As you should know by now, the Ekl Williams report on the Park Ridge Police Department contained a rather lengthy dedication to the subject of elected officials who meddle in police enforcement matters; of course, without naming those elected officials.
Two examples of the pols interfering in enforcement issues were discussed: the zero tolerance law for underage drinking, and crossing the railroad crossing while the gates were down.
As you may recall, Aldermen James Allspaghetti (4th ward) and Don Bachtard (3rd ward) were the elected officials complaining of aggressive zero tolerance enforcement. We do not have confirmation of who complained about gate crossings.
As you may also recall, it has been Ald. Bachtard who has lead the charge to bring red light cameras to Park Ridge.
And as you may recall, we oppose red light cameras; observing that cameras cannot prevent accidents -- they can only record them. We will continue to maintain that it is the police who should be asked and then supported in the enforcement of the law.
As a glaring example of the above, we offer the below -- please dedicate a full 27 seconds to watching the video.
Just so we're all clear about the difference between what cameras can do and what officers can do.
August 27, 2008
Of Cops, Cameras, And Enforcement.
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39 comments:
I don't take seriously anything Allegretti says since he doesn't even know the "right turn on red" law in Illinois.
As for crossing with the gates down, haven't MANY PR residents reported seeing the mayor himself doing this?
The fish stinks at the head.
All that video illustrates is a dumb-ass commuter who did not remember the first lessons you teach kids - look both way before crossing the street/tracks; and the second - dont cross when gates are down.
How about the recent Tribune articles touting the reduction of accidents at the intersections in Chicago where the cameras are installed? Are they lies, damn lies and statistics?
There will always be dumb-asses like the one in the video who took himself out of the gene-pool. People will drive too fast, talk on cell phones, eat, pick their noses, yell at the kids, adjust the radio, and get into accidents while driving.
People who regularly drive certain routes where cameras are installed will learn and adapt, and be ready to stop on a yellow instead of "squeezing the lemon". Hopefully the drivers who learn and evolve will be driving ahead of the ones who are only paying enough attention to driving to avoid the car directly in front of them, so that neither is involved in a T-boner.
If they don't, the distracted drivers may very well be joining the guy in the video. And that would most likely happen eventually, if they continue to drive too fast, talk on cell phones, eat, pick their noses, yell at the kids, and adjust the radio while driving.
Further, if the city can make some money along the way, then there is some benefit to the rest of the drivers who live in the city who do pay attention and drive safely.
Bring on the cameras.
I do recall seeing Howard grinning as he ran across to the center tracks from the train station, bells ringing, lights flashing.
Never saw the video from the camera mounted on the train station. Maybe that was swept under the rug? Executive privilege?
Reggie, we are very grateful that you corrected our glaring omission -- that only people who live in Park Ridge and regularly drive in Park Ridge will drive in Park Ridge and "learn and evolve", notwithstanding the often quoted intention of Uptown Redevelopment to bring in shoppers from outside of Park Ridge.
I agree Reggie. Of course cameras are not going to stop all accidents. At the intersection near my house last year a lady in a van with a cell phone went through a stop sign never hitting the break at all and t-boned a car. A camera would have done nothing in that case. But all the people who do the "agressive rolling stop" would quickly learn not to do it.
I believe cameras can change behavior to a degree, and changing behavior can reduce accidents.
All of this discussion makes me have to ask about the accidents in Park Ridge. How many involve residents and how many don't?
Anon@11:37 --
It may be better to ask how many Park Ridge residents have been ticketed in accidents?
PRU,
Sorry to be dense, but why is that batter to ask?
Anon@11:40 --
It may be "batter", or even better, to ask that question because:
1. Accidents may involve PR residents who aren't at fault.
2. Accidents involving non-PR residents could blow a bit of a hole in the idea that drivers involved in accidents will "learn and evolve" in their driving behavior due to the installation of cameras.
