Posted on 06/22/2006 9:14:58 AM PDT by Borges
Three Chicago Police officers ran away when a fellow officer was struggling for his life with an armed man in a Dominick's store on the South Side, officials said Wednesday.
Two of the fleeing officers were about 10 months into their 18-month probationary period before they could have become full-fledged officers with union benefits.
Those female officers -- called PPOs in cop parlance -- have been fired by police Supt. Phil Cline.
"After reviewing the evidence, it was clear to me that the two PPOs didn't do what they were trained to do, and they put the officer in peril," Cline said.
A third male officer, whose probation ended about three months ago, faces a departmental investigation and possible termination, too.
Captured on security camera
Cline can fire probationary officers at will, but full-fledged officers have extensive due-process rights.
The incident was captured on a Dominick's security camera and was reviewed by department officials.
The videotape may be used to show recruits at the police academy what officers should never do.
But recruits also could learn from the heroic performance of the officer who struggled alone with the gunman, sources said.
It is very unusual for officers -- whether they are probationary or full time -- to face disciplinary action for cowardice, sources said.
But such allegations are almost never captured on videotape, they said.
The four Grand Crossing District officers were responding to a shoplifting call at 10:30 p.m. on June 3 at a Dominick's in the 2100 block of East 71st.
James King, 47, of Park Forest, started fighting in the store with a male officer who was trying to arrest him for sneaking out with stolen goods, police said. The officer had one handcuff on King when he struggled to break free, police said.
King removed a 9mm pistol from his pants pocket and pointed the weapon at the officer, who then fatally shot King, officials said. An investigation found that the officer, who has been on the force about four years, had followed department rules on using deadly force. The department did not identify that officer.
Not what cops are trained to do
Assistant Deputy Supt. Matthew Tobias, who runs the Police Department's training academy, would not discuss the incident.
But he spoke generally about what officers are trained to do.
"When they have the means to take appropriate action, they are not taught to turn their back and run away," Tobias said.
"If you have the means and knowledge to protect citizens or other officers, you are expected to take action -- and will be held accountable when you do not take action."
The writer could have added the largely irrelevant fact that they are female as a side descriptor, a la:
Those probationary officers -- called PPOs in cop parlance -- have been fired by police Supt. Phil Cline. Both PPOs are women, while the third fleeing officer is male.
Since when does an officer attempt to cuff an armed suspect?
I doubt they are cowards just because they happen to be women, but because of their upbringing. Cowards come from a culture of entitlement, what can you do for me, rather than a culture of teamwork, loyalty, and honor.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
hahahaha, Feet, don't fail me now!
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
"On the other hand, I know some women out there over 250lbs that would just as easily spit tobacco juice on you as look at ya."
Variations of that show up every time this subject of women in male jobs comes up.
I've never seen these women, not in the rough bars, not in the biker gangs, not in the army.
I can go to my local Hell's Angel bar and see what qualify as societies toughest women, but they always take a second place to the men, including the non Angel men.
Watch any Motorcycle group, it is a private organization so affirmative action doesn't apply, and in those clubs women are never physically dominant, even though outside the club they are considered fearsome among their female peers.
Since when does an officer attempt to cuff an armed suspect?
Many department policies dictate the officer cuff before the search
I assumed it was Probabtionary Police Officers or Probationary Period Officers.
(My tagline is oddly appropriate for this story, and not in the way it's usually meant.)
BTW, since 1990, the FAA has been hiring as aviation safety inspectors women and 'people of color' with far lower qualifications that white male applicants. Happy flying!
Just friggin shameful. For the life of me I cannot even picture this scenario happening...at least not here. I've had a few screw balls backing me up in a few tight spots that I was damn glad to see
A logical assumption. But the wording of the article made it seem like only the female occifers were called PPOs. ("Those female officers -- called PPOs in cop parlance...")
We have two that I question whether they would do what needs to be done. I have seen indicators in both that worry me. They're both long stories, I'll just leave it at- when they're around I consider myself alone and change tactics accordingly
I will admit that we have one guy that's so lazy, it's a good thing for him that breathing is a non voluntary motor reflex. As lazy as he is, I always used to see him hovering in my area when I was involved in something. The only initiative he ever seems to take is to be in aroundto provide back up if necessary. That balances out a lot of his other failings
Liter is french, for "Gimmie some f**king cola!!!"
I can say I've never had to deal with anyone who was a known coward (they usually washed out early). Every female I've worked with was more than willing to mix it up if necessary.
Now, I've worked with some who are useless, and some who are treacherous (which I guess is as bad as cowardly).
One I couldn't peg was a guy I worked with on Dallas PD. This guy was so huge (I mean overweight) he couldn't get anyplace in a hurry. But he was also strong as an ox, and if he made it, you were in good hands. He would grab a couple combatants by the collar and leisurely drag them away kicking and screaming without breaking a sweat - pretty much an unstoppable force.
These two aren't known cowards, I just don't get warm feelings as to their usefuleness when it hits the fan. I've seen and heard some things that reach back to their Academy days that show they are not willing to engage when things get tough.
Did know another guy that was in an Academy I went to. His nickname was "House" Was about 6' 9 or 10 and weighed in between 400 to 450. Couldn't get out of his own way, but if he ever got his meat hooks on you, the hurting started. Washed out academically. Not sure if he would have ever gotten hired anywhere if he made it. His size would have quieted a lot of potential problems if he ever did get on with anyone.
As I see constables working, I still look for him. That would have been a logical route for him to take if he ever completed an Academy.
What you said is true as far as it goes. I was involved in only two shootings in a 29 year career. But hand to hand encounters are EXTREMELY common I am a retired state police officer who worked in the Chicago area. I am 6' tall and weigh 210. I always worked out with heavy weights because size and muscle is EXTREMELY useful in the sort of exchange 2-3 punches and wind up on the ground in a desperate grappling match with close in strikes that comprise the vast majority of police hand to hand encounters. I could run 4 miles in 26 minutes, bench press 400 lbs for 3 reps, squat 550, dead lift 575, was a former member of the 1st Army boxing team and I STILL often had diffuculties in a one on one with a cracked up, amped up dope fiend who resisted arrest.
I knew many brave, capable and observant women police. I NEVER saw one who I felt was capable of going one on one with almost any determined, resistive male offender,(whereas I knew MANY male officers who could) and when I spoke to them about this issue, they would often admit that I was correct. They said they tried to work such encounters so they would have ready male backup.
For the less dedicated women, I suspected that they might let much suspicious activity slide if they were not assured of a ready backup.
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