By: Matt Rosenberg
Chicago’s shockingly low arrest rates for most crimes continue to give lawbreakers a green light to carry on. Fresh, end-of-year City of Chicago data for 2022 reveal that arrests were made for only 5 percent of offenses in Chicago’s major crime categories. That compares to 10 percent in 2019. The information comes from the city’s crime data portal covering murders, sexual assaults, aggravated battery, robberies, burglaries, thefts, and motor vehicle thefts.
Expect arrest rates to stay at rock-bottom levels and the green light for crime to stay lit until crucial improvements occur in Chicago’s policing management.
Arrest rates varied by the type of “major crime,” based on the seven categories that cities have for decades reported to the FBI. Chicago’s homicide arrest rate was 28 percent in 2022, lower than the reported 33 percent in 2021, 41 percent in 2020, and 36 percent in 2019.
For the other key crimes:
- The criminal sexual assault arrest rate was just 3 percent, down from 8 percent in 2019.
- The robbery arrest rate: 5 percent in 2022 versus 9 percent in 2019.
- The aggravated battery arrest rate: 16 percent compared to 25 percent in 2019.
- The burglary arrest rate: 4 percent this year against 6 percent in 2019.
- Theft arrest rate: 4 percent versus 10 percent in 2019.
- Motor vehicle theft: 3 percent compared to 6 percent in 2019.
Police classify carjacking as a type of robbery. Chicago’s carjacking arrests rates in 2022 were 7 percent compared to 10 percent in 2019.
Don’t lay blame on police: here’s why
Chicago progressive activists and the media assert that until police can win the trust of the public – in part by complying with more components of a federal consent decree – that fewer citizens will report crime and cooperate with police. In this view, less citizen cooperation fuels lower arrest rates. The idea is that police should wear the jacket for ongoing crime because they’ve failed to earn enough public trust.
But according to the city’s data portal, total reported offenses in the broad “major crime” categories in Chicago have increased by 30 percent since 2019. (See “NOTE” below for explanation of differing totals between the database and Chicago’s annual “major crimes” summaries). Meanwhile, the trust rating of city residents for police has stayed relatively consistent.
Perhaps more crimes would be reported – and thus perhaps arrest rates would rise – if some citizens liked the police better. But then again, a major deterrent to reporting crime is not police but criminals. Witnesses have been killed in Chicago and elsewhere for cooperating with police and the unspoken threat of intimidation, harm, or even death remain top-of-mind when citizens see a crime and consider reporting it. That’s part of why nationally more than half of non-murder violent offenses go unreported, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
To fix Chicago’s low arrest rates will take savvy leadership of city and police
The real reasons explaining Chicago’s stunningly low arrest rates are that:
- Police are now effectively barred from chasing criminals on foot.
- Vehicle pursuits – though they require split second decision-making by police – are now subject to an 11-page guidance policy. They may be called off by supervisors even if the target is a carful of murder suspects.
- Revoked days off and mandatory 12-hour shifts left many Chicago Police officers badly burnt-out.
- Harsh anti-police rhetoric from one local political party and from city hall staffers plus violent resistance from crime suspects have contributed to plummeting morale, ongoing retirements and resignations, and a growing officer suicide problem.
- Misallocation of many officers to non-patrol duties left Chicago Police unable to respond in a timely manner to more than 400,000 high priority 911 calls in 2021. As of autumn 2022 that problem continued, with nearly half of officers assigned to special units rather than regular district patrol beats.
Chicago’s streets will never be safe as long arrest rates remain as anemic as they were in the last four years. Political leaders need to take a step back and ask themselves what has happened and how can they empower police to ensure that more criminals are charged for their crimes.
*******
NOTE: Total incidents reported annually to the city’s crime data portal are greater than what’s reflected in year-end “major crimes” reports issued by Chicago Police that are used as a basis for statistics conveyed to the FBI. The long story short is that the city’s data portal is more inclusive. One area where this difference is especially evident is thefts. The database includes many more thefts for 2022 than does the major crimes report and admittedly some of the categories are more minor than major. However the breakdown on arrest rates for different types of theft is revealing.
