Saturday, March 31, 2012

Instead of Walter's Column...

...how about this editorial from the Sun Times (apologies for reprinting the whole thing, but it's a lot better than any "perspective" Jacobson might come up with):
  • Here he comes, Police Officer Del Pearson, rolling out of the hospital in a wheelchair on Tuesday, into a sunny day. He wears his badge on a sling that cradles his arm.

    Twenty cops or more stand at attention. How they waited for this. How they prayed for this.

    How they told his wife, “Del’s gonna be OK,” though they did not know.

    How they told his two children, “Your dad’s a good cop,” which they did know.

    Now here he comes, released from the hospital just eight days after a bullet ripped through a major artery, leaving him close to death. On the night he was shot, more than 100 police officers stood vigil in the dark outside the hospital, nobody going home until their brother in blue was out of surgery.

    As a nurse rolls him out the door, a line of police officers salute him.

    “Way to go, Del!” one calls out.

    “You’re the man,” another cries.

    Officer Pearson says nothing, but his face says much. He is choked up. He is moved.

    This is how — and this is why — cops stick together.

    Because they do a dangerous job and nobody knows that better than another cop.

    And because sticking together is how they stay alive.

    Man in an alley with a gun? Call for backup.

    Shots fired at a three-flat? Call for backup.

    An officer shot in the chest, as Pearson was, as he chases a suspect across a yard? Sweep him into your squad car and get him to the hospital. He is bleeding profusely. There is no time to wait for an ambulance.

    He would do the same for you.

    “I wasn’t going to let my friend and my co-worker lie there and possibly bleed to death while we stood around and waited,” said Sgt. Christopher Kapa, who along with Officer Kirsten Lund rushed Pearson to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. “I saw the massive amounts of blood and said, ‘Let’s go.’ ”

    We — the public and the media and the politicians — get tough on cops a lot, especially when we think they’re sticking together just a little too much. We don’t like it when they fail to call out, or even dare to defend, the cop who pummels a barmaid or tortures a suspect or trumps up a charge.

    But the good cops — and that, of course, would be most of them — despise the rogues, too.

    We have to remember that.

    And when a police officer is on the job, sticking together is the first law of survival.

    One Chicago police officer, Clifton Lewis, was killed last year. Six more officers have been shot in the last nine months.

    When a cop is shot, we should all be standing vigil outside the hospital in the night.

Labels:

32 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amazing article. And they should promote Del immediately.

3/31/2012 12:10:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When a cop is shot, we should all be standing vigil outside the hospital in the night.

===
And we shouldn't, as the mayor of this fine city, be looking to STICK IT IN THE EAR (or whatever he really said) of the police, come contract time.

3/31/2012 12:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who ever defended abatte?

3/31/2012 12:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am absolutely floored that a liberal rag like the Slum Times would actually write an editorial SUPPORTING law enforcement!!!

3/31/2012 01:32:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen.

3/31/2012 02:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

When a cop is shot, we should all be standing vigil outside the hospital in the night.





Amen.

3/31/2012 02:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can this P.O. Please be promoted to sgt or det? He definitely deserves this....

3/31/2012 05:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No truer words have been written to describe how we feel for our brothers in blue. Stay safe boys and girls.

3/31/2012 07:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

finally good news, get well Del.

3/31/2012 07:14:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who wrote this... I would like to send them a note of appreciation... in what days paper?

3/31/2012 07:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

With everyone getting shot and robbed, is the pendulum starting to swing the other way? You knew one liberals became victimized it was only a matter of time till they started crying that the police need to be taken care of better. When it was just black boys shooting black boys in black neighborhoods it was ok though...just sayin.

3/31/2012 09:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't believe that Rahm would allow this to be printed in Chicago. It's a great article and truthful article. Amen

3/31/2012 09:39:00 AM  
Anonymous mission scum said...

is it safe to use a hair dryer to dry tears off my keyboard?.......I am deeply moved by this article, and the timing couldn't be better!

3/31/2012 10:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How refreshing it is to see a Chicago paper print something positive for once. Almost makes me want to renew my subscription....almost.

3/31/2012 10:32:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow

3/31/2012 10:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lets never forget the officers that were shot

3/31/2012 11:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They love you when you're dying or dead.

3/31/2012 11:40:00 AM  
Anonymous Hot Pursuit said...

Amen my brothers.....Amen

3/31/2012 12:43:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Who ever defended abatte?

3/31/2012 12:42:00 AM


I heard a few assholes defend Abbatte. "Few" being the key word.

The defenses revolved around such irrelevant issues as the bartenders immigration status and the immigration status of her supposed boyfriend. I walked away before my blood pressure rose too high.

