News Archive

Groundhog Day in Hadleyville: Lawless and Violent

Going back to the ancient Greeks, there are two main types of stories, comedies and tragedies. The 1993 film, “Groundhog Day,” is a comedy set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a peaceful community that takes local pride in its annual celebration of Groundhog Day. In the film comedy, Bill Murray’s character relives the same Groundhog Day, each day, for a very long time. Hadleyville, as we have discussed here many times, is the setting for the film, “High Noon.” What we are seeing play out in Chicago is a tragedy on par of “Groundhog Day in Hadleyville.” There a community relives violent weekend after violent weekend in a lawless cycle. Groundhog Day in Hadleyville is a shameful community experience. On this point, let us consider a sampling of what we have witnessed just since our posting on 1 September 2021. [Click the link below to read more.]

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.

Pandemic Restrictions Enforcement and Police-Community Relations

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.

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.

Crime Victims Are Not the Priority

Crime victims are not the priority for offenders. Of that we can be certain, or those who seek to harm others would not do so. Clearly, “the priority” of the justice system is supposed to be “justice.” Without question, such demands that the system follow the law and respect the Constitutional rights of all those who are accused of crimes. However, can a justice system be truly “just” if victims are not at least “a priority.”

Is Facebook Police Friendly?

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) sought to honor an East Peoria, Illinois police officer as its “Most Outstanding Officer of the Year.” The ILACP posted this honor on their Facebook Page. Is Facebook police friendly and supportive of such a posting? It would seem not. The ILACP has reported that Facebook has blocked the association’s ad on the social media giant seeking to promote their post. Why? Secure 1776 shares what we have learned.

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.

Subway Safety and Proactive Policing

This week Nicole Gelinas, from the Manhattan Institute, authored an insightful opinion essay published in the New York Times: “To Get New York Going, We Have to Address Subway Safety.” Without question subway safety and proactive policing are correlated variables. Gelinas observed that far fewer New York City (NYC) transit riders felt safe in the subway, just 26% as of early 2021. By comparison, in the last quarter of 2019, 65% of riders “felt satisfied with the levels of crime and harassment on trains.” Violent crimes are up and ridership is down dramatically from “pre-pandemic” days. The absence of “safety in numbers” for riders and a turn from active policing on the system are key factors in the subway safety equation. See our analysis.

“Toledo police release body camera video from fatal block party shooting”

At first glance this may not appear to be the type of article that would be posted here on Secure 1776, as this site seeks a higher-level focus than a single shooting incident. However, this incident from 4 July 2021 in Toledo, Ohio connects to several key points nationally.

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: Spend More on Police, Voters Say

In the discussion of the future of policing in American during the past year, many activists and some elected officials adopted the slogan, “Defund the Police.” Recent polling by Rasmussen Reports finds little public support for this view.