Musings on the Recession and the Effect on Police Departments–With Chicago as a Prime Example

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

This story caught my eye today–the effects of the economic mess we’re in on police departments across the nation.

What kicked in was the thought about the warnings of unrest that we’ve read about, as things get worse.  Well, it seems that the seeds of this are beginning to awaken.  From the AP:

Even cops losing their jobs in recession

CHICAGO (AP) — As hundreds of jobs in Chicago’s police department go unfilled, officers who once patrolled the streets with partners are riding alone in what some cops bitterly call “rolling coffins.”

Chicago?  Obamaland?  Well, why be surprised, I guess.  Chicago isn’t going to get any special attention with regard to the safety of its citizens–it’s probably entirely appropriate that  one of the enabling factors  that could result in widespread unrest and offer the opportunity for a complete clampdown by the power-hungry Obots would be rising in Chicago.  Obama et al apparently don’t give a crap about Chicago now even though it’s “their town,” just as they don’t give a crap about most things people really need these days.

Oh, there’s some money in the stimulus package but it’s not enough:

Exactly how many officers are losing their jobs and how many positions are going unfilled are unclear. But one after another, departments are telling the International Association of Chiefs of Police that officers are being laid off or taking furloughs, positions are being left vacant, and police forces are closing or consolidating.

“I’ve been in law enforcement for 25 years and if you would have talked about laying off policemen, people would not have believed you,” Dye said.

The cuts come as police departments are being asked to take on more responsibilities, such as investigating domestic terrorism, said John Firman, director of research for the police chiefs association.

There is some help on the way, in the form of federal stimulus money, but the need may far outstrip the aid. For example, the $1 billion that the Justice Department’s Community Oriented Policing Services received to hire officers nationwide is less than one-eighth of the money agencies requested, said Fred Wilson, director of operations at the National Sheriffs’ Association.

This is another one of those initiatives that are so typical of this Administration and Congress lately: lots of talk, then the back-off in terms of money and commitment.

I remember when Bill Clinton got the 100,000 officers on the street and the positive results in terms of a decline in crime.

But, it’s different now.  Chaos and unrest will be just fine with Obama as he pulls those militarized units out to quell “unrest.”   This is where the intimidating words and threats to politicians behind the scenes will turn into the kind of thing people will actually be able to see.  Well, maybe…the mainstream media probably will not show domestic unrest, will it?

More from Chicago:

Also, more cops are being attacked on the streets, and police say that is because they can no longer flood the scene with officers when they respond to a call. The number of incidents of battery against a police officer in Chicago rose from 2,677 to 3,158 between 2007 and 2008, according to department statistics.

Meanwhile, in Broward County, Florida, the cut in jail officers is affecting key programs that are aimed at keeping future crime at protecting children from addicted inmates:

…”jail programs that, among other things, help inmates overcome addiction and stop beating their kids.

“We are at the point where we are literally out of options,” [Sheriff Al]  amberti said. “I never thought in a million years this would happen.”

And in other places, programs that are in place to mentor youths are also being eliminated:

“Now we’re going to be responding when a kid slaps his mom instead of having him in a program where they can teach him to respect his parents,” said Lt. Charles Carlson.

All this “hope and change” doesn’t sound too pleasant, does it?  Even though cops can be a pain sometimes, what happens when all law and order breaks down at the local level?

Well, then somebody else will have to step in and they will be under the direction of the Obots. Doesn’t that make you feel better?

And I’m not just talking about an increase in criminal activity as an excused to clampdown from on high.  There’s the question of law-abiding citizens being “criminalized” if they begin to dissent. Do you think we’ll be looking  like Iran or China and many other places around the world when things get a bit “disquieted” ?