I don't recall anyone claiming he had been a good cop though. I'm sure one or two of his friends would claim that. They might have the sense to keep their mouths shut on that one.

Also generally any time a cop gets involved in a scandal involving money, whether it be tow trucks or drug dealers, some idiot will start whining about the high cost of living in "da shitty" as justification. Again, take deep breath, walk the feck away.

Unless I pull over a car and find three million dollars in unmarked bills, which has thankfully never happened, nothing tempts me to risk the shame and embarrassment of trial and time in the federal prisons. I would hope I'd have the sense to turn the money over to the city so they could use it to replace any streetlights that might have been shot out.

I hear that the number of shot out streetlights near 35th street has gone up exponentially the last ten months or so.

3/31/2012 01:36:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now I know I'm beating a dead horse here, and I'm not defending Abatte, but after just reading the statute word for word, I still don't get how he was charged with Agg. Batt. Probably the worst case of media railroading ever! Should he have been fired, most likely. charged with a felony, no f'in way!

3/31/2012 02:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is how — and this is why — cops stick together.

TRUTH!!

3/31/2012 02:58:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OT: anyone see the Eric and Kathy radio billboard " erick and Kathy in chicago police ball caps" "don't think and drive"

3/31/2012 03:07:00 PM  
Anonymous Merit is sometimes a problem... said...

Promote Del immediately? Seriously? Why? Because he was injured? Del is a great cop; everyone that knows him would say it. But, promotion based on injury is an insult. Del is quite able to make those decisions for himself. Maybe he doesn't want to be a supervisor and tolerate all the bullshit that goes along with that promotion. Maybe Del doesn't want to be a detective and deal with the extended hours and constant workload. He would be a good detective, but he and his family need to make that decision. An ET? Can you see Del at this point in his career taking pictures and dusting for prints? Maybe a copper who has been injured would make a shitty supervisor, a clueless detective or a poor candidate to some other promotable positions. How about looking to take care of them and their family rather than automatically promoting them? An injury isn't an entitlement.

3/31/2012 04:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw the video and could tell this Officer was holding back emotion and it just rips through your heart. Thank God he was saved. And so proud of CPD brothers/sisters being there for him.
~from CPD family

3/31/2012 06:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

APRIL FOOLS!

3/31/2012 07:33:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't know you del but thank god you are alive!!!! U made it!!! U went through far more than any of us ever will. My thoughts will always be with you!!!

3/31/2012 08:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can this P.O. Please be promoted to sgt or det? He definitely deserves this....

3/31/2012 05:12:00 AM
======
Why?
Does being a victim warrant a promotion?

And, before you jump on me, I'm not a civilian troll. I'm KMA, and I've never understood the 'promote em 'cause they got shot' thought process.

Getting shot doesn't make you suddenly brilliant or convey remarkable detective abilities. Supervisory capability didn't transfer into the body along with the bullet.

An inside job, so you can regroup - yes. Your choice of district or available unit assignments - okay, sure. But not a promotion.

3/31/2012 09:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Yoga Mann said...

A decent article about a good cop. Perhaps there's still hope.

3/31/2012 11:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

While I cant speak for Officer PEARSON, I can speak for myself as a Chicago Police Officer with 15 years on.

Sun Times...Go Fuck Yourself.

This one article will never make up for the one sided, anti-police bullshit you and your editorial staff put out on a daily basis. From Mary Mitchell to Jesse, to the most recent cartoon of P.O.'s letting Daley's Nephew go.

I am not and will never be swayed from my opinion.

And you DARE have your staff call the Area's daily asking if "Anything is going on tonight?" (Sound Familiar??)

Time and time again your paper has been void of integrity.

I have been personally been involved in news worthy investigations that your covered, and you know what....what you print AND WHAT THE FACTS ARE never match. I have gone so far as to contact News Affairs and ask them what information you received from them, which you have altered to fit into what "type" of story you want to print.

To my fellow P.O.'s, don't believe this editorial for a second.

Again to the Sun Times...Go fuck yourselves.

4/01/2012 08:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As one PO who was on the end of three bullets from a state supported ass wipe back in 1988 i am awed by the our blue shirts. The same was true in 88. We are all we have and believe in. Del you will always be in my thoughts and prayers. A soon to be retired proud police officer.

denny m

4/01/2012 06:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it's great but then I take my fun where I find it. Thank you very much Sun Times.

4/02/2012 03:08:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't be a hater. That's how New Yawk promotes almost all their Dicks. On the spot baby. At least you'll know they WORK! That's more than u got now.

4/03/2012 04:39:00 PM  

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