport requirement, we visited often. The thing that was most distinctive and startling about being in Canada was the absence of black people -- that Toronto looked just like Cleveland or Buffalo or Pittsburgh....if you somehow magically teleported away every black person.
What Canada and Toronto do NOT have is black people. Canada is 2% black, and even then, most are educated skilled Caribbean immigrants. There are almost no hispanics, and certainly no illegal aliens from Mexico or Central America in the Great White North.
I live near the Canadian border, and before the passport requirement, we visited often. The thing that was most distinctive and startling about being in Canada was the absence of black people -- that Toronto looked just like Cleveland or Buffalo or Pittsburgh....if you somehow magically teleported away every black person.
2
79 years of Democratic rule and no one see's a problem?
25
Do you mean they needed to conduct an academic study to find this out? You can ask almost anyone in Chicago and they could tell you this.
11
It's not an academic study, it's a task force. It's not a question of it there is a problem, but what are the problems and how do they get fixed. Thus, the report.
2
The CPD cops have multiple roles including, most notably, investigation and enforcement. The report indicates the widespread anger of the community because of racist investigation tactics. The same officers also respond to reports of crimes in progress. In those cases, white officers are generally pursuing black offenders who have committed crimes against members of the black community. These officers often endanger themselves for the benefit of the community.. This racism thing is not simple and straightforward.
5
I have come to believe that institutional racism within our society is as widespread as during the Jim Crow era. Between the systemic harassment by police, the institutional discrimination by employers, and the chronic under treatment by the medical establishment, brown skinned minorities in the U.S. have tremendous reason to feel like second class citizens.
It is true that there have been substantial attempts to address this kind of contemptible racism in day-to-day life. However, between those who act to rid our country of this reprehensible behavior, and those charged with implementing the anti racism initiatives lies a thick layer of middle managers and "worker bees" who have learned how to continue purely racist behavior through the use of "dog whistle" language and subterfuge. Whether it's voter ID laws that are designed to mute non-Caucasian political power, or selective enforcement of laws governing the possession and use of so-called "illegal substances," the persistence of racist attitudes and actions continue.
Until the public scorn, professional excoriation, and legal consequences are so great, and so assured, that no one will dare risk them, we will continue to write page after damning page of shamefull history.
It is true that there have been substantial attempts to address this kind of contemptible racism in day-to-day life. However, between those who act to rid our country of this reprehensible behavior, and those charged with implementing the anti racism initiatives lies a thick layer of middle managers and "worker bees" who have learned how to continue purely racist behavior through the use of "dog whistle" language and subterfuge. Whether it's voter ID laws that are designed to mute non-Caucasian political power, or selective enforcement of laws governing the possession and use of so-called "illegal substances," the persistence of racist attitudes and actions continue.
Until the public scorn, professional excoriation, and legal consequences are so great, and so assured, that no one will dare risk them, we will continue to write page after damning page of shamefull history.
7
Police forces abuse their power everywhere. The fact that the racial history of the U.S. figures in their abuses is not to say that race limits those abuses. During the sixties I saw the police in Oakland and San Francisco do terrible things to white people who could have been those same cops own kids, including watching a cop in full riot gear at a demonstration deliberately hit a pregnant woman on her "bump". The Chicago Police went after middle-age white male reporters with a gusto that astonished the world at the Democratic Convention in '68. If the issue of the abuse of authority is addressed, then the issue of racism will be addressed. Trying to tell someone who already thinks that they are better than you that they are racist is futile as long as they think that they are better than everybody.
3
This is not Berkeley nor is it 1968.
1
The report was conducted for political reasons and was going to kick the police under the bus.
This article doesn't give us the details but looking at the comments the study is reaching a conclusion based on statistics.
This type of research is usually based on epidemiology which can be helpful only if the people conducting it do not have a bias.
This study was being conducted by people for political reasons and were bias and the study is therefore worthless.
It is possible the conclusion this report has are accurate but just like a broken clock will tell the correct time twice a day this study can also can be accurate.
I believe racial prejudice exist everywhere but is only one of many factors that combined together explain why things happen.
This study seems to be looking at the police as the only reason black people have been victims by what the police have done.
Stating 74 percent of people who were shot by the police were black when they are under 33 percent of the population is not proof the police are racist..
The number given is about 300 shot in a 8 year period.
There are 12,000cops in Chicago and lets say no cop shot more than one person.
That would mean on average year 40 cops shot a black person or 1 out of 300.
I am not a mathematician but I think it is obvious one can not draw a conclusion the police are racist.
In fact looking at it this way you have to conclude the police are not racist.
This article doesn't give us the details but looking at the comments the study is reaching a conclusion based on statistics.
This type of research is usually based on epidemiology which can be helpful only if the people conducting it do not have a bias.
This study was being conducted by people for political reasons and were bias and the study is therefore worthless.
It is possible the conclusion this report has are accurate but just like a broken clock will tell the correct time twice a day this study can also can be accurate.
I believe racial prejudice exist everywhere but is only one of many factors that combined together explain why things happen.
This study seems to be looking at the police as the only reason black people have been victims by what the police have done.
Stating 74 percent of people who were shot by the police were black when they are under 33 percent of the population is not proof the police are racist..
The number given is about 300 shot in a 8 year period.
There are 12,000cops in Chicago and lets say no cop shot more than one person.
That would mean on average year 40 cops shot a black person or 1 out of 300.
I am not a mathematician but I think it is obvious one can not draw a conclusion the police are racist.
In fact looking at it this way you have to conclude the police are not racist.
14
According to the City of Chicago 48% of their police force is Black and Hispanic and another 3% are listed as other. I know that on any given day organizational demographics can fluctuate but my question is how can the remaining 51% white officers get away with the racism the report says exists? Are the 48% minority officers policing the white areas of Chicago and never come in contact with the minority citizens? Are the 48% minorities scared of the 51% white to the point that they would not report the racism? If not are the 48% minority also guilty of racism? As a professional statistical analyst I fail to see how the report statistics can support their conclusion. Also given that the Task Force was selected in December and has already completed their report by April it suggests that they may have entered with predetermined conclusions and merely found the statistics that support those conclusions. It is a difficult and complicated situation and I pretend not to know the real answers but it appears that the task force report has some serious statistical flaws and assumptions masquerading as facts. This might quell some current problems through the summer but I predict it will do little to solve the real issues, challenges and problems. I hope I am wrong.
9
The answer is that when some Black people don a police uniform, their skin color becomes the same as it is for many white people in the same uniform: blue. The job of police in our capitalist society is to protect capitalism. This is done, in part, by enforcing racial divisions, and that, in turn, is done by police--of any race.
4
Anyone can use unfair racially-biased practices in their work, it does not matter what race the person who does it is. Perhaps that will help your stats.
I agree with you about how this can go uncover with the police force. Although, polices come from at the top. All people in the good USA deserve the right of freedom and just recourse not just the ones that have money or in the right neighborhoods. The police have to be accountability to maintain the balance of our system not take matters in their own hands and then lie and get others to lie for them. If they showed up at your door without a warrant and searched and planted, Lie and killed an unarmed family member in your home, you then would understand why police accountability is important.
1
I rest my case on statistical errors, mine. On my other comment I put 51% white when in reality it should be 49% white, 48% Black, and 3% other. I wish I could claim typo but it was just getting too involved in the comments. Sorry. Other than my error I still question the statistical validity of the study. I think the situation is too complicated for a three month investigation. A great deal more work must be accomplished to even begin to crack the surface. As all comments here, an opinion. (I did read the report and plan to read it again.)
2
Jack no matter what the statistical errors in you comment the report was made based on facts are the report was made by task force assigned the mayor. It's not about race, the police has policies that they had to abide by. It is a police Job to protect the public not mind read and do their own investigation of who is a criminal or not by sight. You appear to be well informed but lacking the understanding of our system and the 4th amendment. Lies, changing reports, intimation of citizens and fellow officers, shooting unarmed persons with odds of 10 to one.
1
In the words of Dr. Phil, "You teach people how to treat you" and unfortunately the gang bangers may have taught the police that life is cheap. The gangsters have no respect for life--their own or anyone else's. Unfortunately it seems that many police officers treat all people in the black community as if they were gang members when most of them are just people trying to live their lives in peace.
I wish the new police superintendent well in his attempt to stop the violence that plagues parts of our city. But in reality there's only so much the police can do. The young people who live in these poverty stricken neighborhoods need to be afforded the opportunity to make the most of their lives from the time they're small children. I'm sure there's plenty of racism within the police department but there's also the subtle racism that comes from the low expectations that gives children the message that they can't achieve. All children deserve the opportunity to go to a good school regardless of how much money their parents have.
I wish the new police superintendent well in his attempt to stop the violence that plagues parts of our city. But in reality there's only so much the police can do. The young people who live in these poverty stricken neighborhoods need to be afforded the opportunity to make the most of their lives from the time they're small children. I'm sure there's plenty of racism within the police department but there's also the subtle racism that comes from the low expectations that gives children the message that they can't achieve. All children deserve the opportunity to go to a good school regardless of how much money their parents have.
14
The Chicago police are operating in nothing less than an urban war zone with adults executing children for revenge. All of it occurring in the zone of a specific race. So the obvious conclusion is that it is racism on the police's part. Makes perfect sense if one one is a "progressive".
23
The report points to a history of racism by force that has led to widespread fear and distrust by people of color in Chicago. The lawlessness you discuss is a system created by police who do not protect and serve the people, all the people.
1
The Chicago police are targeted soldiers in an absolute war zone, laying their lives on the line every day. While not acceptable, it is understandable that they view the segment of the population responsible for a highly disproportionate level of crime as dangerous enemies to be approached with much suspicion and circumspection.
Honest citizens victimized by such practices may not understand the daily pressure and dangers experienced by the police and are rightly outraged when victimized. Conversely, the police want to be able to go home after a shift on two feet rather than in a box.
Regardless, there is no excuse for some of these shootings and the discipline must be enhanced and enforced. In Vietnam, we did not fire unless fired upon and we certainly were consequenced for any abuse of non-combatent civilians.
Honest citizens victimized by such practices may not understand the daily pressure and dangers experienced by the police and are rightly outraged when victimized. Conversely, the police want to be able to go home after a shift on two feet rather than in a box.
Regardless, there is no excuse for some of these shootings and the discipline must be enhanced and enforced. In Vietnam, we did not fire unless fired upon and we certainly were consequenced for any abuse of non-combatent civilians.
17
It is enshrined in our core values that in fact the police are not the same as the military, and should not be acting as soldiers who use force as a first tactic. The division of military and police is the modern interpretation of the Third Amendment.
While this appears to be a city problem that a few strokes of the pen and a few officers shuffled into and out of jobs can fix, the underlying problem is the job expectations of police in the US in general. Every major city goes through this problem, and it never really gets fixed. Chicago is in the news today, but for the longest time all eyes were constantly fixated on the LAPD for the same reasons. The reason they lost focus isn't because they improved, but because news gets stale when repeated too often.
The expectations that the public places on the concept of policing in this country are incoherent, and to truly fix this, the role of police in society needs to be redeveloped from the bottom. There is a concentration of power in the hands of police that renders the general public into second-class citizens. That concentration needs to be dissolved.
The expectations that the public places on the concept of policing in this country are incoherent, and to truly fix this, the role of police in society needs to be redeveloped from the bottom. There is a concentration of power in the hands of police that renders the general public into second-class citizens. That concentration needs to be dissolved.
13
As usual the comments reveal more about what is wrong in American culture than the information about the Chicago police. This could not happen unless a culture supports it on the one hand and denies it on the other. These perverse responses to facts and candid stories of everyday violations of human rights and human dignity say too much about a soulless aspect of the American culture. An aspect that is in sore need of healing, lest it swallows us all whole.
36
"These perverse responses to facts and candid stories of everyday violations of human rights and human dignity say too much about a soulless aspect of the American culture." I agree. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson should live in Chicago for a few months and, every day, go to the areas where the majority of crimes is committed. They should be telling them that they must stop killing, they should stay in school, stay off drugs, stop breaking laws. Sharpton and Jackson should tell them that if the majority of crimes are committed there, common sense demands that there should be more of a police presence there, and more arrests. If they really believe that Black Lives Matter, they should be doing all they can to protect innocent black lives and removing criminals from our streets. We don't see them there because they don't care about Black (or white) lives--they just want to divide us and get their faces in the news.
2
A lot of police and union members responding to this article, explaining the applause for police harassing and killing people and lying under oath.
Well said
Having been raised and educated close to Manhattan and raised children in the city of San Diego, budgets are so slim that interaction with the residents is rarely possible for law enforcement as they deal mainly with major crimes. We know that dealing with minor crimes committed by youths, reduces crime, as does the oft derided "stop and frisk" which actually got a good number of illegal weapons off the street. We either have to give more leeway for law enforcement, and fire anyone who exhibits verifiable racism, or ask law enforcement to back off and be reactive as was the case after Ferguson. Our choice, and the burden for enforcement parameters should be put on us, the voters.
1
Stop and frisk was not an effective tactic for reducing crime, in fact there is no correlation between the tactic and crime fighting. The year stop and frisk was repealed (2013) was the historic low to murders in NYC.
2
I'd be surprised if the CPD were not racist. The surprise might be the extent of that racism, which is prevalent throughout America. We've covered this ground so often it's time for some thought on remediation. Racism is bred in the bone of too many. Countering and eliminating it will take generations of patient work on many fronts. Simply yelling at the infected doesn't work, and may be counterproductive. At this time, we should join forces to denounce and defeat the exploiters of racism and of any form of divisiveness in America. Dedication to healing does not mean abandoning political or societal principles.
1
Start with the hiring procedures and requirements. Root out the racism from the get go. Then fire the worst offenders over a 3-5 year period.
Based on the number of ill-informed, stereotypical responses in these comments, might I suggest those of you who attempt to legitimatize racist police behavior based on arrest rates, might I suggest reading the book, The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.
It's clear many people do not understand what "targeting" means as it relates to policing. For example, empirical research shows that African-Americans and European Americans use drugs at equal rates (note: this means, there are considerably more white drug users due to their percentage of the total population) including those living in central cities vs. suburbia yet because police primarily target African-Americans, the arrest rates are much higher for Blacks (even though whites use drugs at similar rates, and there are more white drug users in aggregate).
Stated differently, if group A and B commit crimes at an equal rate but the police choose to largely ignore group B's offenses and focus almost exclusively on group A, it is not surprising the arrest rates are higher for group A. And group A is primarily being targeted because of their race - guess what that makes many police who engage in this behavior?
It's clear many people do not understand what "targeting" means as it relates to policing. For example, empirical research shows that African-Americans and European Americans use drugs at equal rates (note: this means, there are considerably more white drug users due to their percentage of the total population) including those living in central cities vs. suburbia yet because police primarily target African-Americans, the arrest rates are much higher for Blacks (even though whites use drugs at similar rates, and there are more white drug users in aggregate).
