Speaking of Chicago...Chicago Proposal Would Allow Private Sponsorship of Police

[WatchManUSA]

http://m.nbcchicago.com/nbcchicago/pm_107717/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=Kn5l1iBK


A philanthropist or business could sponsor a police beat and put more off-duty cops on the streets under a plan being put forth by a downtown Chicago alderman.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), originally pitched the idea last October but is pushing it again following weekend incidents of mob activity on Michigan Avenue.

Under his plan, off-duty officers would work minimum six-hour shifts and make $30 an hour. The money would be paid by businesses, civic groups and churches at a time when city finances are stretched thin. The officers would be in full uniform and under the command of police supervisors.

"This is a way to make use of well-trained police officers who are moonlighting doing other things, bringing them back on the street to do what they do best, which is great police work,” Reilly said.

And he said his plan wouldn't just apply to the city's more affluent neighborhoods. There would be nothing in his proposal preventing an organization from sponsoring police protection anywhere in the city.

"You don't need to live in the ZIP code where you want to provide some additional stability and public safety," he said.

Still, he pressed that his plan is little more than a "creative tool" and isn't a long-term solution to the department's and the city's woes.

"This is a stop-gap measure," he said."A long-term solution is we need to add more on-duty cops to the police department."

Supt. Garry McCarthy said incidents of mob activity like the ones that happened over the weekend occur every year as the weather gets warmer. But Reilly says police presence makes a difference.

"This is something that, unfortunately, the city's had to struggle with on a seasonal basis for the last several years. But you'll notice that those headlines went away just like that as soon as we saw a surge in police visibility," Reilly said.

He said he hopes the budget committee will pass his bill and put it before the full Chicago City Council in an upcoming meeting.

[twyacht]

Sub-contracting out LEO's in towns that have either widespread corruption, are broke, or both seems more popular these days..

Let the wealthy neighborhoods pay for their own Cops, rather than let them arm themselves....Since the ghetto areas cannot do either, should work out well. Like the sections of Detroit they don't even patrol anymore, they just get the bodies off the street for health reasons.

I guess they are cheaper than hiring armed mall ninja's, oh wait....The Cops need to moonlight also....

http://patdollard.com/2013/04/wealthy-neighborhoods-hire-private-cops-as-cities-lay-off-police/

[WatchManUSA]

I guess I see it differently.  It looks like they want to have "sponsors" for the police in areas.  I can see it now, cops looking like NASCAR drivers with dozens of sponsor logos on their uniforms.

Come to think of it, didn't the Chicago mobs do this already by buying off the police so they look the other way when their "sponsor" commits crimes?

[MinotBob]

Can't you already buy a policeman in Chicago?

[Rastus]

Some of the animals at the farm are more equal than others.

Rich people have gun thugs and we have our guns taken away.

Nice.

PS  Great observation Minot Bob

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

Can't you already buy a policeman in Chicago?

That's the challenge here.  Finding a cop who isn't booked solid already  

Maybe they can have an auction?

[dipisc]

Hi;

     The cops are already being paid to be there...Why should anyone pay extra when the tax money is there to have cops present. What is being done with the cities budget ?  If you work a cop more hours per day - then they get tired and start calling off sick on their "regular" hours. It makes no sence....If you need more cops then hire more cops and assign them to "hot" areas. Also, start making the cops that are assigned to HQ's be put back out in the streets.

[tombogan03884]

Hi;

     The cops are already being paid to be there...Why should anyone pay extra when the tax money is there to have cops present. What is being done with the cities budget ?  If you work a cop more hours per day - then they get tired and start calling off sick on their "regular" hours. It makes no sence....If you need more cops then hire more cops and assign them to "hot" areas. Also, start making the cops that are assigned to HQ's be put back out in the streets.

The truth of the matter is that the money to do the job properly IS NOT there .
That's why Chitcago has the highest municipal sales tax in the world at more than 10%.
The article says that the area you subsidize does not have to be where you live .
I haven't thought through all the implications of this but having high crime area's policed by subscription seems to be the same as having churches take care of the poor.
Rather than raise every ones taxes have those who can afford to give VOLUNTARILY pay to more effectively cut crime.