Category: Tragedy-free policing

See our “in the news” items relating to “tragedy-free policing” in the feed below.

Identified by Thomas Lemmer, “tragedy-free policing” as a misleading and ultimately dangerous political worldview. The view draws upon a utopian desire, and holds the police should never take any actions that could cause any harm, their actions should never use any force, and the police must act without ever making a mistake.

Within the defining article on this topic, “Tragedy-Free Policing or Else: The Need for Critical Thinking,“ Lemmer provides a detailed analysis as to how this worldview is unreasonable. A comparison to the medical field demonstrates how a “tragedy-free medical system” is not demanded. Why? Because tragedies occur within the practice of medicine. Inherently, we know how insistence on the perfection of tragedy-free medicine would crush that profession. As with medicine, such a worldview is unrealistic in policing. In reality, the police are regularly thrust into circumstances that are already tragic or at grave risk of quickly turning tragic. Given human fragility and imperfection, there will be tragic incidents involving the police.

Anti-police activists have coupled an “or else” to the demand for “tragedy-free policing,” and in so doing created an unattainable policing standard. With this “standard” unwittingly accepted by many, and advanced in the media, whenever the police are involved in an incident that has a tragic outcome, then rage, violent protests, and looting are falsely “justified.” Acceptance of this standard causes severe damage to the police-community relationship that is essential for public safety. A weakened level of public safety is an environment where lawlessness follows, and what we know with certainty is this: Lawless place are always inevitably violent ones.

Our founder also addressed how “tragedy-free” policing has been utilized to demonize the police in the article, “Demonizing the Police Breeds Lawlessness.”

The two articles linked above are highly-recommended. The posts below relate to the topic and those articles.

Sliver of Hope, More Anguish in Chicago

So on 1 September 2021, there were two news stories that directly relate to our post “The Sights, Sounds, and Bloodshed of an Increasingly Lawless City.” One offering a sliver of hope. The other recording more anguish in a city in crisis. The sliver of hope related to the disturbing North State Street attack on Saturday, 29 August 2021. Chicago police announced the arrest of one offender identified from the viral video. However, the second story brought more heart-wrenching anguish. Yet another west-side murder. This time the murder of a father simply taking his seven-year-old daughter to school. It will be interesting to see what happens in Cook County Criminal Court relative to the offender arrested from the State Street incident. The murder of a dad as he shielded his daughter from gunfire – another sign of a city sliding into lawlessness.

The Sights, Sounds, and Bloodshed of an Increasingly Lawless City

Two more weekends of violence in Chicago bear discussion, as the Hadleyville warning signs continue for the city. Video, audio, and violence statistics from the last two weekends reflect a city that continues to spiral downward. From the outside, Chicago has the look of an increasingly lawless city. As reflected in our 18 August analysis, Chicagoans are not confused. They are concerned about the city’s violence. Yet the problem continues. A video of lawlessness this weekend. Audio of lawlessness the prior weekend. Crime stats from both weekends documenting the alarming bloodshed. The last two weekends will neither help Chicago’s tourism bureau market the city, nor its residents feel better about crime.

Another Hadleyville Warning Sign for Chicago – WGN Poll

Yesterday we posted on how national polling found that Americans believe crime is out of control, and how some “reform” efforts have left American’s feeling less safe. A WGN News/Emerson College poll released today reminds us that all crime is local, with 61.8% of Chicagoans believing crime is worse this year than last. When it comes to murders and shootings, they are right. It bears noting that 2020 was a particularly violent year in Chicago, with 3,260 shooting incidents, 4,033 shooting victims, and 769 murders. From 2019, shooting incidents in 2020 were up 51.9% and murders were up 55.4%. The WGN poll also provides another Hadleyville warning sign for Chicago.

Crime is Out of Control, 70% of Voters Say So – Rasmussen

Americans believe crime is out of control. So say 70% of the respondents in an August 2021 poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports (RR) and the National Police Association. Combined, 90% of likely voters are “somewhat” to “very concerned” about the recent increase in violent crime. Quoting RR: “Voters are overwhelmingly concerned about violent crime and believe many so-called criminal justice reforms are contributing to the problem.” What does this mean?

More Warning Signs: Chicago and Hadleyville

Less than a month ago, Secure 1776 raised the question. Is Chicago a Hadleyville? We highlighted three recent news items which raised warning signs that Chicago was at risk. In light of the murder of Chicago Police Officer Ella French on 7 August 2021, it is worth rereading that post. Officer French was murdered, and her partner critically wounded, while they were conducting a vehicle stop. The shooting occurred in West Englewood, a Chicago neighborhood that has long-suffered the ravages of street crime and gang violence. The murder of a police officer, while she was in the act of keeping her oath to the Constitution, is a tear in the very fabric of the community.

Is Chicago a Hadleyville? There are warning signs.

The greatest warning that Secure 1776 can associate with a community is that it is becoming a “Hadleyville.” What is a “Hadleyville?” Thomas Lemmer was the first to speak about Hadleyvilles in his 2015 article “It’s High Noon for American Policing.” Is Chicago a Hadleyville? To begin to answer this question, let’s consider three recent articles on policing and crime in Chicago.

Navigator Research: “Polling shows Democrats alarmed about crime, too”

Recent polling by Navigator Research shows a consensus has emerged that crosses the political divide – the surge in violence is the nation’s leading major crisis. Learn more from Secure 1776.

“‘Why stay?’: Law enforcement advocates explain exodus from police forces”

In an article written by Leandra Bernstein, the dramatic reductions in police staffing levels, particularly in America’s large cities are examined. Bernstein notes: “Law enforcement has always been a difficult job but over the past year, more police officers are leaving the profession.” Below, Secure 1776 draws provides several key points and out analysis from the article.

Rasmussen Reports: 49% of Voters Say Anti-Police Protests Hurt Public Safety

Rasmussen Reports released recent findings from a national telephone and online survey. They found that 49% of Likely U.S. Voters believed last year’s protests against the police hurt public safety. Just 22% said the protests helped public safety and 21% believed the protests didn’t make much difference.