Fixing What Has Ailed the Chicago Police Department for Decades

Tuesday, December 15th, 2015

In-Person Remarks to the Chicago City Council's
Police and Fire Committee:

Good morning to you, Committee Chair Reboyras and
the Members of the Police and Fire Committee.
I'm Amber Ladeira, 7820 Madison, Forest Park, Illinois.
(I lived and worked in Chicago for most of my 70 years.)

There are three main areas of policy errors, which, if fixed,
will sharply curtail the too-frequent killings by Chicago
Police officers, particularly of only possible perpetrators,
especially in communities of color:

(1) Carefully and critically scrutinize the psychological
screening test that purportedly weeds out any unsuitable
candidates applying for employment with the Chicago
Police Department. I know individuals who have taken
that test; they claim it is wholly inadequate, can present
a false, positive profile of the candidate, as anyone alert
enough can determine what the test is looking for, then
provide it. After decades of unnecessary killings, it is
obvious to me, at least, that propensity toward bullying
and racism is NOT being eliminated by this test.
Throw it out, compose a new and better one!

(2) Much more time must be spent at the Police Training
Academy on Jackson, honing the correct, split second
reactions so frequently mentioned: drill 'til the probies
can quickly distinguish between a gun and a cell phone,
or a gun vs. any other object. Swift shape recognition
of hand-held objects in this era of gun madness is key
--that is, if indeed all lives matter, which I, sad to say,
do not think many in the white community believe...
as the long history of these shameful incidents plainly show.

(3) Stepping up a much more detailed, thorough
policy of background checks than the department
now carries out would also ameliorate these
scurrilous episodes. Why hire anyone who killed
animals for fun, got into many fist fights, or set
stuff on fire? These sorts are not at heart interested
in serving and protecting; they are, instead, into
power; one way to get it is to become a police
officer. It is a lot more work/effort intensive to
acquire authority (power) by being elected;
I bet most people understand that.

If these three suggestions ever became
committed policy, marked improvement
would be noted within a year or two. Other
suggestions about independent oversight
and after the fact resolutions are fine,
but why not handle matters BEFORE
any more unjustified homicides happen?

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