His Handicap is Mental

A Cook County sheriff's officer was caught parking in a handicapped zone by a high school student with a phone cam. Allegedly, the officer was responding to a call at Shepard High School, though not an emergency call. The student claims there were open spaces just yards away.

This is fairly typical activity, but with the abundance of shutter bugs and cam phones, this kind of activity is hard to ignore. If the student had filed a complaint and there was no picture, nothing further would have happened. The Office of Professional Review has opened an investigation, but that will likely result in no disciplinary action.

There is always a debate from the officers and their supports that on duty personnel don't follow the laws as they may have to hasten away for an emergency. I can almost get behind that. The problem is the behavior is rampant and (as in this case) flagrant and unnecessary. It is also annoying to citizens who get hassled by these same officers. Not just ticketed for violations, but verbally harassed.

There are good officers, no doubt. However, anyone with a pair of working eyes has been witness to the liberties being taken. I don't need to hear about all the wonderful officers. I know they are out there doing what they can. It only takes a few rats to sink the ship and if you don't think the rats are there, you are ignoring the evidence.

These are the little things, but also evidence of an overarching systemic problem. Nothing about this adds to my sense of security.