Page 13 - June2021

Recording Secretary’s Report
A foot-chase policy? Really?
This is a hard topic for me to write about. I care deeply about the families and people who just want to live a normal and safe life in their neighborhood. Working on a tactical team in the 6th District for nearly five years, I saw and pursued plenty of crimi- nals who ran away from me because they broke the law. In most instances, an offender would bolt at the approach of any officer if they had committed a crime. An officer has intricate knowledge of the ac- tivity in their area of patrol. They look for things that are reasonably suspicious and out of the ordinary.
Criminals do not like police because we stop them for a legal and lawful purpose. They commit crimes and do not want to be caught for their unlawful actions. A police officer’s job is to uphold the Constitution (U.S. and Illinois), enforce the written laws and protect the people in the community.
So let’s call this what it is: There is no way the public will be safer by telling officers they will not be disciplined if they choose to not pursue an offender; on the other hand, they can be dis- ciplined for pursuing an offender who committed a crime. To me, that makes absolutely no sense. I hope I am not alone in my thought and logic.
The fancy lawyer who wrote this policy has probably never been involved in a chase, let alone watched how quickly it un- folds. A foot chase usually lasts a block or less, with an average time frame of 20 to 30 seconds. I guess the mass of no evidence, facts or statistics thought this would be another grand idea.
As my favorite author and economist, Thomas Sowell, writes and says, “It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more danger- ous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.”
Writing a terrible policy on foot pursuits will only make the districts that already have extremely high crime even more dan- gerous. The communities that are now considered safer will eventually have a significant uptick in crime. Most people from Chicago who work and pay taxes understand that this policy will not work. It will completely damage a generation of offi- cers whose duty, training and inclination are to apprehend an offender who is attempting, committing or has committed a crime.
From a union rep standpoint, why would you chase when you can and will face discipline? Calling for the helicopter is one of the options they put in the order during a foot pursuit. The heli- copter is usually minutes away when your foot pursuit is almost done with the snap of your fingers. As a hardworking citizen just told me, “You guys can’t do nothing.” Most would say he is right.
Please do what you have to do to stay safe, back each other up, answer your calls and follow lawful direct and indirect or- ders. The social activists and the policymakers are telling you, on the street, do not pursue an offender or you’ll be in trouble. Think about it: You’ll face a SPAR, suspension time or possible termination for making life safer for families. The choice is ulti- mately up to the cop on the street.
Memorial Day: a day to always remember
On this day we honor and mourn our fallen brothers and sis- ters who paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting in wars that span
across many generations. I am so proud to be a military veteran. But it is also with great sadness that I reflect on those who did not make it out of the war. They have made our freedom and prosperity here in the States a reality.
Those brave men and women who died fighting for the per- son on the right and left of them will never be forgotten. Like many veterans, remembering our fallen is the honor of a life- time. To remember and show respect for the courage they per- formed is the right and virtuous thing to do. On a personal note, their memory is etched in my mind forever. I think often of how they lived, the families they left behind and the lives they did not get to live.
Some of my friends never got the chance to have a family and do the fun things we take for granted. I am eternally grateful that I got the chance to know my brothers before they were killed in Iraq. I am sure most veterans enjoyed the close friendships and bonds with their fellow squad and platoon members.
It is a harsh reality that most combat veterans live with: Some of their friends did not make it back home. On this day and on many days, please remember those service members who never made it back from war. Reflect on that for a few minutes. It will hit home.
ROB NOCEDA
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