The highest arrest rate within thefts in 2022 was the nearly 9,000 retail thefts – at 16 percent. Meaning more than four of five retail thieves in Chicago escape any semblance of justice. The nearly 20,000 thefts “over $500” resulted in arrests just 1 percent of the time and the nearly 19,000 thefts “$500 and under” led to arrests in just 1.6 percent of cases. For the almost 5,000 “thefts from a building” the arrest rate was 0.5 percent. Be advised: you may want to have those Amazon packages delivered to a lockbox rather than your front stoop or your building’s lobby.
Appendix
Read more from Wirepoints:
- City Club of Chicago is now yet another doormat for the city’s failed establishment
- Five reasons why the latest spin on Chicago’s murder problem is dead wrong
- 2,200 vehicle thefts in 22 days. Chicago crime skyrockets in 2023.
- Will he ever quit? Gov. Pritkzer issued Covid Disaster Declaration No. 38
- Amendment 1 makes vast majority of Illinoisans subservient to government workers: 7 percent lords over 93 percent
The bill passed despite their votes in response to certain incidents where local prosecutors are thought to have been too lenient with non-citizens assaulting cops.
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board cited Wirepoints’ analysis of Chicago student proficiency data in their latest piece condemning the Chicago Teachers Union’s outrageous contract demands…all while a vast majority of Chicago’s children graduate unable to read at grade level.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about the details of Gov. Pritzker’s proposed $52 billion budget, why the state is struggling now that federal covid dollars have run out, the controversy surrounding Tier 2 government pensions, why Illinois’ expensive education system fails to teach children to read, the outrageous demands of the Chicago Teachers Union, and more.
Ted joined Jeff Daly to discuss how politicians can never spend enough on education despite there being no accountability for that spending, the growth of education staffing across Illinois, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1 billion demand for Chicago schools, why Gov. Pritzker is providing $830 million in taxpayer subsidies to struggling EV carmaker Rivian, and more.
Why would arrests matter if none of those arrested will be prosecuted? And if found guilty, just be given a slap on the wrist?
We need the “Broken Windows” approach that turned New York City into the safest big city in the world. (For awhile) That will mean forcefully and publicly debunking a sacred cow theory adored by democrats and the entire CRT DEI mob: Disparate Impact. As Heather MacDonald correctly asserts, police go where the crime is. And if they’re going to reduce crime by arresting and prosecuting the criminals who are wreaking havoc on Chicago, they’re going to be arresting a lot of black people because they are the ones committing the crimes. Not white kids from Naperville or Wheaton or Winnetka.… Read more »
The crime is in City Hall and Springfield. Rampant inflation is a precursor. Higher engergy costs are a precursor. What’s up with Madigan? Burke? Has Madigan even shown up in court yet?
Well stated but for liberals the truth is an illusion
It is a symptom of their mental disorder
What’s with this new trend to blame the lowest members of society for problems that are obviously originating at the top? For example, I’m the problem because of my energy consumption. Don’t bother looking at the distribution system, supply side economics, or the executives behind everything.
Are you saying my energy consumption is why a black kid steals a car at gunpoint? My use of AC does that? Or it’s my fault because democrats vote to raise the minimum wage so that there are far less entry level jobs? And since that same kid isn’t working he’s spending that time learning to be a criminal? Is that the thrust of your argument? Blame the top all you want. I’m with you. But who keeps voting for the same people, same party, same policies that run from top down? Democrats.
If I was a cop, I tried 3 times but failed the exams, there would be no crime. I would have arrested every criminal out there 3 or four times not like the cops now who drink coffee and eat donuts while criminals run free. I would pass a law that no cops could retire with a $5million dollar a year year pension in Punta Gorda, Florida. I would be the best cop ever, I would be called super cop and they would erect a statue of me in Grant Park.
Chicago’s declining arrest rate for 2022 is deeply troubling, especially considering how these are sizably worse than the low arrest rates in 2019. It is unbelievable that police in the city are restricted from laying chase to criminals on foot or in some cases even prohibited from driving after criminals by car. Misguided city policies that hamstring an officer’s ability to perform his job effectively only serves to emolden violent criminal behavior and further diminish the already low rates of arrests in a city reeling from spikes in crime.
