Fatal Chicago Beating - What could a bystander have done?

[ilbob]

But, despite all that, whether or not anyone here believes it, there's a great core of decency in most Chicagoans, regardless of their color, their ethnicity, or their neighborhood. I've never come across a situation precisely like this, but as in any dangerous situation, you need to weigh the possible upside and downside against your sense of right and wrong.

However, I read Deanimator and ilbob as painting the whole city with a pretty broad brush, saying effectively, "It's Chicago . . . just walk away and don't call the cops." I disagree.

If there was a core of decency in Chicago voters as a whole, they would have voted the Daley crime family and his cronies out of office many years ago.

Its true that there are areas of the city that are safer than other areas. The incident under discussion did not happen in an area that anyone would consider "safe".

As a whole, getting involved with Chicago PD is a serious risk, especially in those neighborhoods. Less so in safer areas.

If I am a passer by to such an incident, I am going to make tracks and only when I am a long and safe ways away am I going to even think about doing anything else, including calling 911.

BTW, any place but Chicago (or a few of the more nefarious suburbs - you being in LE probably know the ones I am thinking of - they are the ones with dozens of indicted cops), I probably call 911 - on my way somewhere safe.

 

[MisterMike]

Bob, while I disagree with you, I think it's worthwhile to discuss these issues. One of the lessons to be learned from all of this is that what might work in Billings doesn't necessarily fly in Chicago (at least parts of it). If nothing else, I think we'd agree that you need to be keenly aware of your situation before deciding whether and how to react in a situation like this.

BTW, I'm no defender of Chicago politicians or of the poor decisions made by the electorate. And just to elaborate, I'm a retired LEO. Don't want to mislead anyone.

 

[Deanimator]

However, I read Deanimator and ilbob as painting the whole city with a pretty broad brush, saying effectively, "It's Chicago . . . just walk away and don't call the cops." I disagree.

I'm from Chicago, and from not all that far from where the murder happened. I was born in Chicago and lived there until I joined the Army.

You've got a better chance of finding a bucket of chitlins at Friday prayers in Teheran than any "decency" in Chicago, ESPECIALLY in the situation being discussed.

Were I to come across such a situation, I would absent myself with all haste. I would NOT call 911, CERTAINLY not in any way which could be tied to me. I don't want to be involved with gang members. I don't want to be involved with the Chicago PD. A certain number of Chicago cops don't have any such reservations about being involved with gang members. I don't know WHICH ones, and there's nothing in it for me to find out.

I didn't cause idiots in Chicago to beat, stab, or shoot each other to death. I didn't cause cops to enter into social and business relationships with them. I didn't cause it. I'm not going to fix it. I'm certainly not going to fix it contrary to the obvious wishes of the majority of Chicago voters who regularly return the puppet masters of this blood drenched Punch and Judy Show to office. I'm certainly not going to risk my life trying.

 

[Fred Fuller]

OK, we're over three pages and the politics is kicking in heavily. I think we've done about all we can for this one.

lpl