Reggie and all,
I think you missed the point about how cameras can't do anything but tape accidents and generate money, and that we have elected officials who do not want to have our police officers aggressively enforce certain laws like the no crossing when gates are down at railroads.
Wouldn't our police officers being supported in their work to enforce the laws also lead to changes in behavior that you are wanting the cameras to perform?
PRU---
and then you have to count the accidents that PR residents cause who get tickets but they are somehow "reversed" because they are friends of Frimark!
"We" don't have to do anything. ;-)
More seriously, what you are talking about ms. manchester is the falsification of police reports. That's a very serious charge.
It is our belief that while Mayor Howard may have a toady or two within the department, the majority of our officers do their jobs -- straight up and without cowtowing to political cronies.
PRU,
I did not intend to limit those who can be trained to PR residents, but rather wish to note that anyone who regular traverses our fair city, and who would experience an intersection monitored by a camera, would, over time, learn to respect the posiblity of enforcement and modify their behavior. By doing so, others may also modify their driving by having the good fortune of being stuck behind an "educated" driver.
Enforcement of the no crossing the tracks when the light are flashing rule was harsh. BUt it was also effective. Even when passengers get off the train late in the evening, with no threat of enforcement in sight, people have learned not to cross when the hear a bell and see the lights. Is waiting 10 - 15 seconds worth the possiblity of a $250 ticket. Most people do not think so.
But I recently recall an older gentleman helping an elderly passenger with luggage get on an outbound train on the center tracks. When the passenger was aboard, the gentleman cross back to the station, disregarding the lights and bells. The police officer standing by the station called the man over and explained what he had done wrong.
The man was not a regular communter and had not been "trained" - no pun intended - to obey the lights and bells. The officer provided that training. I do not believe he was ticketed, but if I was going to make a wager, I would bet he would not do it again.
People adapt and learn.
Install the cameras and start the training.
Reggie --
If adapting and learning and training are the driving force -- pun intended -- then why not install cameras at every busy intersection? Hell, install them at every intersection.
We believe that you know the real reason for the installation of these cameras -- revenue. The safety cites are only justifications.
We'd also like to suggest that you reread the excell traffic study.
Anony at 12:34p wrote:
Wouldn't our police officers being supported in their work to enforce the laws also lead to changes in behavior that you are wanting the cameras to perform?
Absolutely. But as you note by using "also", both can lead to changes which make everyone safer at the end of the day. Everyone except those who choose to disregard the rules and do stupid things like run around downed railroad gates.
It is too bad that lawyers who represent the people who choose to violate simple rules like "don't cross the tracks" and "stop at red light" have a direct conduit to Howie. AND that Howie will turn around and pressure the police to not enforce. If I was the police, I would ask HOward to put it in writing as a CYA. Howard never puts things in writing, so he cant be pinned down. He can't use a computer either - this blog is printed for him by city staff on the city's dime.
I like the revenue component.
Its a tax on stupid people.
Like the cigarettes and tobacco.
The studies says tobacco causes cancer, yet people choose to use it. ;)
Anyone see the article in the tribune about the homeless people arrest for beating up two other homeless people?
Speaking of cowtowing to political cronies I have a question about the Ekl report.... am I correct in thinking that alot of the "bad blood" within the department has to do with that Jogman guy? What are they going to do about him? Is someone going to reign him in?
Anon@2:48 --
No need. Hoopty's seen the error of his ways, turned over a new leaf, and is a whole new man.
Off topic -- we thought you would also get a kick out of an article on a spotted leopard that now has stripes, but we can't find one.
Reggie --
So does eating red meat, especially grilled over an open flame. We look forward to how well a future suggestion from you to "train" people to become vegetarians or vegans goes over.
Foi gras, anyone?
At least you did not tell me to butt out!
Nicotine is an addictive drug, according to some reports; a grilled burger is not.
Reggie --
People's safety is the marketing ploy for things like red light cameras. Running lights, stop signs, and speeding aren't addictive either, so why are you choosing to "train" people in one area but not the other?
Ever had a Kobe beef burger? Very addicting.
