Sneed has learned Mayor Daley is requesting a retinue of at least three — around the clock — Chicago Police bodyguards from his mayoral security detail to accompany him into the private sector!
Sneed also hears whispers Mayor Daley, who retires May 16, wants two vehicles at his disposal; one for himself — and one for his wife, Maggie.
The request for personal security by Mayor Daley, concerned about serious safety threats, resulted in “the Chicago Police Department contacting the Secret Service to determine whether such security was necessary,” a top source said.
The upshot: “It was determined Mayor Daley needed the security for a period of time,” the source added.
What has yet to be determined is how long that period of time would be.
A second Sneed source claims Mayor Daley initially asked for five bodyguards, but that may have included a number needed for constant surveillance.
A history note: Although Mayor Jane Byrne, who lost her re-election bid to Harold Washington, did not leave office accompanied by a bodyguard detail, Sneed is told Mayor Eugene Sawyer — who occupied the office for a short period of time — was given a bodyguard. (Mayor Washington died in office.)
The buckshot: In a time of economic downturn, such surveillance is gonna cost the city big bucks, and may cause a brouhaha.
This jagoff is predicted to be making $50,000 per speech shortly. It sure sounds like he has the potential to be making more than enough money to hire his own private security. Protecting Shortshanks from imaginary threats seems like a luxury the city can't afford to shoulder.