Stated differently, if group A and B commit crimes at an equal rate but the police choose to largely ignore group B's offenses and focus almost exclusively on group A, it is not surprising the arrest rates are higher for group A. And group A is primarily being targeted because of their race - guess what that makes many police who engage in this behavior?
6
You are making an argument with facts that you are misinterpreting
Most of the people in jail for drug related crimes are not there just because they take drugs.
There are more people in prison who sell drugs than use them.
There are many more in prison who when selling drugs are in the possession of a weapon.
Liberals like to tell us how the black population is economically deprived because the society is racist.
It is logical that this population that are economically deprived would in number out of proportion would be involved in selling drugs to support themselves ( most of them would not be taking drugs because they can't afford it.)
One can also state because this population is disenfranchised children growing up in that environment of poverty will suffer and will when they get older will do things that are violent.
You are only mentioning one fact that is only part of the story.
If you had looked at the whole picture you would get a different result but you chose not to do that.
I assume you are not ignorant so I have to assume you do this on purpose.
What does this make you.
Most of the people in jail for drug related crimes are not there just because they take drugs.
There are more people in prison who sell drugs than use them.
There are many more in prison who when selling drugs are in the possession of a weapon.
Liberals like to tell us how the black population is economically deprived because the society is racist.
It is logical that this population that are economically deprived would in number out of proportion would be involved in selling drugs to support themselves ( most of them would not be taking drugs because they can't afford it.)
One can also state because this population is disenfranchised children growing up in that environment of poverty will suffer and will when they get older will do things that are violent.
You are only mentioning one fact that is only part of the story.
If you had looked at the whole picture you would get a different result but you chose not to do that.
I assume you are not ignorant so I have to assume you do this on purpose.
What does this make you.
2
This is my surprised face.
2
Well this is shocking. A city in a country which was built on inherently racist laws and practices finds systemic racism. Tax dollars well spent.
3
Some additional context is relevant: the Chicago Police Department is part of a city government that is fueled by bullying, cronyism and corruption. The City has a long-- and perversely proud-- tradition of violating laws (see the Shakman decree, for example) and basic decency (see the task force report).
It's not just Rahm, or even just the Daleys before him-- it's the whole system, where low-level staffers are often as corrupt as the commissioners and aldermen.
City government, civil servants, politicians-- and the people they work for-- need to do better.
It's not just Rahm, or even just the Daleys before him-- it's the whole system, where low-level staffers are often as corrupt as the commissioners and aldermen.
City government, civil servants, politicians-- and the people they work for-- need to do better.
8
All of the statistics given is disproportional amount of Black people arrested or detained at more than twice their proportion of the population of the city. The next question is are black people twice as likely to commit crimes than say Asians or white people.Without that data, everything is speculation and confirmation bias depending on what is the perception of each person.
7
These statistics are not about people being arrested or detained. This is about people being shot by CPD--no one said anything about them committing a crime. This is about people being stopped but not arrested.
I think we've got all the data we need.
I think we've got all the data we need.
Maybe, just maybe if the crime rate in Chicago wasn't so absurdly skewered towards African Americans, the police wouldn't be seen as racists. But a simple fact is in Chicago, blacks cause an obscene amount more murders, rapes, and violent crimes then any other nationality, that even normal interaction by police will be so much more towards the AA community, that of course it will seem like the police are signaling out blacks.
Please get some common sense. Even if you are so far against cops, give them some respect when it comes to a place as bad as Chicago.
Please get some common sense. Even if you are so far against cops, give them some respect when it comes to a place as bad as Chicago.
19
Engaging respectfully with communities of color is not the same thing as engaging with them in a racist way.
The problem with this is that the reflexive response from so many is that the treatment is justified because "those folks commit so many crimes." If police attention were focused on redheads that live in rural areas, you can bet that those folks would seem to have a very high crime rate.
4
But let's take the case of murders. Almost all murders are reported no matter what the race of the victim or perpetrator. No matter how many officers look for red haired murderers, there will be very few.
Also, police often come upon a crime because of a 911 call or other report of a crime. They aren't out looking for black people who commit crimes. In fact, these days, I would bet that white police officers would rather be doing anything else besides responding to a violent crime in black neighborhoods.
Also, police often come upon a crime because of a 911 call or other report of a crime. They aren't out looking for black people who commit crimes. In fact, these days, I would bet that white police officers would rather be doing anything else besides responding to a violent crime in black neighborhoods.
1
No. Look at the murder rate. There is no racism in counting bodies. The murder rate and violent crime rates are in line with each other.
1
What is the racial breakdown of police officers? This is an important piece of the problem. If the racial ratio of police doesn't match the civilians they are obliged to protect then we have a serious problem. It is no mystery that we identify positive with the same those of similar characteristics. Police forces must adjust on this fact for progress.
99.999% of people aren't qualified to talk about statistics.
Oh and statistics is the branch of mathematics invented for lying.
Oh and statistics is the branch of mathematics invented for lying.
5
Ice Cube in a recent interview on the Howard Stern show made an interesting observation. He said the police always complain that the black community does not co-operate with them in pointing out who the bad apples are. However the police themselves never point out or speak out about who the bad apples in their midst. Until that blue line mentality and culture of protecting their own no matter what the circumstances is broken, things will remain the same in the inner cities across the nation.
5
Good point, Babel.
Thank you for bringing this point out. As the documented evidence of police misconduct (this almost seems like a euphemism, considering the types of behaviors captured by cell phones) mounts, the missing component in exactly this. At some level I can understand the desire to close ranks around a comrade, but this becomes criminal when the behavior is violently illegal. In the San Francisco area we recently saw members of the Alameda County sheriff department brutally pummel a defenseless man lying on the pavement. He was no hero, but the other officers not only stood around without any response, but clearly lied about what happened. This must end.
No snitching is a worse problem on the Blue side of the thin blue line. Witness the several videos lately that clearly show a police bad actor, yet the bad actor's police peers written reports always, always support the lie that will exonerate or at least not oppose the bad cops story.
7
Many commenters on a NYT message board supporting the over-policing and abuse of minorities out of fear/ neccesity. No citizen "deserves" this treatment but many here are convinced that is is warranted? Take away jobs, health and education from any population and watch the result. Black Lives must matter less in Chicago. A credible police force would advocate for repair of underlying deficits in services to our economically segregated urban centers not terrorize an entire population. A fearful and racist police force would conduct themselves exactly how the CPD has been documented in doing. Sadly, the racist behavior of municipal police forces and judicial systems is epidemic in America. Chicago does not exist in a vacuum. If you believe black people are a hyper- violent and criminal species of human in need of extreme policing, you are an adherent of white supremacy would easily be labeled a racist. Hope that helps.
35
You state that because of the lack of opportunities black people will see the result (I assume this result you refer to is about behavior that can get someone arrested).
You then call people (I assume you are referring to white people ) who claim black people do what you already admitted they do are being racist when they make that claim..
Don't you see how you are being illogical.
You can't justify a behavior unless you believe that behavior is something that does exist and then call people racist when they agree withy you.
You then call people (I assume you are referring to white people ) who claim black people do what you already admitted they do are being racist when they make that claim..
Don't you see how you are being illogical.
You can't justify a behavior unless you believe that behavior is something that does exist and then call people racist when they agree withy you.
1
So is the focus on the police an effort to avoid the far bigger problem of, say gang violence, and gun crime in Chicago, which has killed many more people? Or is it racist to point out that this significant crime problem exists?
1
And the city has paid out over half a billion dollars in settlements over the past decade (two more were just approved the other day), yet there's no money for schools, mental health services, job training...
There is also substantial evidence that people of color offend the law more often than other people. The liberals, including Emanuel should stop lying for political gains.
6
Hmmmm. Oddly, there are no statistics on the black on black murder rate. Dumb Emanuel should continue to demonize those racist officers while black folks kill each at astronomical levels. Now if a black officer arrests black folks at the same level as everyone else, is he racist?
7
As always in these types of articles, some people trot out the argument that since "blacks" commit most of the crime, it's reasonable to mostly go after "blacks." This is both misleading and fallacious. The two groups of "blacks" do not represent the same population, the first group are by definition criminals, the second represent everyone in a society, both criminals and innocent people. So the unvarnished argument is that since there are black criminals, it's okay to just wantonly go after all black people, criminal or not, sweeping up the good with the bad, let God sort it out.
Two analogies to seal the point: First, it's common knowledge that men commit the vast majority of violent crime. For some crimes, like armed robbery and rape, the disproportion is probably greater than 10 to 1. It's reasonable to be cautious around strange men at night. But as agents of the law, the police don't target all men for harassment, for frequent unwarranted friskings, for preemptive tasings and shootings. That would be horribly unjust.
Second, the overwhelming majority of criminal shootings are committed by people who own guns. Yet we don't indiscriminately harass all firearm owners. The gun lobby argues, with reason, that there's a vast difference between criminals and law-abiding gun owners. Similarly the police need to be able to distinguish between criminals and law-abiding black folk. Painting us all with the same brush because of one shared characteristic is wrong.
Two analogies to seal the point: First, it's common knowledge that men commit the vast majority of violent crime. For some crimes, like armed robbery and rape, the disproportion is probably greater than 10 to 1. It's reasonable to be cautious around strange men at night. But as agents of the law, the police don't target all men for harassment, for frequent unwarranted friskings, for preemptive tasings and shootings. That would be horribly unjust.
Second, the overwhelming majority of criminal shootings are committed by people who own guns. Yet we don't indiscriminately harass all firearm owners. The gun lobby argues, with reason, that there's a vast difference between criminals and law-abiding gun owners. Similarly the police need to be able to distinguish between criminals and law-abiding black folk. Painting us all with the same brush because of one shared characteristic is wrong.
7
Interesting that while the NYT is publishing this as a lead story, the Chicago Tribune is featuring widened sidewalks at Wrigley Field. I'm from Chicago and it never ceases to amaze the level of denial in Illinois racism.
7
If you had read the NYT story carefully, you would have seen that in fact the Chicago Tribune broke this story first.
1
So sad to see in a place that I called home for 25 years. There has got to be a way for community leaders and the police dept. to figure this out. This problem started with a white, irish only tolerance and has continued, unabated foe 40 years. Solving this problem will not be quick, but it must happen - for the sake of Chicago. I wish Rahm, and all the residents of Chicago, the best of luck to one of the country's best cities.
1
White boys and racism are not the immediate cause of of the violent crime in a few very segregated neighborhoods where 90% of these homicides happen. There are no White boys there, exceeding the ones driving in to buy smack, and the black (gang) dealers selling to them are (perhaps) surprisingly very consistent in ensuring they are not robbed, carjacked, or hurt.
It makes sense if the cops choose to keep flooding these neighborhoods that the offenders will be black. I hear the same stats all the time about how whites use drugs at the same rate. But possession is nothing, really - the arrests that matter (for police, prosecutors, impact on arrestees in terms of sentence) are for distribution. And here, in Chicago, the drug market is run by Blacks, with some Hispanic but dominated by Blacks. Bottom line.
It makes sense if the cops choose to keep flooding these neighborhoods that the offenders will be black. I hear the same stats all the time about how whites use drugs at the same rate. But possession is nothing, really - the arrests that matter (for police, prosecutors, impact on arrestees in terms of sentence) are for distribution. And here, in Chicago, the drug market is run by Blacks, with some Hispanic but dominated by Blacks. Bottom line.
10
This article is about police misconduct and racism, which happens to all black people of Chicago regardless of where they live.
Parents who fail to tell their children that the police will kill you, lie about it, and get away scot-free are failing their children.
1
Guess you've never heard of "the Talk" all Blacks hear from their parents about how to survive encounters with Whites and the police, eh?
1
Presumably you've had that talk with your own children.
I am a white U.S. male who has been living abroad for twenty years, mostly in East Asia. I am often "racially profiled" by the authorities in countries like Japan or South Korea. I have found, however, that how I present myself has a lot to do with it. When I visit Immigration, for example, I try to dress sharp, and laugh when I see a dreadlocked fellow whitey being barked at brusquely by an Immigration official at the next counter. Maybe you shouldn't dress like scruffy vagrant the next time you need your visa extended, my friend. At shopping malls in Bali, I also find that I get waved through with a smile by security guards if I am carrying shopping bags from other stores and actually look like I intend to spend some money there; alternately, if I am passing through in flip-flops and a sarong after a day at the beach, I almost always get asked to open my shoulder bag for inspection. The point being: How you present yourself has an influence on how the authorities categorize you and act accordingly. If you are living in a high-crime area and dress like a thug, are you really so surprised when the cops stop you? If you don't want to be treated like a thug, maybe you shouldn't present yourself as a thug? Just a thought! Is all this "racism"? Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, but at least I try to understand the mentality of the authorities and modify my actions accordingly, instead being perpetually aggrieved about it. And I actually get more positive results in the long-run!
9
"If you don't want to be treated like a thug, maybe you shouldn't present yourself as a thug?"
Are you talking about regular citizens or the police? I know I always see the police as thugs when they are dressed like military units.
Are you talking about regular citizens or the police? I know I always see the police as thugs when they are dressed like military units.
4
Everyone has the right to be, dress, and carry themselves as they like and should be treated with equal respect by members of the police force. The descriptions you are making here are of biased encounters, and of accommodation to attempt to live up to racist expectations for your own comportment. Not everyone has the privilege to perform such passing, nor should they have to in order to be treated with respect.
2
@Culheath: since the beginning of the millennia, the Chicago Police Department has been responsible for the deaths of about 150 people. Guess how many times African American Chicagoans murdered each other in the same time period? North of 5,000. This number doesn't even include the 30,000 African Americans who have been shot since the year 2000 but were saved as a result of Chicago's solid medical facilities. Go ask surgeons at the University of Chicago Medical Center how many black bodies they've had to repair at the behest of other black folk.
1
Seems like former Mayor Daley has some explaining to do. The report highlights issues and practices that were prevalent during his "reign" over the City of Chicago. What can the people of Chicago, especially people of color, expect to hear from him?
4
LOL.... Yeah.... we really needed a "task force" to tell us all this. Tell you what Rahm.... How about a "task force" to figure out why no criminal charges are ever bought and prosecuted on murderous police in Chicago?
5
The converse is also true:
“There is substantial evidence that police have had disproportionately negative experiences with people of color — particularly African-Americans — over an extended period of time.”
Until America honestly addresses the utter self-destruction going on in poor black America - people in those communities will continue to be doomed.
Police are not their main problem. Not even in the top 10 of their problems. Not even close.
God speed the day we get on to solving our real problems.
“There is substantial evidence that police have had disproportionately negative experiences with people of color — particularly African-Americans — over an extended period of time.”
Until America honestly addresses the utter self-destruction going on in poor black America - people in those communities will continue to be doomed.
Police are not their main problem. Not even in the top 10 of their problems. Not even close.
God speed the day we get on to solving our real problems.
10
Until those who hire these racist people are held accountable I don't think anything will change.
3
As soon as the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police union is relieved of it's iron grip on affairs, not much will change.
