The funny thing is though, all the evidence points to exactly the opposite. For example, take this study:
- An analysis of state data on traffic tickets found that the number of traffic stops dropped by 6 percent and the number of ticketed motorists dropped by 11 percent.
Pinched by the recession, police departments ranging from small suburbs to Chicago have been pulling over fewer motorists, while also giving more breaks to those they do stop, a Tribune analysis found.
Police officials offer a host of theories to explain the trends, with the most popular being loss of manpower to make the stops.
But there aren't any shortages, are there?
- ....Chicago police fueled much of the drop.
The region's largest agency stopped 38,000 fewer motorists and ticketed 46,000 fewer — drops of 19 percent and more than 30 percent respectively. The numbers reopened a long-running debate about manpower shortages in Chicago. - Superintendent Garry McCarthy has said the department doesn't have a manpower shortage and the reassignment of officers will help curtail crime.
The "debate" is merely spin. If we're chasing the radio from start until finish, we aren't doing traffic and we aren't being proactive. But even in the face of this evidence, McJersey continues to parrot whatever Rahm is telling him to say to the media. No crisis! No shortage! No problems.