Some communities are hiring off-duty police to protect them, knowing that the city will not.
Rogers Park & EdgewaterCrime & MayhemEducation
Jewish Neighborhood Hires Off-Duty Officers, Chicago Police Doesn’t Like It
By Benjamin Woodard | May 15, 2015 5:27am | Updated on May 15, 2015 10:24am
WEST ROGERS PARK — After a series of attacks and anti-Semitic threats, Jewish families in West Rogers Park have lined up their own security force of off-duty Chicago police officers to patrol the neighborhood.
But the neighborhood’s top police officers are unhappy about the move, saying they don’t want residents to get a false sense of security.
The armed officers set up outside Jewish institutions and use personal cars to drive through a 16-block chunk of West Rogers Park during the weekly Sabbath and holidays when the Orthodox community members typically don’t carry phones or drive.
Resident David Kamish, 41, organized the patrols and collects $25 a month from more than 25 families to pay the officers. The project’s budget is currently $800 a month and goes exclusively to pay off-duty officers assigned to the Rogers Park Police District, he said.
“The police officers are grossly underpaid and certainly under-appreciated,” Kamish said. “And we just want to continue working with them and being appreciative of their efforts — whether it be off duty or on duty.”
By Benjamin Woodard | May 15, 2015 5:27am | Updated on May 15, 2015 10:24am
WEST ROGERS PARK — After a series of attacks and anti-Semitic threats, Jewish families in West Rogers Park have lined up their own security force of off-duty Chicago police officers to patrol the neighborhood.
Taxpayers PAY for police - - buildings, salaries, pensions etc.
Most of us get nothing in return.
Taxpayers pay so police can babysit the black community... the rest of us buy security systems (on our own dime) and form 'watch groups...
It's time for neighborhoods to be charged for the police service they actually USE.
If the guy across town leaves his hose running 24/7 because he's too lazy to go out and turn it off - MY WATER BILL ISN'T RAISED TO PAY FOR HIM.
I'm tired of paying for police to babysit the black community.