Anon@2:46PM
Is the article about the arrest of homeless people in Wednesday'sTrib? I can't find it.
URL:
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7300317&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
copy and paste it into your browser field.
Who cares if "safety" is a ploy.
What's so bad about red light cameras?
They might keep people from blowing a red light which in turn might make the streets safer.
Even if they don't do that, they'll generate revenue for the city.
I don't see the down side here.
anon at 2:46 That's not possible homeless people are nice they wouldn't beat anyone up. They wouldn't hurt our children. I bet they love children. And everyone on Courtland with the we welcome pads sign, I'm glad you'll be welcoming them at Roosevelt school gym in the spring.
It must be hard to keep your white tshirts clean.
Re: Latest Homeless story,
I don't smoke but I guess I'll have to start carrying a pack of cigs on me at least one day a week. Maybe I should place a pack in each of my children's school bags in order to prevent violence?
Whatever you do....DO NOT suggest that they "get a job"
So Hoopty has seen the light, turned over a new leaf, seen the error of his ways. So that's it. He ruins the career of a good cop and that's it. Did he at least marry the girl?
And Hoopty lives happily ever after.
OK...I need some clarification on the red light cameras...
My understanding is:
- camera takes the picture of an alleged violation
-a private company processes these and sends them to local police
-local police then review and weed out some marginal violations
-they send the rest out to the violators (vehicle registered address)
Is that the process or have I been misinformed?
I think we should take up a collection for a cigarette vending machine in the school gym. That way we don't have to send cigarettes in the kids backpacks.
Not that the homeless would be violent or anything. We can depend on them.
Just curious, would any of the pads supporters w/children at Washingon, Roosevelt or Franklin like a homeless shelter in their gym? I know Washington school children are required to keep a separate pair of shoes at school so they don't get the gym floor dirty.
In support of Pads, the Franklin school gym could be very good. There's a door to the outside and the doors on the inside to the school could be locked. There's a room divider that could seperate men from women and children. Theres pull down tables for eating and a kitchen too.
Just think the next time you pull up to an intersection and you count how many drivers are on the phone!
Talk about safety!!!
Driving is a full time job!!
At times - you need to get their attention with hand signals to move on!
Too busy to drive.....then stop and park it.
Thank you.
MSW will not accept your student(s)
from SP.
Why.........we believe that its
father jerry and his band of merry
men!!!!!!
After loosing good folks to SP, he refuses to now accept you back.
So much for that dash board jesus
that they sell at walgreens!!
I think it says..made in china..anyway!
HP
Well I guess the Ekl white wash report seems to have done what they do best in sweep the dirt under the carpet, which as we all know, eventually resurfaces in time.
I guess the clout runs this PD and not the rules or regulations, we’ll leave the rules for those that don’t suck-up, crap like this will for always keep moral down and lays the understanding that right and wrong have a more grey then anything , ( in this town), that is covered by who you are and who you have knelt down before.
I guess you can just railroad those who try and point out that it is not right and just tell the assholes to lay low for a while till this “report” blows over… nice job officials.
Check out what happened to the Grand Rapids Mi cops for different but similar violations, suspensions/demotions and termination. If you would ever talk to the upper brass their they would have told you that it has rules and regulations and that it has to have the publics support and TRUST to be effective!
What about the good cop who they attempted to destroy?, I say attempted because a good cop does not get destroyed, they just go on somewhere else doing what they always do, their job in an excellent way. She was the first good cop to be forced out and won’t be the last, but the folks in PR are sure getting BS’d.
Hey Allegretti, how many time did you talk to Terry Ekl during this “investigation”??? Classic Chicago style I must say…
Pass the scooter pies please
Sorry to see a fellow human being killed - but that is just what it may take to help wake up those who cross in front of trains. Thanks for the film/shot.
Be safe!
As they once compared the two...
Alexander Hamilton was a great statesmen ( Honest, trustworthy
and a man of integrity).
But then you have politicians.
Never can they be mixed.
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