It goes beyond just the city restricting police from chasing after criminals by car. Cook County residents don’t want Police chasing criminals and, over and over again, awarded verdicts in the tens of millions of dollars to the innocent people killed as a result of that chase. Just a few months ago there was a $15,000,000 settlement, and the village of Dolton got whacked in August with a $33,500,000 verdict. The PASSENGERS IN THE CAR running from police was going 80 MPH and crashed into a garbage container in a dead end alley. And the jury awarded the family of… Read more »
If you’re a cop and have one ounce of common sense there is no reason to be pro active and actually be cop. They run, wave bye. You cannot get in trouble doing that. Take report, go home.
The arrest rates shown here are only for reported crimes. There is a massive amount of unreported crime. The police have discouraged crime reporting for years, at the urging of their superiors (“crime is down”). I’ve know victims of violent crime who called 911 only to be told “If you’re not in danger anymore, we won’t send police to you. Go home.” No report taken. Like nothing happened.
Exactly right. That’s alluded to in the story via the link to this: https://wirepoints.org/no-police-available-for-shootings-robberies-assaults-and-more-ongoing-911-response-failures-heighten-risk-for-chicagoans-wirepoints/ No police response means no report taken, means not a *reported* crime. BJS estimates in its 2021 national victimization survey that only 46 percent of non-murder violent victimizations are reported as crimes. Several reasons exist for that.
Over 400,000 times in 2021. That’s a lot of unreported crime.
Excellent article Matt. These statistics are mind-blowing and I can’t believe that the Chicago crime statistics are this bad. Yet, Superintendent Brown and Mayor Lightfoot claim otherwise that crime is on the decline. Yet, the arrest statistics say otherwise.
No matter where we live, no matter our race, creed or color, everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood, whether we are walking the dog, going to school, pumping gas or shopping for groceries.
I’m scared for the city I grew up in; the city I will love forever.
Thanks to Matt Rosenberg for another insightful story.
For one to ‘know something’ these days implies consent to the signature on one’s own death warrant. That presumption however rests not with the witness but rather with one or more others who might see the same thing, only differently. To ‘know something’ these days doesn’t mean what it did in simpler times. And *these* are different times. Those weren’t.
Hamstring the police with logical fallacies and this is the end result. Not a good look for our city, and a bad end result for those who want to live a good life here…
I am so sick of this. We all are. Kim Foxx and L Lightfoot lead a life of PRIVILEGE, while ordinary citizens struggle and.or…die. Fire them both, just for starters.
Then move out of Chicago & Illinois.
Nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to remain in that abusive city & state.
Wanna bet?
The Ukrainians have entered the chat.
Over 5 Million Ukrainians have been forced from their home in the past year.
Do you think any excuse a stubborn weak Chicagoan gives on why they can’t move is going to pass the smell test. Hint. It’s not.
North Koreans/Russians/Ukrainians and Syrians would laugh at your suggestion you are forced to remain in Chicago.
Enjoy the suffering. The sympathy well is running dry for people like you who are to cowardly, stubborn and weak to leave Chicago & Illinois.
North Koreans/Russians/Ukrainians and Syrians don’t live in a Constitutional Republic where every opportunity exists to defeat the deceivers, thieves and lawless clowns by the very nature of its rightful founding. Far be it from me to suggest anyone is forced to remain anywhere. What we are as a people is damned lucky we still CAN remain anywhere. Don’t ever discount the Chicago that was, for getting all the right things said and done. All that stands in our way are the hapless imbeciles who WILL be shown the door. The rest is up to us, ourselves.
Come on Indy. Many of these commenters just love to complain and be the victim. Sure you could move away like some have done and still come back to this board and complain but it’s just not the same as living it.
We come to gloat and brag about how much more money, security, and effective government we have since relieving ourselves of the ball and chain that is Illinois and it’s dependents.
