February 11, 2009

This evening, at the conclusion of WVON radio’s special screening at the ICE
Theater at 210 W. 87th Street, I incurred an extremely distressing encounter
with an on-duty Chicago police officer.

As I was walking to my vehicle, while talking with a friend who is currently a

Chicago police officer, Officer Heard, driving a marked police vehicle with
beat tag number “652” crossed our paths. The off duty officer had a brief
conversation with Officer Heard and went on her way. As I was standing
there, I noticed Officer Heard had a parking citation book next to him. Since
we were in the parking lot of the ICE Theater, I thought he might possibly be
writing tickets on vehicles parked in the lot.

In a very inquisitive manner, I asked Officer Heard if in fact that’s what he

was doing. He replied yes. I asked him had he been called and why? He said
he was writing tickets to enforce the law and had not been called. I asked
him didn’t he think that was rather “pimpy” and went on to point out to him
that he was engaging in a form of harassment? I asked him didn’t he think
his behavior was rather exploitative of people who came out to attend a
special event in the community and that many of the people there were
senior citizens? I also pointed out that maybe they were more financially able
to attend this special event than update their plate? And if you wanted to
write citizens for expired plates, why not stop them while driving their
vehicle rather in a parking lot with no one in the vehicle? Why not an
announcement in the theater to warn people they would be ticketed? His
reply was “I got to get mine”. I asked him what did that mean. He said he’s
got to do his job by enforcing the law. I pointed out that I know he practices
discretion when he sees fit and doesn’t always obey the law. I cited the
example of talking on his cell phone while operating not just a motor vehicle
but a police vehicle. He admitted that he does engage in that practice but he
further stated that if he gets caught, he’ll just have to pay the consequences.
I also asked him if so-called crimes are enforced equitably, such as crimes
against persons vs. non-compliance citations i.e. expired license plates. I
asked him did he take pride in over-burdening people with citations that
allegedly generate revenue that the people don’t seem to receive benefit.
But instead, too often in this city, helps corrupt city officials?
The conversation continued and the more we engaged one another, it
became blatantly obvious to me that Officer Heard, a nine year veteran (he
stated), has absolutely no connection with the community he works and
probably lives in. Actually, at one point in the conversation, I reminded him
that these were his people and that he didn’t appear to understand his
obligation to them. I reminded him of an allegiance that other officers of
other ethnic groups seemed to have to the people in their communities. We
both agreed and he said he doesn’t care what they do. He’s not in those
communities. He emphatically stated to me that these were not his people.
They were law breakers.

At that point, I must admit, I felt betrayed, then angry. I thought of all of the
Black men and women who had paved the way so this stupid, a-historical,
fool, could sit in a Chicago Police Department beat car, in the sixth police
district, making five figures, so he could bear contempt for some of the very
people who made it possible for him to live this dream.

And I began to tell him so. I told him about Renault Robinson and the Afro-
American Patrolman’s League. Of course, he didn’t know anything about
that. Neither did he care. It was at this point he began to drive away, all the
while stating, “Where is your vehicle”, so I can write you a ticket”?

I returned to the theater to ask management of the theater had they been
having a problem with patrons being written tickets while parked in the
movie parking lot? She told me yes. She even stated that they attend
CAPS(Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) meetings and had brought this
matter up. I told her to make the record by contacting IPRA (Independent
Police Review Authority). I called and filed a report as well. I then went into
the theater where the radio station personalities were conducting a question
and answer of the movie that was just viewed. At which time, I was
permitted to make an announcement about vehicles being ticketed in the lot.
Subsequently, I left.

If Officer Heard is representative of the quality of human being that is

dominant on the police force in Chicago, then increased police-community
confrontation is inevitable. If the mindset that Officer Heard possesses
resulting in the behavior he executes, is encouraged by the administration of
the Chicago Police Department, then no longer can this be called a
democratic and open society. It is a closed society, bordering on fascism.
Ironically, Officer Heard doesn’t have a clue as to what he is perpetrating. He
is an African American male with some semblance of authority who hates
African American people. He is the Black officer in the movie “Boys in the
Hood”, who was more brutal to Black people than the white officer.

The Chicago Police Department is a public entity and every component of it

should come under public scrutiny. That means its’ personnel, especially.
Just as the “broken windows” theory in community-oriented policing focuses
on small crimes before they develop into more serious crime, the community
should implement its’ own “broken windows” concept.

Whenever it comes to the attention of the community that an officer has

disrespected the community, even in a small way, his/her behavior must be
addressed before it develops into to a greater level of disrespect. Abuse
leads to brutality. Brutality leads to torture. Torture leads to murder.

Officer Heard does not deserve the right to work a beat where he has the
privilege of serving and protecting his community. He should be removed
from that responsibility. If the Fraternal of Police wishes to fight on his
behalf, so be it but we are insisting that the District Commander of the 6th
(Gresham) District act on this matter. Further, we are encouraging all of
those who receive this correspondence or hear of this incident to contact the
District Commander and tell him that the community deserves better than
Officer Heard and they expect to get it.

Patricia L.Hill – Executive Director, African

American Police League (773) 330-6960

Cc; Everett Johnson, Commander-6th District

Tina Skahill, Chief-CAPS, Chicago Police Department

Attorney Lawrence Kennon
Attorney Standish Willis
Management, ICE Theater
WVON Radio