Chicago Crime Up As Police Clash With New Boss

CHICAGO -- Crime rates are up from last year. Arrests, traffic stops and gun recoveries are down. And while there is dispute over the precise reasons, the union representing police officers in this city says it is partly because officers are doing their jobs gingerly, out of fear that the controversial police superintendent won't back them if they face misconduct charges.

The slowdown is known as "de-policing," and Mark Donahue, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, says it could result in more crime and more guns on the streets.

"Officers are now looking out for themselves more than they had in the past, as far as taking chances," Donahue said. "They're concerned with ensuring they follow the letter of the law more closely because of concerns with discipline."

Superintendent Jody Weis took charge in February, tasked with cleaning up a department plagued by corruption and misconduct scandals in recent years, including the videotaped beating of a diminutive female bartender by an off-duty officer. In vowing to reform the department, Weis has requested the power to fire officers, bypassing the nine-member civilian Police Board that currently must approve any disciplinary action.

In addition, there is bad blood between the officers and the superintendent stemming from negotiations over a new contract, which Donahue said "are not going well." The main issues in the contract, which would replace one that expired in June 2007, involve pay and benefits.

"Morale issues will exist whenever new leadership is at the helm," police spokeswoman Monique Bond said, answering questions on Weis's behalf. "There have been a number of challenges facing the department. There is the issue of officers having to contend with bogus complaints filed against them when they are being aggressive. It's one of a number of factors that would precipitate a morale issue or 'de-policing,' as they call it."

"Self-initiated calls," in which officers decide to stop or question someone, were down by 3,700 so far this year, compared with last year, according to an Associated Press analysis of department data. The department made 103,589 arrests (not including those for outstanding warrants) from January through August, compared with 117,971 for the same period last year, Bond said. The city logged 322 homicides through Aug. 21, 42 more than last year. That included a fatal gang-related shooting during the city's annual Taste of Chicago festival and Fourth of July fireworks downtown.

Some officers questioned whether Weis had adequately prepared for the festival, where shootings also occurred in past years. Later in July, Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) offered state police assistance in Chicago, calling the city's crime "out of control." Chicago officials originally seemed miffed by the offer but recently agreed to reinstate a state law enforcement "gun team" in Chicago.

Donahue said increased violence in general may be linked to officers thinking that their hands are tied.

"An officer is on patrol and sees kids acting suspicious in nature, and there might be a crime pattern in the area," he said. "But the officers might not look into it like they would have in the past -- not because of fear of the individuals but because of fear that if false allegations are made, they won't be scrutinized as much as in the past."

Many officers resented Weis's hiring because he is a former FBI agent who came in from Philadelphia and has no history in Chicago.

"His lack of experience in running a municipal law enforcement agency has become evident," Donahue said.

Among other things, officers blame Weis for what they see as the unwarranted federal prosecution of suspended officer William Cozzi for civil rights violations related to his beating a man handcuffed to a wheelchair in 2005. Cozzi was suspended from the force for two years and pleaded guilty to state misdemeanor charges. Weis was quoted vowing to keep Cozzi off the force.

"The officer was disciplined criminally and departmentally for actions he took, then somehow records got turned over to the Department of Justice," Donahue said.

Bond noted that a videotape of the incident was played widely in the media and said that there was no deliberate attempt on the department's part to seek a federal investigation.

Bond said Weis is holding town hall meetings with officers and taking other measures to improve morale.

"He can assure them he does have their back," she said. "There's no question the blue shirts are the most important commodity this department has."