The ability to deploy some type of tracking device would go a long way in catching the perps. My vision would be a paint ball type gun with tracking device, the smaller and less visible the better. Sure, the perp can still pretend they din-do-nuffin, but if every time they steal a vehicle, and it gets tracked down within 30 minutes or so, it would be a major bummer for the perps. And if the tracking device was nearly invisible it could be successfully deployed in many other situations.
Incorrect if only for being well-meaning.
The onboard device, whether an aftermarket implant or factory option and whether placed in the body or frame is simply skirted after a pattern of isolating such devices. This is accomplished via inherent signal space monitoring and defeating essential infrastructure, be that power supply, output antenna or both.
Was not referring to an onboard device, I was talking about tagging a vehicle or perp with a tracking device, at the time of the incident.
And just how do the methods described for defeating such a tag (device) not apply to the “tagging a vehicle or perp with a tracking device..” that you were talking about?
I am not an expert on the capabilities or limitations of tracking devices. Defeating a device during an incident would probably be more difficult than having foreknowledge.
Thank you, Matt, for staying on the record crime afflicting Chicago since your return from Seattle. No one covers it in more detail than you. In that vein, it is clear to me Paul Vallas is the only mayoral candidate ready to clean house in the top brass at CPD and the only one who has articulated a coherent policy and path forward for our once great city! I pray he wins on February 28th.
Well I’ll be. Less arrests means the crime rate must be going down. Now who was it that said Lightfoot and Foxx were too easy on criminals?
I was fortunate to be at the CPD Management and Accountability meetings back in 2000-2012 and thats is a place to get info…not Mayor office. Numbers change rapidly. Love the Blue …All the best to CPD.
Why bother arresting anybody? States attorneys office wont prosecute most of the cases or will reduce charges to parking ticket offenses. Meanwhile Foxx and her staff are looking to indict cops for not dotting an i or crossing a t.
Where does black and white meet gray ? The least powerul is the graying of America .
Politics fails to support standards too enhance gray and put black and white on the same side to work in tandem for the good of gray.
There is no safe stable environment in either black or white society , just gray .
In reading through all of this information about the massive amount of crimes in the City of Chicago, and the appallingly low arrest rates associated with those crimes, it further reinforces my belief that the current administrations in Chicago and the State of Illinois are not only ignoring the rampant crime, but encouraging and promoting it. The people in power couldn’t care less about the innocent people being victimized by criminals, because they are criminals themselves, victimizing the legal, law-abiding citizens in their jurisdictions. This only ends when the masses stand up against it, and sadly, I don’t think that’s… Read more »
“This only ends when the masses stand up against it, and sadly, I don’t think that’s going to happen…”
What are you talking about??? The people in power are vastly outnumbered. Their biggest weapon is promoting fear, uncertainty and doubt amongst opposition. By stating that nobody is going to stand up, you’re supporting their agenda.
Not sure that is accurate anymore. I can’t paint a broad brush and say that everyone in Chicago and Illinois are not too bright, but many actually believe pritzker and Lightfoot, they voted for this and they are either uneducated on the issues and were fooled or are openly supportive of bail reform, restorative justice, indigenous peoples who are drag queens, and every other pile of excrement the “progressives” are peddling on a daily basis. You can’t straddle the fence and have it both ways, these folks are the enemy of a rules based society based on English common law… Read more »
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again (cue PFF) that there are slightly more Democrats than Republicans in IL, but, Democrats throughout the past forty years have used their slight power advantage to give them an unfair advantage. Some of it is legal, like gerrymandering (the worst in the country according to some sources), and now ballot harvesting is legal too, along with forever voting, and the infamous counting unpostmarked ballots up to 14 days after the elections (no fraud there folks!). And, some of the Dem’s advantage is totally illegal yet no one in power has any… Read more »
And that’s the OTHER thing. You’re unlucky enough to be in the wrong (formerly nice) neighborhood at the wrong time, and you get jacked by some half-human thugs, with either your phone & wallet, or your vehicle stolen. Hell, that’s traumatic enough. But then there’s a 7% chance of the perp being arrested. Add insult to injury, whydontcha Chicago?
Sorry, I won’t be visiting this remnant of a once-great city unless I absolutely have to, then only during the day. I don’t blame the CPD because their hands are tied. Politicians and the worthless CTU, thanks for nothing.