1
After 5 years as mayor mr. Emanuel comes with a report and is not surprised about racism in his city? After 5 years and after thousands of disgusting racial abuses, Mr. Emanuel decided to do something about a systemic and centuries old problem. I think fighting racism and police brutality should have been his duty and only task from the day he was appointed.
4
As Captain Renault once said, "I'm shocked, shocked.'
And Emanuel buried evidence until after his re-election. Cue Captain Renault.
And Emanuel buried evidence until after his re-election. Cue Captain Renault.
3
Yes, keep up beating the police and make every excuse for wrongdoers, just today there was a protest in Chicago because an armed boy was shooting at the police and he got killed in the shootout - apparently the police was not supposed to defend itself, meanwhile, taxpayers are leaving the city (3,000 millioners left Chicago in 2015) due to "crime and increased racial tensions" (easily googled for the source)
a new Detroit is in the making and yet people will be surprised when it happens
a new Detroit is in the making and yet people will be surprised when it happens
10
Are you saying the taxes of 3,000 millionaires are worth more than justice for the 400+ people of color killed by police in the last seven years?
Anyone who needed this report to know that "people of color — particularly African-Americans — have had disproportionately negative experiences with the police over an extended period of time" is in denial or living in a bubble. And, of course, its not just Chicago. I'll never forget that during the OJ trial the NYT published the results of a survey that had essential the same finding - that virtually every black person interviewed had personally experienced, or had a close friend or family member experience abuse and discriminatory treatment by a police officer. If you don't know this from personal experience, perhaps you need some friends of color.
4
The report is about community-sourced ideas on how to change things. The report needs teeth of public action.
1
We have a police problem, nation wide. Unfortunately some of you will be unable to acknowledge this until you, standing handcuffed at the top of a concrete stairway are pushed down it.
Reading the comments I wonder are NYTs liberals moving to the right in their dotage or are a lot of people who normally do not comment jumping on race issues?
Reading the comments I wonder are NYTs liberals moving to the right in their dotage or are a lot of people who normally do not comment jumping on race issues?
3
The cops are running rampant everywhere & must start paying for their sins.
From Democratic Campaign Committees in the 2000's to his role with Obama, to his role in Chicago, everything Emanuel touches gets worse. His involvement with Chicago hedge funds, being paid millions for unknown, if any actual work, should have made Emmanuel unelectable everywhere. His election in Chicago proves only that Chicago is corrupt, and I doubt the ballots were really counted as they were cast.
Is there anyone more corrupt? Why did the media roll over for Emmanuel, especially after the corruption claims regarding his involvement with Magnetar, the CDO mortgage chop shop?
Google Emmanuel and Magnetar since the media won't. How did he manage to sidestep it?
Is there anyone more corrupt? Why did the media roll over for Emmanuel, especially after the corruption claims regarding his involvement with Magnetar, the CDO mortgage chop shop?
Google Emmanuel and Magnetar since the media won't. How did he manage to sidestep it?
5
"Is there anyone more corrupt?" Yea, I'd say that covers nearly the entire GOP. Beg to differ? I have at least 100 times more examples to back me up.
Could it be that blacks create a hugely disproportionate number of problems for the Chicago police?
10
The article and report are about disproportionate response and use of force by police against people of color, and the lack of accountability.
1
Let me make sure I understand: Chicago has the close to the highest murder rate in the nation. And racist cops are a significant part of that problem?
This nation needs to wake up. The problem is not the cops. The problem is the people committing the crimes.. Look to new york in the late 80's and 90's... .Profiling significantly dropped the crime rate in New York. It's about time we recognize that.
This nation needs to wake up. The problem is not the cops. The problem is the people committing the crimes.. Look to new york in the late 80's and 90's... .Profiling significantly dropped the crime rate in New York. It's about time we recognize that.
12
I was a student protester at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago.
I was tossed around by Chicago police, called a Jewboy and Commie lover.
Nothing happened to the policeman and his partner who did that to me but I have never been to Chicago in the almost 50 years since and have no desire to ever go again.
There is a deep, inbred racism (and anti-liberal bias) among the Chicago police that emanated directly from the Daley administration.
I doubt the police department is any more accepting of open protest or liberal thought now.
I was tossed around by Chicago police, called a Jewboy and Commie lover.
Nothing happened to the policeman and his partner who did that to me but I have never been to Chicago in the almost 50 years since and have no desire to ever go again.
There is a deep, inbred racism (and anti-liberal bias) among the Chicago police that emanated directly from the Daley administration.
I doubt the police department is any more accepting of open protest or liberal thought now.
2
It's not just the cops that need fixing here.
If the government were to put a check for $50,000. in the mail tomorrow to every black
family in Chicago, there would be rioting in the streets by whites, and by the time the commotion finally simmered down and blacks
had gone through their windfall, hardly anything would have changed in the city. What blacks need-- and what reparations and government programs and changes in the police department alone cannot supply them with -- is the fortitude, energy and intelligence to move ahead with a long term plan, perhaps 25 years in duration, to repair and nurture their own battered communities, starting with a determined onslaught against the disastrous prevalence among them of single-parent families.
If the government were to put a check for $50,000. in the mail tomorrow to every black
family in Chicago, there would be rioting in the streets by whites, and by the time the commotion finally simmered down and blacks
had gone through their windfall, hardly anything would have changed in the city. What blacks need-- and what reparations and government programs and changes in the police department alone cannot supply them with -- is the fortitude, energy and intelligence to move ahead with a long term plan, perhaps 25 years in duration, to repair and nurture their own battered communities, starting with a determined onslaught against the disastrous prevalence among them of single-parent families.
9
I agree that change will take time, and that no one solution will make it happen. I do not agree with your argument about single parent households, an argument that has been used to punish single mothers since the Moynihan Report era.
"Disproportionate negative experiences....."
What is it going to take to wake up?
After living through the 60's and 70's, those of us that grew up during those days were naive enough to think racial issues would be better for future generations. What were we thinking? Maybe we just weren't thinking.....at all.
What is it going to take to wake up?
After living through the 60's and 70's, those of us that grew up during those days were naive enough to think racial issues would be better for future generations. What were we thinking? Maybe we just weren't thinking.....at all.
4
It's amazing to me that more cops don't go ballistic. A cop goes on patrol every day knowing that he could be killed or maimed by thugs who have a million excuses. It's a lose-lose proposition for them. They will always be the bad guys. No wonder they go nuts now and then. They react out of fear for their lives and constant abuse that hardens even the best of them. Always treat a cop with kid gloves!
6
"Always treat a cop with kid gloves!"
Ridiculous. As though the police were pit bulls no one can handle. It is supposed to be a PROFESSION...not a group of fear-driven and angry psychos looking for release.
Here are occupations more dangerous than being a police officer. Number of deaths per 100,000 employed:
image: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chart-3.jpg
1. Logging workers: 127.8
2. Fishermen: 117.0
3. Aircraft pilots: 53.4
4. Roofers: 40.5
5. Garbage collectors: 36.8
6. Electrical power line installation/repair: 29.8
7. Truck drivers: 22.8
8. Oil and gas extraction: 21.9
9. Farmers and ranchers: 21.3
10. Construction workers: 17.4
Ridiculous. As though the police were pit bulls no one can handle. It is supposed to be a PROFESSION...not a group of fear-driven and angry psychos looking for release.
Here are occupations more dangerous than being a police officer. Number of deaths per 100,000 employed:
image: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/chart-3.jpg
1. Logging workers: 127.8
2. Fishermen: 117.0
3. Aircraft pilots: 53.4
4. Roofers: 40.5
5. Garbage collectors: 36.8
6. Electrical power line installation/repair: 29.8
7. Truck drivers: 22.8
8. Oil and gas extraction: 21.9
9. Farmers and ranchers: 21.3
10. Construction workers: 17.4
Would anyone care to comment on the possible link between the behavior of a sizable percentage of young black males in the City of Chicago (see the weekend shooting and murder statistics in the Monday morning Chicago Tribune) and the allegedly racist attitudes of those who have the misfortune of being responsible for maintaining order in the City of Chicago?
11
It is the job of the police to protect and serve their communities, many of which are people of color. This report points out that their is systemic bias against a large segment of the population.
This report is disturbing to read, yet, serves as validation for many black people in the city who have been victims of police violence. It is also a sobering account and admonishment of police officials to inform that their behavior is now about to be put in check.
With the change in leadership, maybe some reforms will include community policing, which will require officers to actively engage with community leaders to help them get to know the neighborhoods in which they serve. Knowing the community may help to establish the trust that is needed from both sides.
With the change in leadership, maybe some reforms will include community policing, which will require officers to actively engage with community leaders to help them get to know the neighborhoods in which they serve. Knowing the community may help to establish the trust that is needed from both sides.
3
This is not so difficult to understand. If you concentrate your patrols in high crime mostly black neighborhoods you will mostly be interacting with black people. This powder keg of lots of police in such areas feeds upon itself and promotes a shoot first, ask questions later attitude. Same formula applies to other cities, like Ferguson...
8
There's nothing wrong with being racist as long as you don't act racist.
This report provides no proof that the police acted racist. The documented bias in police practice may simply reflect the crime distribution bias.
For example, a vast majority of innocent people killed by in US airstrikes are Arab/Muslims. That does not prove that our pilots or their munitions are racist.
This report provides no proof that the police acted racist. The documented bias in police practice may simply reflect the crime distribution bias.
For example, a vast majority of innocent people killed by in US airstrikes are Arab/Muslims. That does not prove that our pilots or their munitions are racist.
7
Without statistics on education, income, various cultural attributes and most importantly crime rates by race and ethnicity, this report proves nothing.
I believe the Super Bowl - stock market correlation does a comically good job of mocking this reports poor understanding of causation and correlation. (Unless of course you believe a bull or bear market is dependent upon who wins the Super Bowl)
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/superbowlindicator.asp
I believe the Super Bowl - stock market correlation does a comically good job of mocking this reports poor understanding of causation and correlation. (Unless of course you believe a bull or bear market is dependent upon who wins the Super Bowl)
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/superbowlindicator.asp
3
It's a police force in the United States of America, a country built upon and sustained by racial inequity...therefore, the conclusion reached by this task force is not a surprise. A disappointment, perhaps, but not a surprise.
We have a lot of work still to do.
We have a lot of work still to do.
3
So now that white cops will be held accountable, does that absolve a criminal if he is black? This will never get published.
8
Maybe there's some kind of disproportion in how many crimes are committed by the different groups.
6
Matt, believe me the study would not be meaningless and the methodology flawed if whites could not walk down the street without being stopped and frisked by African-American police or randomly killed by policeman of color or beaten for moving their hands or eyes in the wrong way. Suddenly, like the dying of whites on drugs, there would be plenty of truth in the study. Yells would go out that something must be done. I promise to be one of the people writing that there must be lots of variables missing in the study. Count on me.
3
Much of the report seems to be based on interviews by blacks. Could this be the cart pulling the horse? If black neighborhoods are more violent and crime-prone, and blacks commit a disproportionate number of violent crimes, then could one say that the police attitude is justified? Wouldn't heavier police presence be justified?
10
Unnecessary use of force used disproportionately against people of color is not an "attitude." It's a systemic problem.
As someone related to a CPD officer, all I can say is that he deals with the most incredible and awful gang crime on a daily basis. That cannot change a person for the better. It hasn't. Maybe we also need to look at the gang problem as well and how officers are supposed to deal with the criminal underbelly without going completely mad. I strongly suggest mass PTSD.
22
What does gang crime have to do with race?
1
@Rhodium Cobalt:
What does it have to do with race? Well, the majority of gangs in Chicago are African-American street gangs. They commit the majority of violent crime and are responsible for more deaths than the CPD could ever hope to achieve.
That's not to say that being a member of a particular race makes you a criminal, rather being a member of a particular race in Chicago will expose you to the elements of society that leave you at greater risk of joining or associating yourself with a particular gang.
What does it have to do with race? Well, the majority of gangs in Chicago are African-American street gangs. They commit the majority of violent crime and are responsible for more deaths than the CPD could ever hope to achieve.
That's not to say that being a member of a particular race makes you a criminal, rather being a member of a particular race in Chicago will expose you to the elements of society that leave you at greater risk of joining or associating yourself with a particular gang.
1
What also needs to be addressed is the fact that over 70 percent of violent crimes committed in Chicago are committed by black youths. A fact that the our elected politicians are afraid to admit openly. One learns to avoid driving through predominantly black neighborhoods in the south/West sides for good reason.
8
The trouble with these studies is, they are always done by fanatic liberal ideologues, whose conclusions are preordained but lack any credibility.
6
"a long, systemic pattern of institutional failures by this city’s police department"
I'm wondering, was the murder of Fred Hampton by the Chicago police an institutional failure?
I'm wondering, was the murder of Fred Hampton by the Chicago police an institutional failure?
This report is disturbing to read, yet, serves as validation for many black people in the city who have been victims of police violence. It is also a sobering account and admonishment of police officials to inform that their behavior is now about to be put in check.
With the change in leadership, maybe some reforms will include community policing, which will require officers to actively engage with community members to help them get to know the neighborhoods in which they serve. Knowing the community may help to establish the trust that is needed from both sides.
With the change in leadership, maybe some reforms will include community policing, which will require officers to actively engage with community members to help them get to know the neighborhoods in which they serve. Knowing the community may help to establish the trust that is needed from both sides.
1
"Chicago Police Dept. Plagued by Systemic Racism, Task Force
Finds," April 13, 2016. Socrates is reported to have said that "The unexamined life is not worth living." One might add that unexamined racist attitudes and dispositions being dangerous, need to be exorcized. (One feels much lighter (no pun intended) and less fearful without them.) To help our cops root out their racism, I make the following recommendations:
1) In all 50 states, white men aspiring to join the police force be required to
take a scientifically-prepared lie-detector test to determine their susceptibility to racism;
2) That they live with an African-American or Hispanic family for a few days during training period, so they learn that the people they feel an animus toward are as human and cultured as they are; and that their skin color has no negative connotations anymore than white complexion;
3) That they spend more time walking their precincts than cruising around. This will eventually lead to their patrolling the streets minimally-armed, boosting trust between them and the people they are supposed to serve and protect.
4) That, under no circumstances, police officers resort to abuse of authority, of language, or use violence while arresting suspects.
5) No cop should have the right to shoot an unarmed suspect, who has his hands up.
Finds," April 13, 2016. Socrates is reported to have said that "The unexamined life is not worth living." One might add that unexamined racist attitudes and dispositions being dangerous, need to be exorcized. (One feels much lighter (no pun intended) and less fearful without them.) To help our cops root out their racism, I make the following recommendations:
1) In all 50 states, white men aspiring to join the police force be required to
take a scientifically-prepared lie-detector test to determine their susceptibility to racism;
2) That they live with an African-American or Hispanic family for a few days during training period, so they learn that the people they feel an animus toward are as human and cultured as they are; and that their skin color has no negative connotations anymore than white complexion;
3) That they spend more time walking their precincts than cruising around. This will eventually lead to their patrolling the streets minimally-armed, boosting trust between them and the people they are supposed to serve and protect.
4) That, under no circumstances, police officers resort to abuse of authority, of language, or use violence while arresting suspects.
