How's Our Policing?

(Long post - strap in and hold on...)

Dear J-Fed

We know you read this. Or have people who read this and tell you about it. No need to be ashamed about it. All the gold stars do it. All of your "policy group" does it. It's a fact.

It's also a fact that we don't like you much. You've failed on so many levels to connect or earn the respect of the men and women of the Chicago Police Department that it isn't even funny. The damage you've caused will take years, maybe decades to undo. Granted, the previous superintendents undermined the foundation before you even got here, but you pushed it over the edge like a petulant two-year-old pushes over a pile of blocks.

You've ignored much of our advice and the advice of others, some of whom held out genuine hope that you might be an instrument of change. We never held that hope - we know from where you were spawned.

But this is about the stupidest idea we've ever seen, and we've seen some stupid ones. This even tops Department Notice 09-35 "How's My Driving." Greg Bella sums it up in the most recent FOP Newsletter:

• Here is the newest program to be advanced, the “Customer Satisfaction Survey Pilot” Program, which will be conducted by a third party. This program will be piloted in the following Districts: 2, 6, 10, 12, 19 and 23. Upon completion of a job the officer will give the person a card that reads:
  
  “You have just had contact with a Chicago Police Officer(s). We encourage you to report your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with how you were treated by calling, 1-888-648-3988 or by going to the following web address: http://survey.crj.uic.edu/Web
  
  Police services can be improved if residents report what they like and dislike about their experiences with the police. Thank you for taking a few minutes to provide honest feedback. This is an independent and confidential evaluation of police services conducted by university researchers. Your identity will not be known to the Chicago Police Department.”
  
  Letters are going to be sent out to residents explaining the program and how it works. Jody proposes that, “if you report a crime, have a traffic accident, or are stopped by the Chicago Police in this District, our officers are instructed to give you a business card that explains how to complete a short customer satisfaction survey. You have a choice of calling a 1-800 number or going to a website. Officers are very busy, so if they forget to give you the card, please ask for it.”
  
  The only good news with this program is that you will not have to provide a card in the case of murder, criminal sexual assaults, domestic violence or any incident involving serious injury or death.

Bella attempts to take a jab at the entire program, but of course, he has to maintain a certain level of decorum. He is the Vice President of the FOP after all.

We however have no such compunction:

• Who the fuck are you listening to? The so-called "policy group?" After 20 months, have you no fucking idea what kind of job this is? What we deal with? You are listening to 3, 4, 5 year idiots who never served a day in a busy district, never fought in a dark alley, never ever ran toward the sound of gunfire.
  
  Of course, you've never done any of that either, so we really aren't surprised. You've been a pencil pusher and a house mouse your entire career. You've even done the dirty work behind the scenes trying to get Agent Robert Wright fired because he didn't toe the company line.
  
  You had no loyalty to the members of the organization that was tasked to protect the American people from terror on our home soil. You were a company man, through and through. You still are. You have no loyalty to the men and women of the Chicago Police Department. You have no concept of what it is to wear our uniform. You've proven that time and time again. We won't even disgrace the word "mercenary" attempting to describe what you do. Everyone knows what we call someone who accepts money for services rendered, and it isn't "politician," although it's close.
  
  Sixteen more months of your horseshit, then hopefully, someone deserving steps into the breach and begins repairing the damage. We aren't holding our breath, but we'll be damn glad to see the back of you and the assholes you seem to be taking advice from.