You may be safer during the day … but don’t confuse that with safe.
Add to this the decline in CPD staffing and things will only get worse with the current regime.
Interesting, I google and can’t find any stats on police arrests by city to compare Chicago arrest rate to other big cities? Apparently police arrests are way down nationally. At least Chicago provides data.
What would be great for Chicago voter/taxpayer would be to have some type yearly statistical comparison:
–1.) arrest rate/per crime reported (by category?) comparison for Chicago vrs other big cities
–2.) arrest rate/per capita comparison for Chicago vrs other big cities
–3.) arrest rate/per $ spent on policing (including all benefits) comparison for Chicago vrs other big cities. (Similar to crazy $/per student spent ratio ($30K) for CPS)
–4.) ETC
Or maybe this exists and I just can’t find it?
It’s all part of the plan that has been in the works for several decades. It just accelerated exponentially when Obama came on the scene as a senator.
Sadly, Lightfoot is well on the way to turning Chicago into a free for all zone where chaos, crime, murder and mayhem are celebrated while law enforcement is denounced and condemned. Meanwhile, the ignorant, incompetent Lightfoot claims the crime rate is dropping. If things continue like this, Chicago will be a heap of smoldering rubble.
Unfortunately it already is!
I recall clearly the 70’s and 80’s in Chicago. White families from everywhre still populated the varied neighborhoods… and the Irish Politicians ran everything else. A little rough around the edges they were, but they were family men and women, all of whom had a multi-generational stake in our great city by the lake. Over the last decade I’ve seen folks of my own generation make lifetime commitments to a variety of neighborhoods. They’ve bought or renovated very expensive properties, selectively chosen schools for their children and planted deep and committed roots in this city. So sad that these lovely… Read more »
You’ll notice the National franchises shuttering specific units down. The small operators will hang on by their fingernails with all their money invested. “The Nationals” simply look at the numbers, the loss rates and the police reports in the specific precinct. Then they ‘cut and run’.
Their corporate judgements are far more telling, objective and abundantly aware of the epidemic of shoplifting, internal theft and risk of ‘life & limb’ for their staff. More American cities simply being Hollowed Out.
Another great article by Matt. The city leadership is rotten. Lightfoot is the tip of the iceberg. The people of Chicago deserve better. Thanks for shining a light on this dumpster fire of a mess.
Mmmm, Chicago has returned to their lawless days, I see. Kind of interesting. When will we get a Ness or Hoover to reinstate law and order and put away equally lawless politicians responsible for this outrageous mess? I don’t think it has been this bad since New York considered Chicago to be part of the Wild West.
And Kim Foxx does her best to help the descent of Chicago into the great abyss of crime and lawlessness. Choose well Chicago this could be your last chance. None of this is by chance it is all by design.
I can not see any significant change happening with current political leadership. Once that change happens, it will require massive hiring by CPD which will be extremely difficult considering the current hatred toward police. Chicago has had a massive outflow of it’s tax base in the last few years, if it continues how will they pay for the extra police and other services that are needed?
Eye opening as usual Matt.
It’s incredible that politicians keep getting reelected year after year while failing to provide even the slightest iota of care for the safety of their constituents.
The only reason team Pritzker got as far as he did is because he put up lots and lots of money. Nobody supports them! COVID relief money and other federal help has kept them going. The campaign financing numbers don’t lie.
without sounding like a broken record, none of this is by accident. Even someone like Lightfoot isn’t this incompetent. This is all a Soros funded and long planned takedown of community policing. These people believe in something called ‘restorative justice’. This is based on a humanistic value scale where babies and the elderly are basically worthless, but the 18 to 35 year old segment is the most valuable. They want these people out of jail and producing for them. This would be gained by them becoming activists. It’s where they recruit AntiFa/BLM members from. Remember the one’s shot by Kyle… Read more »
It’s what everyone knows but no one has done or will do anything about. What’s the percentage of violent crime cases be closed out by detectives?
I grew up in Chicago and hate seeing what it’s become.
Chicago deserves what it gets in the next election.