5) No cop should have the right to shoot an unarmed suspect, who has his hands up.
3
The irony in this post is fantastic. You speak of the need to exorcise racist attitudes, and how much lighter one feels without them....and then suggest a racially segregated (and racist) manner of police training? Only white men would need to take lie detectors, live away from home? (I am not a white male, for what it's worth.) Your sanctimony is truly something to behold.
2
It's interesting the distinction between the results of internal investigations and that of an external task force.
This is another example demonstrating that internal investigations are never an adequate oversight system. Especially when the job involves legal violence which must be justified.
Only an external agency is capable of representing citizens interests above their own.
This is the most critical problem in the US and has led to moral hazards in various industries impacting millions of people.
This is another example demonstrating that internal investigations are never an adequate oversight system. Especially when the job involves legal violence which must be justified.
Only an external agency is capable of representing citizens interests above their own.
This is the most critical problem in the US and has led to moral hazards in various industries impacting millions of people.
3
The reality is the vast majority of gang members in Chicago are African American. Yes there are Hispanic gangs too but African American gangs make up the majority. With so many African American gang bangers in Chicago, perhaps this explains at least partially, why the statistics look bad. Drill down the statistics and it's my opinion that African American young men make up the majority of the criminal element in Chicago.
15
I've lived in Chicago sine the 50's. I wish Black Lives Matter would focus on the south and west sides where black on black crime is extremely bad.
15
OMG. Do any of the commentators below actually live in Chicago? I do - I've lived in the inner city for over a quarter of a century. This city is out of control and 90% of city's decline in quality of life is perpetrated by black Americans. Period. Every single death threat I've received, and I've had several including a gun pointed at my head, have all been at the hands of black men. 80% of the reckless driving, including incidences where I was forced from pedestrian crosswalks, are again perpetrated by blacks. 95% of incidences involving being an involuntarily witness to violently petty arguments are again perpetuated by black people. Being pushed off sidewalks or forced to walk in the streets - blacks again are a close second place to drunken white suburban sports fans. Don;t get me started on public transportation. I'm sick and tried of being a victim of white elitists who all appear to have a desire to be the next Harriet Beecher Stowe. The black community is out of control and they only make up a quarter of the city's population. This is a city where Hispanics now almost number blacks and yet I've experienced very few problems living side by side with that community. This city has made me long for a right-wing authoritarian government that will bring back law and order. I've had enough of this liberal jargon - it's evident that American democracy has failed the middle classes.
24
You're absolutely right! Contrary to the Left's hypocritical cries that the Right is racist, the Right wants African-Americans to prosper. Thankfully, many blacks have! But given that the Left's Orwellian views have permeated most city governments and the media, changes in inner cities will never happen.
2
If you lived in Chicago that long and do not know where and when to stay out of certain areas, you do not know the city as well as you think. I worked on the South Side for years and never worried. But I am not ignorant of the risks, how to behave and never court danger.
Black people too are victims. They were late because shots were fired through their window overnight or robbed. Is it not up to people who have some power, the police, to meet, talk and let people know who and what they are?
To some cops we're all potential criminals no matter what color the skin and most people avoid all contact with police as it is usually negative. Break that pattern so we're all unified against crime.
Black people too are victims. They were late because shots were fired through their window overnight or robbed. Is it not up to people who have some power, the police, to meet, talk and let people know who and what they are?
To some cops we're all potential criminals no matter what color the skin and most people avoid all contact with police as it is usually negative. Break that pattern so we're all unified against crime.
So far the only concrete results of the increased scrutiny of the policing that goes on in certain minority neighborhoods by groups like Black Lives Matter and liberal news outlets like the NY Times has been a widely assumed police pullback in cities like Chicago and Baltimore and concomitant increases in black on black crime. This report will only do more of the same. You can't have your cake and eat it too. In overly violent communities like those in Baltimore and Chicago's South side, aggressive police tactics are needed to suppress aggressive crime. If effective tactics like stop and frisk are belittled as racist and racial profiling, then not using them will result in what we have now. Do these groups want policing or not?
17
A person with some common sense.....finally! Fact is we all know that anyone (black, white or pink) can have racist/biased qualities. However to state that it's Systemic sort of says tons about the persons who created this report.
The same "see life through color prism" myopic mentality can also be seen here in NYC. Fact is (no one looks at facts), mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg's strong stop and frisk and other policing policies have saved THOUSANDS, yes THOUSANDS of lives yet the small minded in society will cherry pick the few instances where a police officer acted inappropriate and maybe even exhibited racist acts.
Until our nation stops looking at "race" as the central issue as it may have been many decades ago......and spend their energies on job creation and dealing with the drug epidemic ruining our youth, our nation is heading right into 3rd World standing.
Way to go guys.....now let's all go out and vote for the person with the biggest personality and attraction and forget about qualifications and demeanor.
God help us!
The same "see life through color prism" myopic mentality can also be seen here in NYC. Fact is (no one looks at facts), mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg's strong stop and frisk and other policing policies have saved THOUSANDS, yes THOUSANDS of lives yet the small minded in society will cherry pick the few instances where a police officer acted inappropriate and maybe even exhibited racist acts.
Until our nation stops looking at "race" as the central issue as it may have been many decades ago......and spend their energies on job creation and dealing with the drug epidemic ruining our youth, our nation is heading right into 3rd World standing.
Way to go guys.....now let's all go out and vote for the person with the biggest personality and attraction and forget about qualifications and demeanor.
God help us!
1
Clearly you've never been stopped and frisked while buying a can of soda at the local bodega...and these tactics in NY have not resulted in safer streets.
1
False choice.
Nothing's changed since The 50's
10
Really? Who is in the White House today?
1
Chicago is Texas North. It's us - with an exclamation point. Now, what are we going to do about it?
8
It's not racism. Anyone, any race will end up hating the individuals that they have to police in that city.
3
Yeah....and back in the early 1900's the cops (Irish mostly) were beating the hell out of the Italian immigrants on Maxwell street and other Italian neighborhoods. Those were the high crime areas back then, so that was okay, too, by analogy to many of the comments excusing the cops today.
6
Every ethnic group who left Europe or other parts of the world have experienced "discrimination" in one form or another as you point out with Italians....my particular heritage. The difference between my ancestors and those times is that most of us worked hard, got an education and didn't riot when police misbehaved. Fact is we rose above the idiotic police of that era and now hold positions of power.....and are reaping the rewards of decades of hard work and effort. My family is flourishing and my bank accounts are overflowing.
This is a great nation for giving my ancestors the opportunity to show others how capable and smart we truly are. No riots, no complaining......just hard work and pride in our background and Nation!
This is a great nation for giving my ancestors the opportunity to show others how capable and smart we truly are. No riots, no complaining......just hard work and pride in our background and Nation!
2
Did the Irish stop their violent behavior? The answers "yes." So what's your point?
4
Until Blacks stop using guns to kill other Blacks, the slaughter will continue. Blaming racism is just another dodge. The community that is incurring this wrath must take responsibility and not blame everyone else but themselves. Then, some progress will be made.
27
Thank you Bian for breadth of fresh air!
2
Blame the victims.
The go to answer for racists.
The go to answer for racists.
This is exactly what many blacks (black leaders, pastors, educators) are saying here in Stockton CA.
There are signs that things are changing , slowly of course, but changing.
We need MORE police presence! Everyone thinks and says that!
Maybe because we're a smaller, somewhat younger city than Chicago or Detroit. Maybe because we have not divided ourselves into distinct ethnic enclaves (or maintained early ones) today most neighborhoods have a mix of black, white, Asian, Hispanic and mixed families who really do get along together. Our crime rate is high, yes, but gang crime and black on black or Hispanic on Hispanic. Racism is not the big problem here, gangs are!
There are signs that things are changing , slowly of course, but changing.
We need MORE police presence! Everyone thinks and says that!
Maybe because we're a smaller, somewhat younger city than Chicago or Detroit. Maybe because we have not divided ourselves into distinct ethnic enclaves (or maintained early ones) today most neighborhoods have a mix of black, white, Asian, Hispanic and mixed families who really do get along together. Our crime rate is high, yes, but gang crime and black on black or Hispanic on Hispanic. Racism is not the big problem here, gangs are!
2
The mayor needs to resign and let someone else take over because Rahm Emmanuel has made the situation even worse by not resigining.
6
The crime statistics are not complete because they don't include the crimes and murders by the Chicago Police.
14
The Title said "Plagued with racism" as if the cops unavoidably became infected with racism not of their doing. That is wrong.
The cops are racist predators and there are too many of them.
The cops are racist predators and there are too many of them.
17
Where is the "like" button for this comment?
Correlation should not be taken so easily as causation. This is especially the case when the counterfactual correlation is so well know; i.e. levels of criminal activity by black people in Chicago in comparison to the levels of police stops, arrests and shootings of black people.
Based on what has been reported so far in the Times, the Chicago report would not stand up to the level of scrutiny exercised in your average under graduate seminar.
A lot more analysis is needed to support the conclusions of the report.
Based on what has been reported so far in the Times, the Chicago report would not stand up to the level of scrutiny exercised in your average under graduate seminar.
A lot more analysis is needed to support the conclusions of the report.
34
But you do not understand - as long as the report verifies your existing conclusions, no analysis or confirmation is needed. This is the world of government, not one where methodology and math count.
2
Naw, let's not waste our time. Let's just get busy ensuring that there is a better CPD and better police-community relations in Chicago. It's way past due.
1
No doubt there is some truth to the report. But the those who wrote the report found what they were told to find. You could could put the report cover sheet on a stack of dog pictures and no one would notice. They just want to read the headline, look at data, no way that's work.
So all the systemic abuses that people have complained of for decades may actually be true? Quelle surprise! As an upper-middle class white guy who's never even had so much as a parking ticket, every interaction I've ever had with the CPD has been painfully unpleasant. The lack of accountability has bred an arrogance that is truly frightening.
41
As an "upper middle class white guy" with numerous unpleasant experiences with Chicago's police, you're inadvertently suggesting that Chicago's police treat everyone equally which should send most of the NYTimes' readers into fits of outrage. And by the way, Jason, when is being stopped by the police ever a pleasant experience? I've been stopped by police in numerous countries, and it's always unpleasant.
1
I'm not talking about being stopped, I'm talking about simple day-to-day interactions which should be treated with professionalism & courtesy. Reactions from cops have ranged from dismissive at best to outright threatening at worst.
The report indicates the widespread belief of Chicago blacks that the police are hostile to them. And it quotes statistics indicating that enforcement actions are grossly disproportionately taken against blacks. This kind of evidence paints a disturbing picture reminiscent of the Justice Department report on Ferguson. There can be no doubt that CPD officers are creating a negative atmosphere in the poor black neighborhood of the city. As with other reports regarding racism, though, this one leaves an important question unanswered. The commission has little, if any, evidence of white police officers making racist statements, addressing blacks in a racist manner, or using racist language in discussions with other officers. Policing practices have a terrible and extreme racist effect. But there is little direct evidence of outright bigotry. The report shows prejudiced enforcement. It does not show intentional racism on the part of the police. In fact, it acknowledges that most officers are well-intended. Bottom line, law enforcement in Chicago is creating widespread racial hostility. But there is no direct evidence that this is caused intentional police racism.
8
I suppose you are asking is there a difference between institutional and interpersonal racism and I would venture to say that the difference is mostly academic.
2
That capsulizes it. I very much disagree and I would offer 95% of white American suburbanites as Exhibit 1.
Hey, ACE, the squeaky axle gets the grease. The cops go where there is a lot of squeaking! I wouldn't want to be a cop in Chicago, Houston, New York, Detroit, Los Angeles anywhere the Democrats are calling the shots. Been that way ever since they took over. When are they going to wise up?
OK, the study has been completed and the verdict rendered. The CPD, along with many other communities, has a problem with racism. That's the easy part. Now what are they going to do about it? One indication that we're not moving towards any form of solution is the fact we've stopped using the term "a frank and honest discussion about racial issues in this country". We never did discuss it, and are less inclined to today because groups (such as BLM) won't listen to what white people have to say. Indeed, as soon as a white person says something critical, these groups shout them down with cries of "racist". And white people understand this, there is no "discussion", just lecturing by black support groups. Perhaps we could acknowledge that the differences in white and black cultures may, in and of themselves, make "solutions" difficult....or impossible? But that's for another discussion, that we're unlikely to have anytime soon.
30
@Steve. I think that discussion implies that both sides are willing to listen and to acknowledge their own issues. Your post seems to be a lecture to Black people about what "should" be done. An easy way to start this discussion would be to first acknowledge white privilege and the impact that has had on your own life. If you just look at job opportunities and longevity and housing, you will begin to see it. In Chicago, all Black neighborhoods real estate is undervalued due to generations of redlining tactics by banks and lending companies. That means that people who pay their mortgages and taxes will still not have the wealth that accrues to people on the other side of town in neighborhoods where whites are the majority. I am providing this example so that if this doesn't exist in your state, you will be able to see the problem here.
2
I wish I could remember the name of the black man that explained the cultural differences. He was spot on. Black youth today he explained do not want to live a white desired life. So they do not want to follow their path.
1
For me this comment is a reminder that many white people give themselves way too much credit as unbiased observers/participants in the way things have been/are. BLM is blamed for "not listening" when if it weren't for this group and others like them any discussion wouldn't be happening. You know why, if it doesn't affect white people then it isn't a thing. I'm more disappointed that a movement like this didn't spring up decades ago. Cops didn't just start abusing and targeting Black people over the course of the last few yrs. This is a decades long problem that is made life harder for a particular part of the American public and I think many white people (who even care) feel as they did in the past, that these incidences are anomalies when in fact they are the norm and part of a prevailing attitude and assessment of how Black people are to be regarded. That is to say, with as little thought and energy as possible.
2
The statistics cited in the Report and in the article are troubling. Further statistical analysis, however, may partly explain the disparate impact and lend additional perspective and objectivity to the Report. The report states that "Chicago remains one of the most segregated cities in the country." p. 13. A neighborhood by neighborhood analysis of violent crime (controlling for both the location where the crime was committed and the home address of the victim), particularly homicides because homicides are almost always reported and can be reliably tracked) would reveal whether certain neighborhoods suffer from higher incidences of violent crime. It is likely that areas with relatively higher crime rates will have relatively more police activity. In a city like Chicago, where there is substantial segregation, this type of statistical analysis could be easily conducted. If the foregoing statistical analysis shows that neighborhoods associated with a particular racial group have relatively higher or lower crime rates than neighborhoods associated with other racial groups, then it would be logical to assume that the members of that racial group would have a higher relative incidence of the types of police contact cited in the Report. Omitting this analysis and failing to control for this obvious variable undermines the credibility of the report.
36
I think what you state overall is true though I'd note one thing, even when the occasional Black person lives in a largely white neighborhood they still report similar interactions with the police in terms of being very negative and harassing. This was reported last yr. I can't remember the exact publication, I believe it was Chicago magazine (or the magazine from one of the main papers).
