Sneed Stealing Blog Comments

Again, and without fully realizing what they mean:

• Cop shop . . .

  The tsunami of new flash mob violence on the lakefront is a threat to tourism, business, Chicago’s economy — and the infancy of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s promising new administration.

"Promising?" Way to suck up there Sneed - good to see you haven't lost a step with the new administration.

But duh! It's been going on for a few years now, not that Sneed would notice seeing as she carried water for Daley and Burke all those years. Remember, she stays at Burke's castle in Ireland when she visits.

• "There was trouble on the lakefront before — but nothing like this," a top cop source said. "It’s like the bad economy has forced the gangs to enter into rich man’s land. If the city loses the lakefront to the flash mobs, there goes the economy."

Again, duh. And again, not reporting the crime doesn't mean it isn't occurring. Remember, they were shooting at the Taste years ago. And a quick youtube.com search shows the helicopter being used in the midst of a couple of huge gang fights by Buckingham Fountain years ago. But since it's happening in "rich man's land," it's finally getting covered.

• Sneedless to say, it’s one helluva way for new Police Supt. Garry McCarthy to cut his prodigious incisors — especially because Chicago is reportedly short police manpower.

"reportedly"? It's your own damn paper that's citing the 2,000-plus number Sneed. Don't you ever talk to Frank and Fran?

• So here’s a Sneed tip . . .

  Why not hire retired police officers for part-time work and let them work a few days a week shoring up the areas that need protection?

  Retired cops — nearly 2,000 in the past few years — are always looking for second jobs and part-time work.

  They’ve got their uniforms, their weapons, their equipment. Many of these guys have 30 to 40 years of police experience.

"Always looking for...part time work"? Some maybe, not all. And many have second jobs that have nothing to do with chasing bad guys or police work. Many wouldn't come back here if you paid them blood money. Most probably sold their uniforms the first chance they got, probably at the FOP resale event that we hold twice a year. They couldn't wait to get rid of the damn things. And their 30 to 40 years experience is telling them to stay as far away from this superintendent, mayor and city as they can.

• The city wouldn’t have to pay into a pension plan because they are already collecting their pensions — and have free medical care until they are 65.

Yet another reason to stay away. They got all their repairs done before they left. Why jeopardize the new hip, knee or shoulder?

• The retired cops are still paying union dues.

Those are "fraternal" dues Sneed. They get to come to meetings, go to the golf outing, fish, get a newsletter, etc. They even get to vote. But the union can't negotiate employment for them. They can't provide them legal representation. They can't determine seniority issues, pay scales, work rules or hours. It's a near impossibility.

• They wouldn’t be replacing cops or taking jobs away, just filling in the blanks until new cops could be hired.

Actually, they would be taking jobs away. Special employment and other such opportunities that are already provided for in the Contract. You can't just hire an entire class of workers and plug them into jobs already held by active members. There are laws against it. Here's a question - how are you going to indemnify these guys if they end up catching, fighting and shooting one of these fine honor roll students? That debate would last about Rahm's entire term of office.

• Sound like something worth thinking about? Just asking.

Well, why not just shut up then? It is barely worth addressing, but we needed a filler piece tonight.