Please, I’m not dumb enough to believe this BS. What a waste of my time. Time to go back and watch some more stupid TV.
Chicago is the perfect example of leftist politics. Soft on criminals, hard on law abiding citizens who just want to defend themselves. Unfortunately, nothing is going to improve until hard left politicians are rooted out in federal, state, and most importantly, local governments.
This is much larger than a soft-on-crime, policing issue. Societal chaos is the operating plan. This is happening in all major leftist controlled cities. Will urge all to read the work of Katherine Watt & Sasha Latypova on either Baliwick News or Lifesitenews. It’s all connected to the complete breakdown of the US.
Until Chicago gets new leadership at both the Mayor and CPD Chief these sad numbers will continue.
Being soft on crime affects all the stakeholders; residents, businesses and law enforcement. Retaliation for reporting crime is a huge problem if over half of the non-murder crimes go unreported. The arrest rate for carjackings at 7%(!), hey let’s go shopping on the North side this weekend. Green light on crime, indeed. Hate to be a white cop assigned to the South or West side.
Your article bears bookmarking because of all the depressing statistics you include. It is truly depressing, but knowing the grim numbers will make for an easier comparison whenever/if a different mayor and police superintendent take over.Based on their past choices, I have no confidence that the people of Chicago and Cook County will do the right thing in upcoming elections but there is a small chance Paul Vallas will be elected and that would provide at least a potential path to ending the nightmare. Absent that, those numbers may look good by comparison to what’s coming. Sorry for the downbeat… Read more »
Disgusting.
And they outlaw self defense & defense of property, community and want to relieve us of our tools of self defense .
Too tired to fix this.
Chicago needs a complete revamp of their justice system from the top cop, to the states attorney, judges and capacities to hold all accountable. Thank you Matt for always telling it like it is and backing it up with stats!
I have little to add that hasn’t been said. I do hope the voters who care get off their butts & vote for Paul Vallas. And if he does win? He’ll still be shackled by policies not of his making & those progressives who remain in office (Foxx, Preckwinkle, et al). So then there’s more hoping. As someone once said, “Hope is not a strategy.” All we can do is reply, “No, but it’s a start.” Vote, people, vote.
It will depend on if Chicago voters care more about crime than they do access to abortion. I know he won’t set policy around abortion but I don’t think that matters to a large segment of white women on the north side. Based on what happened in November, I’m not liking his odds.
The citizens are voting with their feet. The likes of you have destroyed the Chitty of Chicago for good. It is now in a free fall. You will be able to tell your grandchildren how greed destroyed everything it touched.
Chicago voters care about crime. But not in the law & order way that we think about crime. Many Chicago voters believe the criminal justice system is still too corrupt, too systemically racist, still to biased against minorities, and they want less and not more policing. They believe crime is an issue but they don’t want policing as the answer. Tough on Crime (i.e. arresting more minorities who commit nearly all street crime in Chicago) is not a winning strategy in minority neighborhoods. Brandon Johnson is trying to sell them alternatives like Healing Houses and Ex-Con vocational centers and Social… Read more »
Seems like low arrest rates are in a battle for lowest reading and math scores here in Chicago. SNAFU? Early voting for Chicago Mayoral election now under way, only Paul Vallas has a snowball’s chance in hell to reverse both of these depressing trends. Have Chicago voters had enough to elect the most qualified even if he is a white male? Enquiring minds want to know!
Sad to say this but it seems that the politicians won’t be concerned about crime until one of them is killed in a criminal act. This is sickening.
I feel like PFF here but this is what voters want. Both progressive and Black voters want ‘soft on crime’ politicians. They are wildly popular. They want crime levels back to the 1970’s. They don’t care if it drives away business, or lowers home values in gentrified areas, or if their neighbor gets shot. They want the freedom to commit crimes without fear of being caught up in the criminal justice system. They are getting exactly what they vote for, and quite frankly, it’s one of the rare examples where the voters are getting results from the politicians they elected.… Read more »
There are lots of things voters want but they don’t get. Term limits anyone? They only get what those in charge want too. Those in charge clearly want to completely destabilize local law enforcement. That is the only way they will get what they really want, a national police force in control of all law enforcement throughout the country. And then…
It’s hard to ignore the facts when they are there in black and white to read. I must admit some of the figures were shocking.