2
Those high crime communities want more police presence. But then they also despise it. Officers are not trained to deal with this mess.
2
"Officers are not trained to deal with this mess."
Which raises the obvious question: Why aren't they?
Which raises the obvious question: Why aren't they?
Sounds like some excellent recommendations for changes. Here's one more. Vote out the current mayor at the first opportunity.
26
This study is meaningless! The study's methodology is flawed! There are lots of variables that are missing. Not everything in life will match up exactly with racial statistics!
21
To Matt,
Clearly, CLEARLY, putting the study aside. We have a big problem. Not just Chicago, but almost everywhere. Most cops are great and work hard to be the good guy. But there's enough 'not good guys' out there.
You know, you can say statistically, blah, blah...but you're clouding the issue. It sounds like you don't want to know the truth.
Clearly, CLEARLY, putting the study aside. We have a big problem. Not just Chicago, but almost everywhere. Most cops are great and work hard to be the good guy. But there's enough 'not good guys' out there.
You know, you can say statistically, blah, blah...but you're clouding the issue. It sounds like you don't want to know the truth.
18
Matt - "This study is meaningless! The study's methodology is flawed!"
When one starts with the basic premise that all white people are vicious racists there is no need for scientific study or methodologies. Just follow the agenda.
When one starts with the basic premise that all white people are vicious racists there is no need for scientific study or methodologies. Just follow the agenda.
1
The people on the committee assigned by the mayor have impeccable credentials. Rather then question the merits of the report and missing variables Why not let it soak in that the report is telling us something that many people of color have known for a long time. Try being black for one day and see what happens!
4
One of the more troubling aspects about the Chicago police force is the lack of punishments stemming from civilian complaints. The fact that virtually NO police officer is ever found guilty from those complaints is astounding. No wonder the community feels unsafe and irrelevant in the eyes of the law. These officers are not held accountable, and they behave as such. As a former Chicago resident, it's heartbreaking that's it's taken this long for the situation to be finally recognized and addressed.
80
If Rahn Emanuel can so self assuredly say that he knows that racism exist in Chicago and in the state of Illinois, then why hasn't he taken a pro active role to address it! He is the problem because he is an elected official called to manage the city particularly on this issue when white police are abusing black people. He needs to be fired immediately. How many more black and brown people have to die?
That is a union problem. The union protects all cops regardless of wrong doing. Have you ever been friends with any cops? I have. They simple are not trained for what they must deal with today. STOP does not have any meaning today. It once did.
4
For those who continue to resist the notion that CPD is permeated by racism, you should check out a photograph that came to light last year that showed two rifle-toting white officers, posing as deer hunters, kneeling over an African American suspect lying on the ground with antlers affixed to his head. It is as revolting an image as one could possibly imagine involving alleged officers of the law. Even more disgusting, the vote by the police board to fire one of the officers (the other was in prison after a corruption conviction) was 5-4. Four police board members thought that a cop who did that, who posed as a smiling hunter over the "carcass" of a black man, shouldn't be fired. Then there is the case of Chicago cops playing "Sweet Home Alabama" on a squad car loudspeaker during a protest march against police brutality. Did in front of God and everyone, with most of the marchers African American. Way to build rapport with the community!
This report is but a tiny piece of a mosaic. The most damning evidence is elsewhere.
This report is but a tiny piece of a mosaic. The most damning evidence is elsewhere.
29
This is a surprise? My Irish and Italian relatives settled in Chicago in the 1880s.
Bottom line: Failure is everywhere. The Family. Other Social Norms. Support systems. The churches. Our schools. The collective us.
In 1980, I was in the city to visit a woman who had been my son's teacher in Los Angeles. A nun who worked in a very bad area/teaching poor black children. I had no idea about the area. I just drove from the very comfortable area of River Forest to this location. It really looked no worse than bad areas of LA. When I was leaving I called my family to tell them when I would be home. They were in shock/truly. I received a lecture about how whites never, ever go to that part of town. A white woman would never venture into that area. What was the matter with me/I could have been attacked and killed, etc.
Chicago was the most segregated city I had visited. The racism was overt to the point of me being embarrassed that these formally educated professionals were related to me.
I am retired now. I am proud of my adult children - they are good people and especially proud of my atty son who works very hard to protect the right of everyone.
Bottom line: Failure is everywhere. The Family. Other Social Norms. Support systems. The churches. Our schools. The collective us.
In 1980, I was in the city to visit a woman who had been my son's teacher in Los Angeles. A nun who worked in a very bad area/teaching poor black children. I had no idea about the area. I just drove from the very comfortable area of River Forest to this location. It really looked no worse than bad areas of LA. When I was leaving I called my family to tell them when I would be home. They were in shock/truly. I received a lecture about how whites never, ever go to that part of town. A white woman would never venture into that area. What was the matter with me/I could have been attacked and killed, etc.
Chicago was the most segregated city I had visited. The racism was overt to the point of me being embarrassed that these formally educated professionals were related to me.
I am retired now. I am proud of my adult children - they are good people and especially proud of my atty son who works very hard to protect the right of everyone.
14
I lived north and south of Chicago for several years. Quite by accident, we got lost one late afternoon and naively stopped to ask a black man how to get back on the interstate. He very politely told us how, and then very seriously told us to get the hell out of this neighborhood. He was looking out for us, just like I would have for him.
2
So when does the boycott of Chicago begin?
23
Beautiful.
1
Anyone with any sense has been boycotting that cesspool for years.
1
Really is this alarming to anyone except the ones with blinders on. Chicago is not the only place in America where this happens. Before a problem can be solved it must first be identified. Racism will never be addressed as long as the beneficiaries of racism keep denying it exists. Solving racism in America is like watching a dog chasing his tail. With the election of Obama racism no longer has to reside in the shadows. Obama made it fashionable to an overt racist. Racism is destroying the party of Lincoln and if we keep our heads in the sand, as we are doing now, it will eventually destroy us! We are told white people are angry because they feel they have been abandoned by the country. Does anyone dare measure the anger of people who feel they have no country? The Right denies and The Left pacifies. For the Mayor of New York City and Ms. Clinton to do their totally tone deaf little skit the other day should tell us just where we are as a country. Both of them are totally dependent on the Black vote and still they think it’s funny to do a Colored People parody? If these are our top Progressives, we are in deep trouble. Photo-ops with people of color is the lefts idea of combating racism and just denying it is the Right’s answer.
35
Steven " Agree. Race is America's most vulnerable wound. It is easily exacerbated by angry misfits of all persuasions. Respect for the law and for one's fellow Americans is very important. Disrespect for both is very damaging and dangerous for the nation's unity and security.
4
The "left" has many different perspectives and activists. I agree with almost everything in your important post, but please don't use the term "the left" so broadly. It allows supporters of racism to dismiss those of us on "the left" who are dedicated to opposing all forms of racism.
I didn't see it, but heard about it and the mayor was blamed. However the mayor is married to a black woman and has tow biracial kids. I can't stand the guy, but I find it hard to believe is in any way racially insensitive, and yet in this PC world, he is. I grew up in NJ with many ethnic jokes. My parents, both strong conservatives, never, ever allowed us to tell ethnic jokes. The woman that help raise me was black. The differences in our two worlds was often discussed. We respected both worlds.
All of this police violence and racism under one of the most successful urban Democratic machines in the country. This is just why Bernie Sanders is running in good part against the Democratic establishment in 2016. This failed and corrupt establishment has let down the very people they say they represent most.
29
The Daley Machine has controlled Chicago since 1955. Just because they associated with the Democratic Party does NOT mean that they aligned in any way with a progressive platform.
You can't call the entire Democratic Party "failed and corrupt" based on one city. Instead I think of the wonderful work of Senator Ted Kennedy who replaced his brother John in the Massachusetts Senate seat in 1962 and won every Senate seat after that until his death in 2009 and John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia, from 1985 to 2015. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984, while in office as Governor of West Virginia, a position he held from 1977 to 1985.
I have worked with the Democratic Party since the campaign of Bobby Kennedy in 1968. I look at the overall goals of the Party. Anyone can find a Democrat who "used" his position in the Party for his own corrupt ideology. I look at what is good in people...but I am VERY glad that Rahm is investigating the corruption of the CPD and if anyone can make a difference he can.
As a Bernie supporter I don't think of his going after the Democratic establishment as much as looking out for 99% of Americans who have been left behind in the global economy.
You can't call the entire Democratic Party "failed and corrupt" based on one city. Instead I think of the wonderful work of Senator Ted Kennedy who replaced his brother John in the Massachusetts Senate seat in 1962 and won every Senate seat after that until his death in 2009 and John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia, from 1985 to 2015. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984, while in office as Governor of West Virginia, a position he held from 1977 to 1985.
I have worked with the Democratic Party since the campaign of Bobby Kennedy in 1968. I look at the overall goals of the Party. Anyone can find a Democrat who "used" his position in the Party for his own corrupt ideology. I look at what is good in people...but I am VERY glad that Rahm is investigating the corruption of the CPD and if anyone can make a difference he can.
As a Bernie supporter I don't think of his going after the Democratic establishment as much as looking out for 99% of Americans who have been left behind in the global economy.
8
If Bernie Sanders is so hellbent on bringing down the "Democratic establishment" then why isn't he running as an Independent? Sorry but you can't complain that the party is beyond redemption while running to lead it at the same time.
2
"You can't call the entire Democratic Party "failed and corrupt" based on one city."
How about Ferguson, Baltimore, Detroit, Newark and Camden NJ?
How about Ferguson, Baltimore, Detroit, Newark and Camden NJ?
1
First off let's not let the stats skew our perspective. I wonder if crime statistics also indicate that the majority of crimes are centered around black communities. If that is the case then it would make sense why 72 percent of no arrest contacts were made against black citizens. If police believe criminal activity is afoot then a social contact can be made under reasonable suspicion.
I don't doubt that in a department as large as Chicago, there are officers who mistreat people of color, but don't label the majority of them racist based on stats that are not thoroughly evaluated.
I don't doubt that in a department as large as Chicago, there are officers who mistreat people of color, but don't label the majority of them racist based on stats that are not thoroughly evaluated.
33
Is it possible we "assume" there is more crime in black neighborhoods because they are more likely to be policed? I will guarantee you if white neighborhoods were under as much police scrutiny we would see a spike in arrests. Whites self report a significantly higher drug use rate and yet comprise a much smaller portion of drug arrests.
Traci - I think most people's everyday expieriences (and FBI crime statistics, btw) does enough to show which theory makes the most sense. Black culture has many poisionious aspects, and Blacks commit more violent crimes than other racial groups. Much of this is black on black crime.
Suppose that a law was passed such that predominately black neighborhoods were only allowed to be policed by "officers of color" (i.e. no whites). Does anyone really think that crime would significantly drop in those areas as a result? if it did not, would you chalk it up to racism amongst the officers of color?
Suppose that a law was passed such that predominately black neighborhoods were only allowed to be policed by "officers of color" (i.e. no whites). Does anyone really think that crime would significantly drop in those areas as a result? if it did not, would you chalk it up to racism amongst the officers of color?
The CPD's motto is "we serve and protect." One has always wondered, "serve and protect whom?"
12
I am a person of color. I have raised children, purchased a home and worked all of my life. I am over sixty now and I am afraid to go out of my home because of the police in Chicago. They have been given the legal right to kill me without going to jail or ever realizing the value of my life.
36
You have had plenty of time to address the racism, Rahm. Just because racism exists everywhere does not mean you have to tolerate it in your police force.
22
From someone who recently visited Chicago, and spent their childhood there. I was stopped by police officers in 2014, for absolutely no reason at all. After asking why I was pulled over I never received an answer. What am I to think? As an educator and a college professor, I asked the officer some pretty simple questions in regards to why I was being pulled over and never got an answer. Racism and targeting people of certain groups is definitely a reality in the city of Chicago. Unfortunately those without the resources or education are unable to maneuver and ask educated questions that will hold officers accountable for their. I did not get emotional at the time, I kept my cool but at the same time I understood that I was being targeted. I've never committed a crime a, yet they found a reason to pull me over I can only imagine the people that deal with that on a daily basis and have a financial resources.
143
You have to get an answer. Are you saying they didn't even feign giving you an answer, or that you didn't get a response you thought was legit? They refused to give you an answer? I suppose that could happen, but it's so incredibly unlikely as that's a guarantee of a lawsuit you could easily win. please clarify - if they actually refused to give you any reason you were stopped you should file a complaint and get a lawyer.
4
You are overreacting to something that you were not harmed by and making statements that you can not possibly prove.
Just because the officer did not give you a reason you were stopped does not mean there wasn't a good reason and you being a college professor is irrelevant
to getting an answer.
Being stopped by a cop should not get someone emotional or upset and would not lead to a altercation.
By suggesting what the police are doing (without any evidence) is because they are racist you are justifying what people do when they are stopped.
Instead of being combatant they should be more cooperative.
Bad things do not happen when people cooperated like you did.
The police have a harder enough job and do not get paid what they should be
so they can be defamed by a person like you a college professor who should know better.
Just because the officer did not give you a reason you were stopped does not mean there wasn't a good reason and you being a college professor is irrelevant
to getting an answer.
Being stopped by a cop should not get someone emotional or upset and would not lead to a altercation.
By suggesting what the police are doing (without any evidence) is because they are racist you are justifying what people do when they are stopped.
Instead of being combatant they should be more cooperative.
Bad things do not happen when people cooperated like you did.
The police have a harder enough job and do not get paid what they should be
so they can be defamed by a person like you a college professor who should know better.
1
"...74 percent of the 404 people shot by the Chicago police between 2008 and 2015 were black, the report said. "
"Black people were targeted in 72 percent of thousands of investigative street stops that did not lead to arrests during a recent summer.
Three out of four — 76 percent — of people on whom Chicago police officers used Taser guns between 2012 and 2015 were black. And black people made up 46 percent of police traffic stops in 2013."
These statistics standing alone do not necessarily indict the CPD. While I don't know the statistics for Chicago, the national Black-on-black homicide rate is seven times that of white-on-white; the rape rate is four times; and the assault rate is three times. In other words, 13% of the US population is responsible for 50% of the homicides, etc. If Chicago's statistics are similar to the national data, then the unusually disproportionate number of blacks shot or forcibly restrained by the police MAY be explicable and justifiable. What are Chicago's data?
"Black people were targeted in 72 percent of thousands of investigative street stops that did not lead to arrests during a recent summer.
Three out of four — 76 percent — of people on whom Chicago police officers used Taser guns between 2012 and 2015 were black. And black people made up 46 percent of police traffic stops in 2013."
These statistics standing alone do not necessarily indict the CPD. While I don't know the statistics for Chicago, the national Black-on-black homicide rate is seven times that of white-on-white; the rape rate is four times; and the assault rate is three times. In other words, 13% of the US population is responsible for 50% of the homicides, etc. If Chicago's statistics are similar to the national data, then the unusually disproportionate number of blacks shot or forcibly restrained by the police MAY be explicable and justifiable. What are Chicago's data?
