Housing Police Departure
Another Victim
around 41st or Division and Larrabee and see what your chances are of
survival. Today it is a much safer trip, due mostly to the efforts of
the Chicago Housing Authority Police department. These Chicago Police
Academy trained officers fight the core of the city's gang problems.
Often as little as 8 officers must face off against crowds of 50 and
larger. The Pace Shooting in Cabrini is a classic example, and don't
take what you hear in the press as the truth. If you have any wits
about you, you know how valid the statements made in the press are.
Now the CHA powers that be want to thank members of this police
department for laying their lives on the line for a large number of
people who don't even care for them, by giving them pink slips. I
can't think of any other profession that will ask someone to risk
their lives day in and day out in the ghetto of urban Chicago, then
turn around and kick them to the curb with so much as a swipe of a
pen. Back in 89, 90...even as long ago as 97, rapid gunfire was (and
in Taylor, as the death of a Chicago Police officer will attest to) is
common place. As the CHA buildings come down, residents are not being
moved OUT generally, but moved to other buildings within CHA. Now
rival gangs have to occupy the same area and the fight for "turf" is
rising daily. Yet the spoon fed press will have you think that crime
is going down. Spend a week, hell.....spend an 8 hour shift working
ANY project and see for yourself, the amount of drug sales and gang
activity that goes on. Hell, ask the family of that Chicago Officer if
crime is not as bad as ever in the developments.
I know no one really cares for these gang bangers and most people
living in the CHA, but for some reason, politics and the press eat
this stuff up. And something as major as a reduction in safety for
thousands of people you think would be newsworthy, yet only Channel 7
news had the good sense to air any information on this. (Or was it the
fact that the higher ups put the Kayboch on the other stations)
Even on the day the layoffs were handed out, 9 CHAPD officers spent 5
hours that morning chasing and arresting 6 gangmembers. (I know, I was
one of them)
CHA Chief of Police Leroy Oshield, you will remember him from the 15th
district of the Chicago Police department, where all those officers,
HIS HAND PICKED officers, were sent away for stealing, extortion ect
ect. Now he is over at CHA, taking the ax to hardworking officers,
with no more care than throwing away a used napkin. This 2 faced crook
will not so much as have a 10 minute meeting with the rank and file
officers to explain the CHA's actions. He knows he has a spot, his
dinner is not threatened, his children are safe...whoops...sorry...his
kid is in jail....never mind.
This little note only serves as a reminder. Next time you drive
through the projects, get ready for a taste of the old days, because
if the CHA police are done away with, you're going to find out first
hand.