Binary B.S.

“There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity.”

--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe--

“The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best - and therefore never scrutinize or question.”

--Stephen Jay Gould--

“The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use - of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public.”

--Robert F. Kennedy--

Okay. I am back. I needed a little break for a while but I am back now. Miss me?

Anyway, I had to write something about Mayor Daley’s response to the aldermen that requested the names of six hundred sixty-two (662) police officers that were accused of abusing citizens in more than 10 complaints from 2001 to 2006. Mayor Daley did what most people do who are not interested in dealing with ugly truths; he attempted to distort the issue by acting as if a binary situation exists when it does not. What do I mean by that? Mayor Daley did what most politicians do. He courted the vote of a powerful organization, the fraternal order of police, instead of courting a solution to the ugly problem of police brutality. He did that by trying to insinuate that all police officers must be treated as one instead of as individuals.

He reacted as if when a reporter, alderman, or regular citizen questions a few police officers it is the same as questioning all police officers. It is an old game that does a disservice to the vast majority of police officers that do their jobs professionally and to the population as a whole because it keeps the public from dealing with the ugly reality of police brutality that is perpetrated by a small minority of police officers.

How does that happen? Easy. No probing questions. No real investigations into citizen complaints. No checks. No balances. No limit to the power a police officer has because everyone just takes his/her word for whatever happens on the streets; especially when it involves anyone that may have a criminal record. Can you say absolute power?! And what does it do again?

The Mayor’s assertion does not fit the numbers. According to statements made by the Mayor and other city officials in the major newspapers last week, there are approximately 13,000 police officers on the Chicago Police force. And according to the news reports the aldermen were seeking the names of 662 officers, which represent only about 5% of the police force. That means that 95% of the police officers in Chicago are not involved in the inquiry. 95%!!! How many people can say that 95% of their profession is above reproach? As a lawyer I won’t even begin to open my mouth to say something like that. Yet the Mayor wants to act as if the aldermen by asking for the names (I hope in an effort to try to get a better understanding of what needs to be done better to prevent police officers from abusing people) they have tarnished the reputation of the entire Chicago Police Force. That is ridiculous.

I agree with the Mayor that the officers should receive due process and the officers should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, that has nothing to do with learning their names. People are accused of crimes every day and have their names printed on crime blotters every day without the same benefit. Why should these officers receive any different treatment?

In addition, there is an ugly reality that most law enforcement officers enjoy a great deal of deference and latitude when it comes to their actions towards the public. I generally do not have too much of a problem with it as long as it does not endanger the public. However, when we the people do what the Mayor did and treat police officers as either all angels or all demons then we run the risk of giving too much or to little power to the police. Police officers are human beings and therefore susceptible to abusing their powers if no checks are put on them.