73
In 2011, the breakdown for murder offenders in Chicago was 71% African-American, 24% Hispanic, 4% White. You make an excellent point similar to one that I made above in a reply to BC from NJ. The racial breakdown of police shootings is very similar to that of violent crime offenders as inferred from murders suggesting a causal link between the two.
See Figure 27 in: https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/News/Stati...
See Figure 27 in: https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/News/Stati...
42
When you think about it, it's actually about 6.5% of the population that is responsible for all of these crimes.
17
Unfortunately, this line of dialogue will go nowhere, although it is the only investigation that would lead to productive solutions. Paradoxically to some, the liberal media and liberal politicians only consider race, not the behavior of individual people when examining Black crime issues. University of Toledo criminologist Dr. Richard R. Johnson examined the latest crime data from the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports and Centers for Disease Control and found that an average of 4,472 black men were killed by other black men annually between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2012. Professor Johnson’s research further concluded that 112 black men died from both justified AND unjustified police-involved killings annually during this same period. So, why not focus on the behavior of individuals? Because the liberal media and political activists would lose ammunition to promote more divisiveness, lumping gang members like this one along with law-abiding, hard working Black Americans, fighting to make them ALL feel like victims.
10
Anybody do any study on the deaths initiated or caused by gangs?
19
It's interesting the distinction between the results of internal investigations and that of an external task force.
This is another example demonstrating that internal investigations are never an adequate oversight system. Especially when the job involves legal violence which must be justified.
Only an external agency is capable of representing citizens interests above their own.
This is the most critical problem in the US and has led to moral hazards in various industries impacting millions of people.
This is another example demonstrating that internal investigations are never an adequate oversight system. Especially when the job involves legal violence which must be justified.
Only an external agency is capable of representing citizens interests above their own.
This is the most critical problem in the US and has led to moral hazards in various industries impacting millions of people.
6
Yet another illustration of why racist Republicans cannot be trusted to govern and treat everyone equally. We need to get Democrats elected to high positions in Illinois and Chicago. Enough with the institutional racism of evangelical Christians, Fox News, the Koch Brothers, the Supreme Court, and...oops, my auto post was on.
19
Mr. C., it might be a good idea for you to do a little fact checking before posting. The simple facts are easy to find. Chicago has a 50 member city council. Out of the 50 seats, only one (1) is a Republican, 49 are Democrats according to the latest information available. In the state senate, out of 59 seats, 39 are Democrats, 20 Republicans. In the US Senate, (1) Democrat and (1) Republican. Plus if you check, you will find evangelical Christians are not as racist as you infer, neither are the Koch Brothers, or the Supreme Court.
It is a typical response like yours that keeps the divide open and expanding even further. Blaming one party over the other and espousing the usual left and right talking points does no one any good. Finding solutions to the problem(s) seems to be a forgotten aspect of any debate or discussion between the differing factions.
If we won't try to meet in the middle on any point, then we become our own worst enemy and a nation divided cannot stand. Unfortunately, over the past 30 years, we have become even more divided and the progress made by MLK is all but ignored and forgotten.
It is a typical response like yours that keeps the divide open and expanding even further. Blaming one party over the other and espousing the usual left and right talking points does no one any good. Finding solutions to the problem(s) seems to be a forgotten aspect of any debate or discussion between the differing factions.
If we won't try to meet in the middle on any point, then we become our own worst enemy and a nation divided cannot stand. Unfortunately, over the past 30 years, we have become even more divided and the progress made by MLK is all but ignored and forgotten.
6
Your comment appears to be a very large and off target generalization. The State of Illinois, and more particularly the greater Chicago area has been a Democratic stronghold for decades. Just how are the Republican Party et al responsible for the gang violence, high homicide rate, and general decay of Chicago? This problem can only belong to the people of Chicago and the party they continue to keep in power.
1
Sorry my friend. It was a satirical post.
1
To those shallow thinkers and apologists for the racist police - I see several of your comments pointing out that young black males commit the greatest number of crimes. In return, I'd like to point out that it is the Police who decide if a crime is being committed. The police - by their eternal stop and frisk behaviours, by their diligent search for people who commit the crime of driving or walking while black, are the ones who initiate many more contacts with black citizens than with whites. Therefore, their illegal searches find many more drugs and weapons, create more and more occasions for escalation and violent confrontations and charges of "resisting arrest" etc. Voila- you see these biased, cooked-up statistics. If every citizen on the streets were stopped and frisked, including whites, I wonder how many drugs and weapons might be found in white pockets?. The whites' defense, of course, "I was only packing heat because I'm afraid of all those crime-prone blacks."
38
Very true. Some statistics can be inflated due to police behavior. Look at crimes like murder, rape, assault, burglary where the complaining witness in court is not a police officer but a civilian victim. Those stats are still troubling.
1
In Chicago in 2011, murder by race of the offender was:
- 70.5% African-American
- 24.3% Hispanic
- 3.5% White
That's 20 times the number of black killers than white killers! For these stats to be due to racist cops only targeting blacks, there would either have to be lots and lots of white murderers being ignored, or lots and lots of innocent black people locked up for white crimes.
Source: https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/News/Stati...
- 70.5% African-American
- 24.3% Hispanic
- 3.5% White
That's 20 times the number of black killers than white killers! For these stats to be due to racist cops only targeting blacks, there would either have to be lots and lots of white murderers being ignored, or lots and lots of innocent black people locked up for white crimes.
Source: https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/News/Stati...
3
Your comment underscores why it makes sense to use homicides as the relevant metric for comparing crime rates between or amongst different demographic groups rather than all crimes. Homicides are nearly always reported and are easy to track.
1
The New York Times falls into the trap of reporting numerators without denominators. It's a scandal if blacks account for 70% of arrests if they commit 30% of the crimes. It's not a scandal (or at least it's a scandal of a different kind) if blacks account for 70% of the arrests and commit 70% of the crimes. Obviously it's a lot easier to measure arrest rates than perp rates, but without some estimate of the criminality rates, it's impossible to know if arrest rates are appropriate or not.
78
I appreciate your attempt to use legitimate data, but this movement is not amenable to that. The President of the United States of America, whose main job qualification was that of a Saul Alinsky-trained social activist, has orchestrated this since before his election. He and the liberal media consistently censor anything that does not promote the sense of victimization among ALL Blacks. If we were really interested in upholding the law, ALL people would be wiling to engage in dialogue to identify and deal with those Blacks committing 85% of interracial violent crimes. Instead, the media continuously tries to tell you that to question Black criminal behavior is to commit acts of racism. This is simply the ignorance of the American people coming home to roost.
5
Excellent comment, Troglotia, but I'm afraid it's not just the NYT that is focusing on the naked numerator, but also the report's authors and the Chicago deision makers.
Really a limited analysis. Sad to see educated people swayed by superficial counts.
Really a limited analysis. Sad to see educated people swayed by superficial counts.
1
If I hear one more person suggest that the criminal actions of the police are the fault of the victims I am going to puke. Go rationalize your bigotry at a Trump Rally or tell it to that racist Giuliani.
54
So who is it that is committing through crime? It's not racist to patrol the areas where crimes are being committedin fact, citizens demand safer neighborhoods and ask for police presence. When that happens in high crime areas, now they are considered racist for doing their jobs?
23
The report states, "“CPD’s own data gives validity to the widely held belief the police have no regard for the sanctity of life when it comes to people of color.”
No regard for the sanctity of life of African-Americans. Time for Mayor Emanuel to resign, and for his selection for police chief to resign as well. And also time for the Obama administration to take over administration of that police department.
No regard for the sanctity of life of African-Americans. Time for Mayor Emanuel to resign, and for his selection for police chief to resign as well. And also time for the Obama administration to take over administration of that police department.
11
Fundamentally there is only one answer, transform the CPD into the most transparent large city police department in the US. Form independent, rotating commissions that will be used to investigate alleged misconduct. Staff them with business, education and community leaders that have no direct ties to the CPD or city government. Bring in outside managers with a track record of success to redesign and supervise all CPD training. Use more video recording, in more places, with higher quality than anyplace else. Video records should be kept and managed outside the city by another completely independent unit. Pay for it all with an additional 5% property tax hike, phased in over 3 years on property values over $300,000. Restore confidence and lead other cities by example. Good cops and supervisors will only benefit from all of this in the end. It will become a far better place to work. It's time to get ahead of the problem and lead.
56
We taxpayers in Chicago just got hit with a $500 million property tax increase, which coincidentally, is the same amount we have paid in lawsuits, over 10 years, stemming from police abusing their "authority", or some people call it murder. THIS is where our money goes, not to schools, not to parks, not to our under-funded pensions, but to settle lawsuits brought against the thug cops. The CPD needs to be completely dismantled and rebuilt. They can start by weeding out new hires who have a propensity for violence. It's truly a despicable situation in this city.
4
Why specifically a property tax hike and 5%? Also, why a minimum property value? Otherwise your proposals seem reasonable
I don't live in Chicago, am not black, and don't work in law enforcement.
I didn't need this report to know the results.
I didn't need this report to know the results.
16
The statistical evidence provided does not support the conclusions. In general the disproportionate representation of African Americans is not , per se, evidence of discrimination. I have seen no rigorous attempts to determine if the statistics are the result of police initiated action, or the actions of the individuals in the African American community. The assumption that all ethnic groups are equally likely to engage in violent behaviors requiring the use of force must be tested before charges of discrimination are founded.
19
I must admit I am always surprised when these report come out. As if they have discovered something new. Since the sixties we all have known that the Chicago police have an unending record of killing, beating and harassing black people. The question really is when is it going to stop. Where is the political will to stop it?
17
They should just back out?
3
History tells us that terror is the most effective instrument in controlling people.
Terror has been employed the world 'round since who-knows-when. It will likely continue to be used, until something cheaper and more effective comes along.
Terror has been employed the world 'round since who-knows-when. It will likely continue to be used, until something cheaper and more effective comes along.
Chicago is the exemplar of Communitarian central planning.
Perhaps this is going according to plan?
Perhaps this is going according to plan?
3
Why? Not being facetious, seriously, why would a police force be like this?
1
I read the full Police Accountability Task Force Report and I don't see any indication that racism per se is rampant in the Chicago PD.
What I do see is a disproportionate number (relative to demographic make-up) of arrests, stops, and shootings for black people relative to others - but it's not clear that these are disproportionate to the number of crimes being committed. Since black people are disproportionately poor, and poor people are more likely to commit crimes, we should EXPECT black people to be disproportionately arrested.
I would also be interested to see the break-down based on socioeconomic status rather than race. This is necessary to disentangle race from the equation. If poor white people are just as likely to commit crimes and do drugs as black people but are less likely to get arrested for it, then you have a case to be made for racism. Otherwise, we're stuck with a measure of race that doesn't account for SES - which tells us essentially nothing.
What I do see is a disproportionate number (relative to demographic make-up) of arrests, stops, and shootings for black people relative to others - but it's not clear that these are disproportionate to the number of crimes being committed. Since black people are disproportionately poor, and poor people are more likely to commit crimes, we should EXPECT black people to be disproportionately arrested.
I would also be interested to see the break-down based on socioeconomic status rather than race. This is necessary to disentangle race from the equation. If poor white people are just as likely to commit crimes and do drugs as black people but are less likely to get arrested for it, then you have a case to be made for racism. Otherwise, we're stuck with a measure of race that doesn't account for SES - which tells us essentially nothing.
79
I agree!
1
The police are breaking the law. They are criminals. This needs to stip. What don't you get?
3
I wonder why innocent black people ("Black people were targeted in 72 percent of ... investigative street stops that did not lead to arrests during a recent summer.") are targeted more often than innocent white people?
2
If it isn't your racial group being mistreated, everything seems fine. It must be the fault of the person being damaged. When their heads are busted, they are just too sensitive. The wound will heal. Perhaps they will not be the same, but it will heal. If it isn't your racial group being mistreated, everything looks fine from your prospective, even if report after report says that it is not fine. California police stated that they reserved harsher treatment for people of color. Chicago admitted to systematic mistreatment of people of color even if they are just out for a Sunday drive. They must be at fault. They must be doing something wrong. And, if they are killed, they don't have the same feelings that we would have at the loss of a loved one.
16
In the meantime, when this systematic-racism-plagued police department stopped harassing criminals in the street this year, the murder rate has almost doubled.
49
As long as they aren't hurting your everything is okay, right? The police are breaking the law. They are criminals. This needs to stip. What don't you get?
6
I refuse to accept that public safety can only be achieved by sacrificing a subset of our fellow citizens to law enforcement to abuse, harassment, maim, and kill. If they cannot do their jobs effectively, we need to figure out how to train and empower them to protect the public without abusing the public; if they WILL not do their jobs, they need to be replaced by people with the right temperament for the work.
2
I don't get how people who put forth these "when cops stop harassing Black people things get worst" arguments don't understand that if everyone is treated the same then cops are committing crimes under the color of the law and getting away with it. What's more, they have and have had a system of "justice" that backs them up. The cops are in the spotlight now but the whole system is criminal the only people who don't seem to know it or understand that are people who will never be affected by it.
more blacks need to hired on the force. They should compose the majority of the force, not whites who have historically abused blacks. Only this can end the racism that so is the Chicago Dept of Police.
4
Black police were arrested in Baltimore for Freddie Gray.Just grabbing and placed minorities on the police force will not change things.
1
Why, so we can go full on Baltimore? Hire Blacks just cuz'? I don't want our crime rate to triple. You would have to triple salary to find enough qualified candidates from out of state.
1
How can this happen in a city that has been run by the ""we are all equal the and the rich are the bad guys" Democrats and unions for the last 60 years????? So they are actually worse than Repubs????? Glass houses.......
38
Born and raised in Chicago. Chicago has always, and remains a segregated city. Massive overhaul introduced by LBJ's Great Society housing initiatives, never really worked. The Chicago police department efforts were often to simply manage segregation.
15
Rahm Emanuel's tepid response is disgraceful. As other commenters have pointed out we are talking about outright criminality: torture, murder, intimidation with threat of death, harrassment and more. Racism is not just an attitude of bigotry, it's a set of behaviors designed to demoralize, debase and terrorize a people. It's a practice of denying human dignity to other human beings.
And as others have said, it's not just the South and Chicago: here is San Francisco the same pattern of murder and intimidation occurs. And we have continuing revelations of the most sickeningly racist emails among cops that should lead to immediate dismissal but doesn't.
As a nation we were founded on genocide and slavery and those crimes are still happening today.
And as others have said, it's not just the South and Chicago: here is San Francisco the same pattern of murder and intimidation occurs. And we have continuing revelations of the most sickeningly racist emails among cops that should lead to immediate dismissal but doesn't.
As a nation we were founded on genocide and slavery and those crimes are still happening today.
17
But if black people are disproportionately poor, and poor people are more likely to commit crimes, shouldn't we expect black people to be disproportionately (with respect to demographic make-up) arrested? Without adjusting for SES, I don't see how anyone can claim racism is the ultimate cause behind this - especially when so many of the police officers in these neighborhoods are black people themselves.
