A little more than a week ago we published the post, “Wonderland Chicago, the Victim Problem.” We admonished city leaders that “if, up is down and down is up, then welcome Alice to Wonderland Chicago. Lawlessness is madness.” Well Alice, defiling the memory of a slain officer is also madness. Secure 1776 has reached this conclusion based on three factors. First, the details of Police Officer Ella French’s murder. Second, what we learned as a city about her following her death. Third, a review of the summary file posted by the Chicago Office of Police Accountability (COPA) that included problematic investigative findings and recommendations involving Officer French. The public release of COPA’s three-day suspension recommendation for Officer French is more spectacle Chicago. Defiling the memory of a slain officer in the name of the people she served is despicable. We call on Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to hold COPA’s leadership accountable. [Click the link below to read more.]
Fear is real. Otherwise intelligent people can become easily confused by fear. Fear is an emotion that can facilitate the worst of inhumanity. The antidote for fear and confusion is not a sheltered, ignorant existence of irrational obedience. What can break us free from fear and confusion? First, the ability to think critically, which requires both logic and study. Second, courage, which is far more than taking risks. Third, an adherence to a true faith. “Cops ask questions,” and cops recognize examples of clear-headed, acts of courage founded on higher principles when they see them. Here, on Veteran’s Day, we provide a message of inspiration in the actions of a World War II soldier. He was not confused. Even while captured by the enemy, he did not surrender to fear. He provided moral clarity. He led. [Click the link below to read more.]
When Alice followed a rabbit down a hole, she ended up in Wonderland, a bizarre, mixed up place. Among the characters she met was the Cheshire Cat, who told her that everyone in Wonderland was “mad,” crazy, including her. When Alice asked how the cat knew she was “mad,” he responded: “You must be… or you wouldn’t have come here.” More than the king, the Queen of Hearts ruled in Wonderland. The queen sought executions before trials, and sentences before verdicts. The Queen of Hearts would likely agree that the lawlessness problem in Wonderland Chicago is caused by its victims. But in a sane world, a justice system that does not have victims as a priority is fundamentally unjust. But if, up is down and down is up, then welcome Alice to Wonderland Chicago. Lawlessness is madness. [Click the link below to read more.]
Last week in our “Cops Ask Questions” series we asked whether the Chicago City Council would assert its authority. Whenever 26 or more members of the city’s council rise in opposition to a Chicago mayor, that is indeed remarkable. Well on Friday, the council for the second time in a week demonstrated it is not remarkable. The council could not muster enough votes to reverse the mayoral edict mandating the vaccination of city employees. The council did however muster enough votes to approve a 30% increase in the annual city budget. Now that qualifies as a spectacle for a lawless city, with huge financial problems. Several local violent crimes also provided more “spectacle Chicago” moments of another kind. Not in the exciting and impressive sense. No, in the “spectacular crash” kind of way. [Click the link below to read more.]
Since 2015, Secure 1776 founder Thomas Lemmer has encouraged others in the public safety profession to ask themselves a core question. “Which is more important, perception or reality?” Determining the answer requires critical thinking. That truth alone points the way toward the answer, as critical thinking is an increasingly discouraged activity. Why? Because when we think critically, we are less vulnerable to nonsense and deliberate propaganda. Providing some context to the core question may help identify the answer. So, in the perception versus reality dynamic, which has more impact on public safety? Perception or reality? We ask you to think critically about this issue a moment or two. [Click the link below to read more.]
Cops ask questions. It is how they are trained. It is what we expect of them. They are supposed to do more than accept things at face value. They are not supposed to simply believe everything that is told to them. Lying to the police is such a frequent reality, that the United States Congress made it a crime to lie to the Federal Bureau Investigation and other federal agents. While local police officers do not enjoy such legal protections, they are supposed to examine the evidence to see if it measures up before they act. So, why then are so many government officials and media “experts” frustrated that police officers are among those people asking questions about the efficacy, effectiveness, and risks of the experimental Covid-19 vaccines? Well, pandemic politics have spread at least as quickly as the virus associated with the Wuhan research lab. [Click the link below to read more.]
In a simple one-word association, a citadel is a fortress. A fortress provides a physical defense from an invading force. The invading force could be a foreign army or even bandits, burglars, cutthroats, highwaymen, or mobs. In more theoretical terms, the invading force could be financial collapse. Last week, local billionaire Ken Griffin told other business leaders that the status of the Citadel Chicago headquarters of his investment firm was in jeopardy. Why? Because the response to violence and crime from the other citadel Chicago is failing. Quoting Griffin: “Chicago is like Afghanistan on a good day. And that’s a problem.” [Click the link below to read more.]
When it comes to crime, most Americans traditionally looked to the criminal justice system to impose consequences. But, here is a key truth. When the system does not do so, consequences still occur. That which is not addressed in the courthouse, often plays out in the streets. A second truth: Last year, America’s urban areas became more vulnerable to unaddressed lawlessness. In that wake, deadly violence dramatically increased, a truly stark consequence. The 2020 increase in America’s national murder rate was about 30 percent. That is indeed a deadly truth and consequences lesson. In our society, truth and consequences can be deliberately obfuscated concepts. Too often we are told to ignore the truth. Relative to the fragility of public safety, 2020 provided a harsh reality check. [Click the link below to read more.]
The news items we present on Secure 1776 are selected because they highlight major issues relating to policing. Because we believe the events presented matter longer than a moment, we continue to monitor these news items. With this post we provide updates on three recent posts focused on tragedy, service and public safety. The tragic grief of parents seeking justice for their murdered child. The actions of a police dispatcher during the moments of ultimate sacrifice and service. Confusion on how best to prioritize the overall public safety mission of the police. [Click the link below to read more.]
To say that we are living in interesting, and challenging times is an understatement. Many elected officials across America have demonstrated confusion regarding the proper public safety role of the police. Many have advocated for the police not to be utilized for mental health or social service issues. Some public officials have changed laws and policies limiting the authority of the police to enforce numerous offenses within traffic and even criminal codes. Others have advocated that such enforcement should be limited to issuing citations only, without the use of physical arrests and absent any use of force. So, how does this viewpoint square with using the police for pandemic restrictions enforcement? From a logic standpoint, the two approaches really do not square.