I don’t understand soft on crime, and overworked police personnel. If one is looking for failure, over work, and hand tie. Then blame them. But let’s not forget a mayor whose city is overrun with crime, could be seen dancing in the streets. Celebrating the Chinese new year does take precedent over fighting crime.
Thanks Matt for the article.
Yet recent polls have LL in the lead for mayor.
How anyone can support LL truly amazes me, but, then again, I think anyone who considers Biden a good president amazes me even more.
Or Pennsylvania’s election of Fetterman!
Lori’s voters protested during the entire summer of 2020 demanding the police stop harassing criminals. They’re receiving exactly what they asked for you.
I don’t see any anti-crime protests, I don’t see marchers in front of Kim Foxx’s home demanding she put more people in jail.
True.
These big cities ought to mobilize the god damn National Guard. What the hell else do they have to do anyway ?
On street corners across Europe it is common to see fully armed military personnel. Why is that so unthinkable here?
Spot on. In the 80s I saw them with machine guns in Paris
When I was in Mexico, I seen the local police sargeant standing on the corner with a Thompson sub machine gun, drum fed!
I like the notion of having an omnipresent, uniformed and well armed force. Call it what you will, but unless something more draconian is instituted in these urban jungles across America, our cities will become more like Nairobi than New York.
One problem is just “who” will be in control of what is in essence a “militia”…?
And second what caliber of soldiers will you have…?
I just don’t trust a government to “solve” a problem “they created”…
Chitty of Chicago cops will never get out of their cars to provide security for anyone. There is no work ethic in any government employee.
My thoughts after reading this article are largely ineffable. “We gotta get outta this place,” will have to suffice.
It doesn’t take a mathematician to calculate the odds of arrest in Chicago. Even these reprobates who couldn’t get past third grade arithmetic can figure it out. Risk/Reward, perhaps confounding to some, makes perfect sense to anyone with an IQ of six! Dang, 19/1 Odds beckons me ! Crawl under a car in the darkness of night, grab a catalytic convereter and voila’ $300 for spending money.
The first thing to say about this bleak picture is that systemic breakdown is the goal of Alinskyite radicals. Don’t expect improvement in the overall picture any time soon, rather expect further deterioration. No wonder police officers are saying goodbye to their jobs, taking early retirement, and so on. Of course, this is not even taking corruption into account. Predictions abound from people who opine on these matters, and one prediction heard frequently is that Chicago is going the way of Detroit. What serious businessman or retailer would enthusiastically engage in commerce in the Windy City under these conditions?
Chicago isn’t going the way of Detroit, but rather, returning to the Chicago of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. It’s a managed decline. I’ll be an old man in the nursing home, or dead, when Chicago manages to pull out of this death spiral, if it ever does again.
It is a foregone conclusion that the soft on crime agenda of the Left will increase the incidence of crimes. It is axiomatic. They don’t care, because they, progressives, value criminals more highly than they do victims. One solution would be to recategorize known gangs as “terririst” organizations, freeing the police to stop and frisk, and generally increasing policing powers against the criminal organizations in cities like Chicago. Some day perhaps, the pendulum will swing back to a normal level of policing criminal behavior. Until then, a wise person is one who moves out of cities that are soft of… Read more »
Polls have consistently shown that black voters believe that there should be less, and not more policing; they believe punishment is too harsh for crimes; they believe they are ‘unfairly’ targeted by police, they consistently and overwhelmingly vote for ‘soft on crime’ politicians. The progressives also happen to believe these same things. They believe that policing itself creates more crime; and if you stop policing, then crime will go down. Which is insane, of course, but they believe that like the terrorists believes that 72 virgins will marry him if he martyrs himself for his religion. So in places like… Read more »
They should be careful what they wish for…
The end game is the removal of your city – county – state police agencies, where you have some local oversight…
To be replaced with a federal police agency, with zero local oversight…
Think FBI on steroids…