7
Is Rahm Emanuel still mayor of Chicago? Why!
Wasn't subject report begun after he was re-elected and the video of the shooting mentioned released after being sat on? Article didn't mention that.
Wasn't subject report begun after he was re-elected and the video of the shooting mentioned released after being sat on? Article didn't mention that.
3
He is not responsible for unwritten policies set up decades before his election.
2
@Samuel Spade,
He's still mayor because this didn't blow up until after the election, but, rest assured, he's now political toast. He knows it, everyone knows it. Emanuel couldn't win a race for dog catcher in Cook County at this point, and it's going to get worse before it gets better. The DOJ is in the midst of an investigation, and their report is going to make what was released today look like a glowing tribute.
He's still mayor because this didn't blow up until after the election, but, rest assured, he's now political toast. He knows it, everyone knows it. Emanuel couldn't win a race for dog catcher in Cook County at this point, and it's going to get worse before it gets better. The DOJ is in the midst of an investigation, and their report is going to make what was released today look like a glowing tribute.
1
How is this possible in a city that has been run by democrats for years? Perhaps the racial opinions like that of Senator Byrd are still prevalent in the party. Sometimes we have to clean our own house first. Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Hillary Clinton's tone deaf misstep when referring to CT is an indication of the subtle racism that still exists with democrats.
13
@Lise Cujar,
It's possible in a city run by Democrats because Chicago politics is, and always has been, more about power that partisanship, even though the GOP by all rights doesn't exist. To get elected in Chicago, you need the support of unions, and the police union has historically been a powerful political force. That's how it happens.
It's possible in a city run by Democrats because Chicago politics is, and always has been, more about power that partisanship, even though the GOP by all rights doesn't exist. To get elected in Chicago, you need the support of unions, and the police union has historically been a powerful political force. That's how it happens.
5
There is substantial evidence that people of color — particularly African-Americans — have had disproportionately negative experiences with the police."
No! You don't say! Really?
It's a good thing that genius Mayor Emanuel got to the bottom of this police brutality thing. Who knew race was involved? (obvious sarcasm)
No! You don't say! Really?
It's a good thing that genius Mayor Emanuel got to the bottom of this police brutality thing. Who knew race was involved? (obvious sarcasm)
8
They needed a commission to issue a report to know this? Rahm must not have heard of Google. Here's the search term, your Honor: "Jon Burge." Here what it says when you Google him: "Jon Graham Burge is a convicted felon and former Chicago Police Department detective and commander who gained notoriety for torturing more than 200 criminal suspects between 1972 and 1991 in order to force confessions." What's not said is that most of Burge's victims were African Americans. What's also not said is that no one on the Chicago PD ever did a minute of jail time for the Stalinesque operation Burge ran. Burge was convicted of crimes other than torture or assault. While this happened years ago, nothing really ever changed on the CPD. The CPD was and is the most feared criminal gang in Chicago. That's unfortunate because I'm sure there a many good people on that department, but for generations even those "good" people have turned a blind eye to this repression. Rahm resigning isn't the answer as long as he really, really wants to fix it and does. He's just one of a long line of emperors who didn't care enough to fix it, and many black politicians are also complicit. The other striking thing about this is that this report could be issued in many American cities and it's a national outrage, embarrassment and shame.
26
I should note that not all cops fall under this category i'm about to describe/elaborate on. Many of them are brave & honest folks who do a wonderful job. That being said, having lived in the city my entire life, my opinion is the good cop to bad cop ratio is 1:1. And now off on my tangent... Chicago cops are not only racist, but also homophobic, obese, unintelligent, lack basic social and problem solving skills. They shoot and taser people because they're too overweight to run after them. They're meatheads who don't obey the rules of the road. They lie under oath and fabricate evidence. They are overwhelmingly white and male (as am I). They're condescending and when interacting with someone who has a legal background, their true colors show and it paints a very ugly picture. Uneducated and misogynistic is a nice way of putting it. They have ZERO dispute resolution skills. Of the 'bad ones', half are alcoholics (it's a disease, I know) and the other half steal and commit fraud. This report won't really change anything. Rahm lacks the fortitude to commit to any legitimate change. All he's concerned about is re-election in a couple years and draining the city's already barren coffers. The police will still target blacks disproportionately to other races and blacks will continue to kill each other at an ungodly pace. It's the Chicago way. My advice, move to the suburbs where everything except maybe the food is better, but you can always drive down to the city for delicious meals
15
Mayor Emanuel says: “The question is: ‘what are we going to do to confront it and make the changes in not only personnel but in policies to reflect, I think, the values that make up the diversity of our city.’” Everyone is supposed to be equal, yes? Unfortunately not everyone believes that. Just what values make up diversity?
2
Cue all the comments from (mostly) white folks that start with..."Black people commit the majority of crimes in this country...". Translation? What's the problem with the way our police officers abuse them?
We are not changing as a country and as a people.
We are not changing as a country and as a people.
13
So are you saying that cops should arrest fewer blacks?
Well, I guess that is one way to sway the numbers.
Well, I guess that is one way to sway the numbers.
9
I've followed this story and many like it. There is no doubt in my mind there is racism. Absolutely no doubt that there is criminal conduct. This is completely undisputed.
What I say next will in all probably be difficult to say in a way that won't offend. That won't have people screaming at me for "blaming the victims" or "making excuses for the inexcusable." Understand nothing along those lines is my intent. I'm trying to be pragmatic here and outline a problem.
So disclaimer aside here it is: The majority of crimes in Chicago are perpetrated by a blacks. Something like 70% of the murders were committed by blacks. So I asked myself this, "How could I, as a cop, not begin to look upon people of color with more suspicion? More distrust?" The answer bothers me but at least I can admit it: I couldn't.
Here in lies the problem, as it's said. There is a cultural problem here, beyond the police department.
What I say next will in all probably be difficult to say in a way that won't offend. That won't have people screaming at me for "blaming the victims" or "making excuses for the inexcusable." Understand nothing along those lines is my intent. I'm trying to be pragmatic here and outline a problem.
So disclaimer aside here it is: The majority of crimes in Chicago are perpetrated by a blacks. Something like 70% of the murders were committed by blacks. So I asked myself this, "How could I, as a cop, not begin to look upon people of color with more suspicion? More distrust?" The answer bothers me but at least I can admit it: I couldn't.
Here in lies the problem, as it's said. There is a cultural problem here, beyond the police department.
55
There are several studies showing that blacks and whites use drugs at a comparable rate (or even that use amongst whites is slightly more common), however blacks are substantially more likely to be arrested for drug crimes. So it's not just an issue of "in general blacks commit more crimes so of course we should be more suspicious of them."
7
But what of all the crimes that aren't uncovered or investigated? There was an awful lot of child and spousal abuse, illegal drug sales and use, and white collar crime committed by my wealthy white neighbors but to my knowledge, not one of those criminals was ever arrested or prosecuted. Had the police stopped and frisked my high school classmates they would have hit pay dirt. Babysitters and housekeepers didn't report the abuses they witnessed. So I think it's important to consider who is investigated in the first place when we consider what percentage of what group commits crime.
6
Tommy, you are conflating arrests for drug sales with statistics for drug use.
This is not a logical argument.
This is not a logical argument.
The purpose of this report was to clean up the dirty smudge left by the cover up of abuses during Rahm's election cycle. That should tell the public more than the report ever can. Get with the meta narrative and move beyond baloney reports. Gumshoe time.
5
When your community justifiably feels that the police are not on their side and that the police are as much an occupying army as anything else. That your community can't depend on them for justice or fair enforcement of the law, lawlessness will prevail. Street gangs morph into both 'protection services' and a 'jobs program'. Your child is killed? The gang will exact retribution even if the 'justice (or 'just them') system does not. The high murder rate in Chicago is the result of racist policing not the cause.
5
So it's racism because blacks are arrested and stopped in disproportionate numbers? Who is filling up the city's morgues and emergency rooms with gunshot and stab wounds? Seems like this panel was stuffed with an assortment of left wing types to get a particular result.
27
Racism, in the Chicago Police Department is a problem that has been endemic, as much as systemic.
So, no. This is not: "Breaking News". This is more of a confession to the crime.
So, no. This is not: "Breaking News". This is more of a confession to the crime.
8
It's is race in Chicago, but in my experience it's much more socio-economic. Generally, the poorest neighborhoods have the highest rates of crime and gang presence. Those neighborhoods are largely (not all) African American. Most seasoned police officers transfer OUT of the high-crime areas as their careers progress and they have the leverage and seniority to bid out. So you get inexperienced or problem officers (hidden by senior management away from tourist and commercial districts) in areas of high crime and lots of police interaction relative to the wealthier neighborhoods. They need to analyze the data based on socio-economic and neighborhood as well to get a more accurate reflection of what's going on.
8
Have the mostly black areas patrolled only by black cops and see if they can tread the tightrope between not enough police presence and interest with resulting skyrocketing crime and substantial police presence with arrests and some defensive shootings. Good luck, they won't be able to satisfy the citizens either way but at least the rest of us won't all have to keep repeatedly hearing the old saw about cops being racist.
24
Maybe Chicago blacks get 75% of the police attention because members of the Chicago black community commit 75% of the crime. Ms. Davey, is your inability to provide perspective and context deliberate or are you simply a slow thinker?
25
More than a half century after the civil rights movement these unconscionable acts are still prevalent.
2
Martin Luther King had some tough times in Chicago as well , a reminder that blaming the South only for persistent race issues is dishonest
8
MLK understood that the fight for America wasn't just about race. It was about corruption, money, and the agendas set by those in power who use race to exploit the working class and keep them fighting each other while business interests kept screwing them more and more to keep profits higher.
"This country has socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for the poor."
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
"This country has socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for the poor."
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
6
Perhaps if the Chicago PD were treated more respectfully and not placed in compromising positions while doing their duty, the report's findings would be different. As it is the makeup of the investigating team calls into question the credibility of the findings. Without more diversity in the investigating team, it becomes apparent that people will see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear, find what they want to find.
37
"the makeup of the investigating team calls into question the credibility of the findings"
From the column, citing the makeup up the task force, in agreement with many other sources: "The task force members were racially diverse, with professional backgrounds in social work, law and government."
If you have questions about the makeup of the task force that lead you to believe they were biased against the CPD, please elucidate. I'm all ears.
From the column, citing the makeup up the task force, in agreement with many other sources: "The task force members were racially diverse, with professional backgrounds in social work, law and government."
If you have questions about the makeup of the task force that lead you to believe they were biased against the CPD, please elucidate. I'm all ears.
Really? This is a police department that had a site where they used to torture people. Ignorance is surely bliss. I think you are the one that sees what they want to see and hear what they want to hear. This report was based on data and interviewing people. What are your assumptions based on?
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/13/homan-square-chicag...
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/11/homan-square-chicago-poli...
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/13/homan-square-chicag...
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/11/homan-square-chicago-poli...
The task force was diverse. The article states that plainly. Meaning it had white and black investigators on the team, from a variety of professional backgrounds. And being placed in compromising positions is literally part of the job description of being a police officer, so it's hardly an excuse for the statistical evidence. And they shouldn't need to be treated with respect to do their jobs in an ethical manner. Though I can also guarantee you that most officers are usually treated with respect, so your assumption is simply inaccurate. Like you said, "people see what they want to see," and that includes police officers. That's exactly the problem within our judicial system that this task force report is about. Officers seeing a black male as a threat because that's how they're predispositioned to see him, and how a white male is less likely to be seen as a threat, all because that's how police officers choose to see them based on the color of their skin
A conundrum (for the Mayor to resolve) ... male blacks commit the majority of crime (and in gross disproportion relative to the numbers they represent population wise in society) in Chicago, and the police force is biased, based possibly on years/decades of being assigned the responsibility by leadership of fixing the issue. How does this get resolved? No one is answering this question, the only question that really matters here. What to do?
18
The only way to effectively address the problem of crime is if those in the community become entirely proactive with demonstrations in high crime areas, citizen patrols of 10 or more people, pressuring and shaming residents into turning in those who commit crimes, and more. Standing back, wringing our hands, and relying on the police, who don't hear nearly as much street gossip as residents, will do nothing to staunch the criminal rot. The citizens need to begin the process of taking their streets and neighborhoods back, forcing kids to go to school, and taking no lip from anyone who tries to intimidate them.
8
Here's the crux of the problem:
Mayor Emanuel was not surprised by the suggestion of racism, and that he wanted to work through those issues.
Emanuel: “I don’t really think you need a task force to know that we have racism in America, we have racism in Illinois or that there’s racism that exists in the city of Chicago and obviously could be in our department."
Oh my. The mayor was not surprised by what he called the suggestion of racism. No, Mr. Mayor, there was not a suggestion of racism. There was documentary evidence of widespread and systemic racism. He also observes that, sure, there's racism in Chicago and that it "obviously could be" in the Chicago PD. Could be? Huh? This was a scathing report.
The article also notes that a large percentage of the thousands of "investigative street stops" targeted African-Americans. I'm guessing these are the equivalent of the stop and frisk nonsense in NY. How's this for an idea? If there's no probable cause, don't stop people.
It'll be interesting to see how the mayor responds to the DoJ investigation. I'll put money on few wrist slaps and window dressing.
Mayor Emanuel was not surprised by the suggestion of racism, and that he wanted to work through those issues.
Emanuel: “I don’t really think you need a task force to know that we have racism in America, we have racism in Illinois or that there’s racism that exists in the city of Chicago and obviously could be in our department."
Oh my. The mayor was not surprised by what he called the suggestion of racism. No, Mr. Mayor, there was not a suggestion of racism. There was documentary evidence of widespread and systemic racism. He also observes that, sure, there's racism in Chicago and that it "obviously could be" in the Chicago PD. Could be? Huh? This was a scathing report.
The article also notes that a large percentage of the thousands of "investigative street stops" targeted African-Americans. I'm guessing these are the equivalent of the stop and frisk nonsense in NY. How's this for an idea? If there's no probable cause, don't stop people.
It'll be interesting to see how the mayor responds to the DoJ investigation. I'll put money on few wrist slaps and window dressing.
7
Rahm Emanuel, you are the mayor and therefore responsible for the findings in the report.
Please apologize to the citizens of Chicago and resign immediately.
Please apologize to the citizens of Chicago and resign immediately.
11
If each "racial/ethnic" group is about a third, what (and where) are the statistics regarding what percentage of crimes were perpetrated by each of the segments?
My bet is that the percentages will be remarkably different for each of them.
On the other hand, the sociologists and others already know the answer - and so have the cops.
My bet is that the percentages will be remarkably different for each of them.
On the other hand, the sociologists and others already know the answer - and so have the cops.
51
Yeah, these statistics show why your simplistic answer is a lie.
76% of the people who were detained and found to have done nothing wrong were black. That means that if a black man and a white man both commit a crime, the black man is much, much more likely to get caught. So even though African Americans might be convicted of more crimes, that doesn't mean they are actually committing more crimes than any other group.
Until police start enforcing laws equally there is no way to know if there is any difference between racial groups and crime.
