If you give a dishonest man enough rope, not only will he hang a few innocent people, he will eventually hang himself, too.
In 2001, when I was still living in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, a Chicago police officer whose initials are N.M., approached me on the lakefront, near the Lakefront Trail and Wilson Avenue.
Although I can't remember the exact date we met, I do recall the weather was extremely warm that day. So, I'm guessing we met in July or August of that year.
When Officer M. pulled his squad car up to the bench where I was sitting, I was feeding the squirrels peanuts and thumbing through the pages of a book I had recently purchased at Barnes & Noble.
When I asked Officer M. if there was a problem, he commented on how toned my body was and flashed a smile... then he asked to see my ID.
At that moment, I recognized Officer M. as a weekend security guard from a gay bar in Boystown; so, I knew he was probably trying to get in my pants.
After scanning my ID with his beady, dark brown eyes, Officer M. popped a stick of Big Red chewing gum in his mouth and demanded a kiss.
Shocked and a little bit disgusted, I declined his advances.
However, determined to find a chink in my armor, Officer M. continuously flirted with me and kept telling me what a great catch he was.
"You should forget about these young boys and get yourself a mature man, like me," said the apparently horny cop. "I'm the kind of guy that sticks around for the long haul. Those young boys aren't going to be faithful to you."
At some point during his nearly 10-minute sales pitch, Officer M. starting babbling about his duties as a Chicago police officer.
Suddenly, my head shot up like a meerkat out of a desert hole. He had my full attention.
"Do you know what my greatest weapon is," asked Officer M. "It's my pen."
"Really", I said. "Please explain."
"You see this pen? I can take away anyone's freedom with the stroke of my pen and it doesn't matter if they are guilty or not," said Officer M. "I'm just that good!"
Unsure if he was trying to impress me or threaten me - I engaged Officer M. in another 10 minutes of small talk, gave him a fictitious phone number, told him to call me for a date, shook his hand and unceremoniously left the area.
Shortly after our encounter, I moved to another neighborhood and I never saw Officer M., again. But I have never forgotten our little conversation.
In fact, that night, for reasons unknown, I wrote down most of what he said to me on a sheet of notebook paper - which I kept for several years.
Last night, while I was doing some online research, I almost fell out of my chair when I discovered Officer M. was suspended from the Chicago Police Department for one year. His suspension ends toward the end of 2012.
According to court documents, the Chicago Police Board found M. guilty of disobedience of an order or directive, maltreatment of a citizen, and... filing a false police report.
In addition to these findings, I also unearthed a lawsuit alleging M. violated several citizens' civil rights.
You know... where there's smoke, there's usually fire. I think every conviction M. has been involved in, needs to be investigated.
But, hey! You didn't hear that from me.
*yawn* this isnt news...
ReplyDeleteYour a goof if you failed to report this incident ELEVEN years ago. Because of you and others like you, innocent people were victimized.
ReplyDeleteCheck the general orders - cops arent allowed to work in bars.
Youre an ass.
if u think reporting a cop is easy, ur the ass
ReplyDeleteI didnt say it was easy - I said it should have been done.
DeleteIt would have corraborated all of the other victims with balls who stood up to this cop when they were victimized.
Take your pick, but should have gone to CPD OPS, IPRA, Peoples Law Office, ACLI, LAMDA Legal, Jon Erickson, Lakeview Action Coalition, Night Ministry, Windy City Media, Chicago Cmsn of Human Relations, et al.
Don't apologize for this wimp - he should have acted and didnt. And because if him, others were victimized. If your not part of the solution, then your part of the problem.
YEAH JUST CALL 911 AND THE OPERATOR BE GLAD TO HELP YOU BRING DOWN A CROOKED POLICE OFFICER! LMAO!
ReplyDeleteWhy can't you provide his full name instead of just initials?
ReplyDeleteYou guys are idiots if you think its easy to report a police officer. I would rather get mugged.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder rogue cops prey on clueless victims.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of spineless fags.
You all talk like you have a pair on this anon thread but then you cower when it matters.
Shut up now if you shut up then.
Just take his star number and file a CR against the cop - because you dont know what is pending against the cop when you do it.
And theyll pay attention to you when you file a civil suit against the city and CPD.
What a bunch of dumbass little boys.
Markovich in 023 (now 019 - Town Hall) tact was suspended.
ReplyDeleteIts public record.
Google it.
Look, if a cop commits illegal acts, then report him/her. We all dont need bad cops on the job that are being well-paid to violate their public trust.
Cant believe the majority of posters here would rather piss like a puppy than to actually do something.
A victim of bonafide police misconduct may be entitled to civil relief.
ReplyDeleteOften, the city will settle out of court in order to preclude a costly lengthy trial and uncertain jury award.
Now, the city doesnt just hand out checks.
But all of the settlements reached by the city are approved by the city council and are public record.
Amazing list of payouts for police misconduct and/or excessive force.
Its on the city eebsite.
Google it.
I don't get why being cruised by a cop is a problem...it's actually hot.
ReplyDeleteThanks soooo much Tim Fitz.
ReplyDeleteInstead of actually having a pair of balls and reporting him back when it happened, you wait and post some vague/cryptic recollection 11 years after the fact.
If you think all those convictions should be overturned or investigated, then you should also lead the charge to get that done. After all, they are partially YOUR FAULT...
To the original poster - this doesn't reflect favorably on your judgement or problem solving skills.
ReplyDeleteYou should have reported the cop when the incident occurred, and not kept it a secret for more than a DECADE.
I hope the subsequent victims become aware of your account and your deliberate choice not to become involved.
Marcovich
ReplyDeleteFuck the police. This shit happens all the time.
ReplyDeleteThats why people should do something about it.
DeleteGay and racist?
ReplyDeleteYou failed the future victims of that POS. 11 years later, and this is a story?
ReplyDeleteOK Tim, I try to see humor in the strange..& I enjoyed your story especially the meerkat..now that was funny! Anywho I did not know as woman that gay men can also be hit up on by some weirdo cop like your experience. It is rather creepy that tax payers are paying this cop to serve & protect...ick..
ReplyDelete^Believe it or not, it happens more often than people think.
ReplyDelete