76% of the people who were detained and found to have done nothing wrong were black. That means that if a black man and a white man both commit a crime, the black man is much, much more likely to get caught. So even though African Americans might be convicted of more crimes, that doesn't mean they are actually committing more crimes than any other group.
Until police start enforcing laws equally there is no way to know if there is any difference between racial groups and crime.
11
Perhaps Blacks are prosecuted at higher rates than other ethnic groups. But when 76% of the stops that resulted in no charges or arrests are of Blacks, it may be that the rates are higher because enforcement is stricter. Drug use rates are the same across racial lines in the US but Blacks are disporportionately arrested and convicted for drug violations. This is a particularly heavy burden on poor individuals who don't have the financial means to defend themselves in court. Add on top of that a well documented history of Chicago police coercing false confessions, planting evidence to get convictions, using 'snitches' to lie in order to get a conviction, and working with prosecutors to maximize charges on Black defendants in order to with pleas and implicate others, it is no wonder that Blacks don't trust the police. The Chicago police do not value the lives of Black people and they don't treat them fairly. I promise you that if the White community of Chicago was treated the same way as the Black community has for these many years, there would have been changes. They would not have stood for it.
14
As a research ecologist that works with wildlife let me address your logic.
Say you have a forest, and the forest has three different colors of squirrels, red, gray and brown. And say that the different squirrels generally (but not always) are found in diferent parts of the forest, say up in the trees for the gray squirrels, on the ground for the brown squirrels and maybe in the meadows for the red squirrels. You decide to see what percentage of squirrels are infected with ticks. So you set up traps on the ground (because it's easier that setting them up in trees and in meadows) so that 80% of the squirrels you catch are brown squirrels and the other 20 percent are gray and red squirrels. If 50% of all squirrels are infected with ticks regardless of the type of squirrel, out of 100 squirrels caught 40 brown squirrels will have ticks and only 5 red squirrels and 5 gray squirrels will have ticks. You might conclude that since 80% of the squirrels caught with ticks were brown squirrels that brown squirrels had more ticks and you were justified in focusing your trapping on them. This is what we call biased sampling in science. In policing its called racial profiling. Only in policing the cause (biased policing) leads to an unintended effect (increased lawlessness).
Say you have a forest, and the forest has three different colors of squirrels, red, gray and brown. And say that the different squirrels generally (but not always) are found in diferent parts of the forest, say up in the trees for the gray squirrels, on the ground for the brown squirrels and maybe in the meadows for the red squirrels. You decide to see what percentage of squirrels are infected with ticks. So you set up traps on the ground (because it's easier that setting them up in trees and in meadows) so that 80% of the squirrels you catch are brown squirrels and the other 20 percent are gray and red squirrels. If 50% of all squirrels are infected with ticks regardless of the type of squirrel, out of 100 squirrels caught 40 brown squirrels will have ticks and only 5 red squirrels and 5 gray squirrels will have ticks. You might conclude that since 80% of the squirrels caught with ticks were brown squirrels that brown squirrels had more ticks and you were justified in focusing your trapping on them. This is what we call biased sampling in science. In policing its called racial profiling. Only in policing the cause (biased policing) leads to an unintended effect (increased lawlessness).
7
People look at the population who commit the "majority of violent crimes" and justify this as the reason for increase in police action. What they fail to understand is that the VAST majority of these people live in neighborhoods whose funding is being cut and whose schools are being shut down in order to gentrify neighborhoods that's border affluent ones and build up those that are already so developed. These people are the product of a system that has perpetuated their struggle and oppressed them for decades. They live in a never ending cycle of poverty that is backed by city hall and mayors like Rahm Emanuel as well as a police force that would rather shoot someone then fill out the paperwork as opposed to giving them a chance to change. There's a reason the response time on the Northside for a CPD care is more than three times less than those on the south and west sides.
It's time for Rahm to step down, or forced out, and the CPD to be gutted and rebuilt.
It's time for Rahm to step down, or forced out, and the CPD to be gutted and rebuilt.
115
And your suggestion is?
2
God helps those who help themselves.
3
what is the racial component of the "rebuilt" force to be?
2
These things are happening across America in almost all cities both large and especially small ones. I would like to add to this conversation by offering a glimpse of the injustice and police misconduct currently happening to me here in Quitman GA. A small city near where the Kendrick Johnson incident took place.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz4abM8OcXU3YkJhVEZ2T01ncXc/view?usp=sh...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz4abM8OcXU3YkJhVEZ2T01ncXc/view?usp=sh...
1
The hidden: how Chicago police kept thousands isolated at Homan Square
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/13/homan-square-chicago-poli...
Why has the Times not reported this story?
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/13/homan-square-chicago-poli...
Why has the Times not reported this story?
31
No doubt there will be some who will resist the findings of this report but to be sure calling racism out for what it is the first step.
I am well aware that when others start to get equality it can feel like oppression to the privileged, witness the "all lives matter" response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
I am well aware that when others start to get equality it can feel like oppression to the privileged, witness the "all lives matter" response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
8
Will the task forces goal be eliminating embedded racism, or simply identify occurrences then report back to home base?
1
So, Chicago's one-party Democratic regime waged decade-long war on black people? Awkward....
98
Most police officers are and vote Republican. Awkward . . .
Any person of color who has interacted with police will not be surprised by this at all. I know soon the "not all cops" brigade will arrive. But the fact is there are too many racist cops, and with their power to take someone's life, one is too many.
59
The real problem is not 'racist cops'. The real problem is that racist cops, and police in general, are not held accountable. Even if there is only 'one bad apple', the fact is one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch when the good don't police their own. The real tragedy of the Laquan McDonald shooting wasn't the fact that the cop shot him. It was that so many police covered up for the crime. That they lied on police reports in order to back up Van Dykes perjurious account. That when supervisors reviewed the video they did all they could to cover it up (short of destroying the tape, which has happened in the past). Until the enablers are held to account, nothing will be done.
4
I don't mean to be obnoxious or insensitive, but as a born-and-raised southerner I'll be the first to point out that it doesn't just happen down here. In fact, in my travels and whereabouts, I've found racism to be as bad if not worse in Boston, NYC, Providence, all over PA, and yes, in Chicago as anywhere I've lived down South. It is a national epidemic and, sadly, it's also a national tradition.
Has the Chicago PD seen the light? Will there be meaningful reform? History says "maybe," but we won't really know statistically for at least 5-10 years.
Has the Chicago PD seen the light? Will there be meaningful reform? History says "maybe," but we won't really know statistically for at least 5-10 years.
154
Yes, I have lived many years in the south, and have never experienced as much racism there as I have seen in our current local community in California. Many years prior I lived in a different region of CA and there was not as much racism. Cannot believe it is so rampant in the year 2016.
1
It might be easier for police forces to create teams of law enforcement personnel to be integrated a little more into the communities that have more problems.
But essentially, our Nation needs to meet the needs of people who have incomes too small to be able to live above poverty levels.
I think we must all be involved in making sure our neighbors are safe and healthy.
But essentially, our Nation needs to meet the needs of people who have incomes too small to be able to live above poverty levels.
I think we must all be involved in making sure our neighbors are safe and healthy.
3
The Mayor should not be asking "what are we going to do to confront and make changes". As the city's chief executive he should be proposing an answer, especially since the outcome of this report was fully predictable.
84
this is and has been a policy since the birth of Chicago. A tough nut to crack. It's the top 1% and the corrupt one's who are dictating policy in that city. Who gets to be a cop? It's determined by the top dogs running the show in chicago as well as in most cities. Not the Politicians but the people who they are beholdend to - the top and corrupt 1%.
3
"As the city's chief executive he should be proposing an answer"
There is an appealing logic to what you write, but should the office of mayor be vacant until someone with "the answer" comes along?
There is an appealing logic to what you write, but should the office of mayor be vacant until someone with "the answer" comes along?
gree; it is easy to say that rcism exist, but we need to see action to change this.
1
Surprise, surprise, the nation's largest police departments are incorrigibly racist. Who would have thought that generation after generation of diverse Black communities are not full of habitual liars, fabricating stories of police brutality in an effort to curry special treatment from the government? That this article, and the task force it mentions were needed to convince "reasonable" people of the obvious in the year 2016 is almost laughably pathetic. This country has a long way to go to atone for what it has wrought on the Black community.
83
To say the Chicago Police Department is tainted by Racism is to only scratch the surface. Underlying the racism is criminality and brutality. When I was growing up in Chicago the police were selling stolen goods out of the station house (the Summerdale police scandal), but selling stolen goods is nothing compared to the organized torture that went on under Cmdr John Burge. The City of Chicago has paid out $50 Million a year for a decade without corrective action being taken. The unholy alliance between the CPD and City Hall has resisted change for generations.
208
Now instead of selling it out of the police station most places just have a police auction. I think you mean they also stole the property they were selling, don't you?
I believe that the first reasonable step is for Rahm Emanuel to resign. He's a guy who suppressed the unjustifiable shooting of a Black just so he could get reelected.
No matter what he says he will do in the future, I have no faith in him. What he did in the past should have consequences.
No matter what he says he will do in the future, I have no faith in him. What he did in the past should have consequences.
69
Rahm is a tireless advocate for Chicago's economic development. That's why I voted for him and why I continue to support him. He did not create this problem and his resignation wouldn't make anything better.
4
I'm puzzled. Even a quick scan over this report indicates that much of the criticism of the Chicago police is not just about bad policies and inappropriate behavior, but behavior that is without question outright criminal and in some cases should be viewed as warranting murder charges. I can't even begin to wonder why this is not being dealt with by the State Attorneys Office and why a whole boatload of criminal charges are not being filed.
286
Probably not unlike the situation at Rikers Island, the mayor is perhaps reluctant to challenge the unions running the show, who will scream and fight against large scale changes.
3
Because they're not killing white people, Actions tend to speak louder than words.
It is not being dealt with by the State Attorney's Office because there is an attitude in this country that black people are not human. Our founding fathers stated that all men are created equal, but that did not count their black slaves, who were considered property, rather than men. Those who fly that Confederate flag miss the days when they had black slaves and did not have to work hard. Do you know how many times I've heard "the niggar in the white house" or "the monkey in the white house" is not doing a good job because he is too diplomatic and other countries are not afraid of us anymore despite our awesome military. Perhaps it is time for another American Revolution and a new constitution that makes it clear that all men and women are created equal regardless of race, religion, or skin color. When Sanders says the people will "demand change" he is not talking about a peaceful revolution at all.
8
“I don’t really think you need a task force..."
What an ungracious response by Rahm Emanuel to the people who did the work of quantifying, qualifying, and making recommendations on an obviously persistent problem. And, what a tone deaf, non-response to the Black community of Chicago.
One would think that with over 100 recommendations for change, Emanuel wouldn't be rhetorically questioning how to confront the problem.
What an ungracious response by Rahm Emanuel to the people who did the work of quantifying, qualifying, and making recommendations on an obviously persistent problem. And, what a tone deaf, non-response to the Black community of Chicago.
One would think that with over 100 recommendations for change, Emanuel wouldn't be rhetorically questioning how to confront the problem.
121
Spot on! I was going to write the same thing. The man is daring to downplay and back pedal before the ink is dry on the report. The me-first, spin room bubble he lives in is on full display in those remarks.
3
Before the bit you quote, he said in the same conversation that he had not seen the report yet. He appointed the task force so he obviously thought it would be useful. Rahm is no saint, but your particulars are off base in this instance.
4
Carol, I believe you, but I have a hard time believing he's unaware of what's in the report.
And as usual you will have many comments here from white people coming up with all kinds of excuses why it is okay to abuse, torture and kill black people...despite that we are all alike. Racism is terrorism and white people have, and continue to, terrorized black people for hundreds of years.
145
Ardy, as a white guy, I couldn't agree with you more. Racism is wrong. Period.
6
I don't think any white person in their right mind would excuse what's gone on in Chicago. Many are as apathetic to the black community's plight as the black community is to problems seemingly exclusive to the white community.
Go ahead. Tell me how the white community doesn't have any problems.
Go ahead. Tell me how the white community doesn't have any problems.
1
Which race killed/wounded more blacks? Whites? Really?
I don't think it's excusable to "abuse, torture and kill" anybody, but please--a bit of honesty about just who's doing the damage.
I don't think it's excusable to "abuse, torture and kill" anybody, but please--a bit of honesty about just who's doing the damage.
5
Did the proportionality of those committing crimes mirror the proportional population breakout in Chicago? Not clear from the reporting here.
22
Isn't that the point of the report though? That the very act of determining who committed a crime is throughly imbued with racism?
Scary huh?
Scary huh?
6
No - the report addresses that very point on page 8. For reference, the report indicates that in looking at police shootings from 2008-2015, 74% were African-Americans, 14% were Hispanics, 8% were White, etc., which contrasts with the overall demographics of Chicago (roughly 32% African-American, 32% White, 29% Hispanic).
That comparison seems specious to me. For example, you could argue that a better comparison might be the racial breakdown of police shootings versus the racial breakdown of violent crime. The CPD murder report mentions that in 2011 (middle of the range the task force looked at), 71% of murders offenders were African-Americans compared to 24% Hispanic and 4% White (linked below). This rate almost exactly matches the statistics in the report, suggesting a causal link between people who commit violent crimes (e.g., murder) and people who are likely to be shot by the police.
However, the report makes a number of good points about accountability that are worth reading. For example, the task force discusses the difficulty the city has in imposing discipline due to collective bargaining agreements. I only question some of the conclusions drawn from the statistics, which seem cobbled together and poorly analyzed only to give a veneer of credibility to the foregone conclusions of the task force.
https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/News/Stati...
That comparison seems specious to me. For example, you could argue that a better comparison might be the racial breakdown of police shootings versus the racial breakdown of violent crime. The CPD murder report mentions that in 2011 (middle of the range the task force looked at), 71% of murders offenders were African-Americans compared to 24% Hispanic and 4% White (linked below). This rate almost exactly matches the statistics in the report, suggesting a causal link between people who commit violent crimes (e.g., murder) and people who are likely to be shot by the police.
However, the report makes a number of good points about accountability that are worth reading. For example, the task force discusses the difficulty the city has in imposing discipline due to collective bargaining agreements. I only question some of the conclusions drawn from the statistics, which seem cobbled together and poorly analyzed only to give a veneer of credibility to the foregone conclusions of the task force.
https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/News/Stati...
5
This is a surprise? What is a surprise is that this institutional racism has been condoned for so long
8
Chicago is only one of many around the country. NO ONE is shocked or surprised. Culture changes start at the top and evolve over time when policies are ENFORCED. Bad behavior has internal as well as societal consequences.
3
I think that there is a Chicago University called The School of the Terribly Terribly Obvious, and that Rahm should have attended instead of going to the School of the Very Very Oblivious.
20
Being from Canada you can be forgiven for not knowing that there is no such place as "Chicago University". There's a University of Chicago, a University of Illinois at Chicago, a Chicago State University, there's the seven City Colleges of Chicago, and several dozen others within the city limits. But no Chicago University.