Today's musical break! The Impossible Dream.

I bet you never knew that Jim Nabors was an accomplished singer. What a great blast to the past watching Gomer Pyle sing this song.

You have read the newspapers and SLC... the last few days had many of us working around the clock... Murders and Shootings are stacking up.

Sorry about most of posting being on the light side but basically word around the clock the last few days. So tonight is Open Mic Night! Tell us what is on your mind.

South Carolina Police Say Man Fatally Wounded by cops in North Carolina is Spree Killer

A sketch of the serial killer police in northwestern South Carolina believe murdered five people; the suspect still is on the loose.

GAFFNEY, S.C. — South Carolina law enforcement officials have identified the serial killing suspect slain in North Carolina as a felon with a lengthy record who was paroled in April after seven years in prison.

They say Patrick Tracy Burris was the man responsible for shooting five people to death in a killing spree that has terrorized residents in and around Gaffney.

He was shot by police responding to a burglary complaint in Gastonia, N.C., early Monday. They say bullets in his gun matched those used to kill residents in and around Gaffney some 30 miles away.

Authorities did not immediately say where Burris was from.

North Carolina prison records show the 41-year-old served more than seven years for felony breaking and entering and larceny. He has a lengthy record.

"We have him. He's our serial killer," a police spokesman said Monday night.

Authorities said Burris has had several encounters with law enforcement over the years.

Investigators still have no idea why he started the killing spree June 27.

"He was unpredictable. He was scary. He was weird," the spokesman said.

The case came to an end in Gastonia early Monday after a couple called police to report a suspicious sport utility vehicle in their neighborhood.

Mike and Terri Valentine were on edge because the Gaffney serial killer was just a short drive away.

They watched two people who sometimes visit the neighboring home get out of the vehicle, followed by a third man who matched the descriptell "put it down" and heard a gunshot.

Then "bam, bam, bam, bam. Next thing I know, all of Gaston County was here," she said.

Gaston County police said the other two people were in custody, but did not indicate whether they were facing charges.

The Gaffney killings happened in a 10-mile area over six days. A peach farmer was killed June 27, an 83-year-old woman and her daughter were found bound and shot four days later, and the next day a father and his teen daughter were shot in their family's furniture store.

SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd said the investigation isn't over, and Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton said investigators will trace the suspect's recent activities and trying to figure out if he has killed other people in other places.

Blanton said he hopes the arrest calms the fears of 54,000 people in the county 50 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., known for its peach orchards and mills.

"We feel the victims' pain," Blanton said. "This isn't over. We're just changing gears."

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Once again a total asswipe jagoff who should have been behind bars because of his lifelong criminal activities was allow to be set free to kill a bunch of innocent people! When will the day come that assholes like this guy is kept behind bars and not allowed out on the streets to keep killing?

81 year old man's accidental discharge splatters two women in Chicago

2 women hurt in accidental shooting on S. Side
(I like my headline better)

An elderly man visiting from Tennessee accidentally wounded his wife and another female relative over the weekend when his derringer pistol fell from his pocket and fired in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, police said.
The unidentified 81-year-old man was visiting family in the 6600 block of South Harvard Avenue at about 2:10 p.m. Sunday when the shooting occurred, Chicago police said.
As the man piled his plate with food, the two-shot, .25-caliber pistol fell to the floor and fired a single shot that wounded his 75-year-old wife and the 57-year-old second woman, according to Wentworth Area detectives.
Both women suffered non-life threatening injuries to their legs and were treated and released at a local hospital, police said.
Calling the shooting accidental, detectives declined to seek criminal charges against the man, police said.
The palm-sized handguns date back to the 1800s and often don't have trigger guards, which protect from an accidental misfiring.

______________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

A 81 year old man who is packing his Derringer on top of his plate of food... Only in Englewood does the man does have to protect his chicken wings and double cut pork chop from those young buck family members....

So if your a gay bar, police can't check on your premise... What a krock of bullshit.

Hundreds gather last week for a vigil honoring Chad Gibson, a patron who was injured in the raid on the Rainbow Lounge. Witnesses said police slammed his head into a door; police said Gibson had grabbed a state agent. (Paul Moseley / Fort Worth Star-Telegram / July 1, 2009)


Police raid at gay club in Texas stirs ugly memories
The incident, on the heels of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, prompts fear among the Fort Worth gay community that times haven't changed.Reporting from Fort Worth - Todd Camp and some friends had just marked the 40th anniversary of the police raid on New York's Stonewall Inn by screening a documentary on the historic gay riots and then heading for drinks at the Rainbow Lounge.

Camp remembered looking across the bar, packed with gay and some straight couples, and marveling how much times had changed since Stonewall -- the spark that ignited the gay rights movement.

And then the police came.

"No one knew what was happening," said Camp, founder of the Q Cinema gay film festival in Fort Worth. "All I could think was, 'It's Stonewall all over again, and we can't do anything about it.'

Seven officers from the Fort Worth Police Department and two agents from the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission clashed with about 300 bar patrons in the early hours of June 28, reviving an ancient dread that even this conservative Texas city had thought long past.

Seven people were arrested, and witnesses said one man had his head slammed into a door by law enforcement officials. Chad Gibson, 26, was hospitalized with a brain injury and released Saturday.

"It was strange that all this happened on that night of all nights," said Mark Potok, a director at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama. "If it was a simple mistake, then it was a very, very foolish one."

Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead defended his officers, saying they entered a hostile environment and were taunted by patrons with "sexually explicit movements."

Both the police department and the Alcoholic Beverage Commission are conducting internal investigations. City and state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Rick Perry to order an independent inquiry.

In the meantime, both gays and straights wonder whether the incident was an ugly replay of Stonewall or simply a weird convergence of events and bad tempers.

"We have a gay councilman. We've had an ordinance prohibiting discrimination over sexual orientation for years," said Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks, who lives near the bar. "People are angry and confused, and so am I."

The incident began about 12:30 a.m., when police officers and ABC agents arrived for a routine check to ensure the bar wasn't serving underage patrons and to stop potential drunk drivers.

The Rainbow Lounge had opened the week before. Police had stopped by earlier to alert the owner to the inspection.

By the time they returned to the Rainbow, officers had already checked two nearby bars and arrested nine people. Neither of the other bars had a gay clientele.

At the Rainbow Lounge, witnesses said, officers forced their way through the crowd and grew physically and verbally aggressive. They claim the officers arrested people at random, never asked for identification and didn't check blood-alcohol levels on site.

"I've never been so terrified in my life," said Thomas Anable, the bar's accountant. "People were crying. . . . No one knew what to do."

Police say they were faced with an extremely intoxicated crowd that taunted the officers.

They say Gibson, the injured man, was arrested after he grabbed the crotch of an ABC agent. Gibson has denied the charge, his family said.

"You're touched and advanced in certain ways by people inside the bar; that's offensive," Halstead, the police chief, told Dallas-Fort Worth TV station WFAA. "I'm happy with the restraint used when they were contacted like that."

After at least an hour at the bar, officers had handcuffed about 20 people and put them facedown on the sidewalk beneath a "grand opening" banner, witnesses said.

Both law enforcement agencies have faced intense criticism. In a statement last week, state ABC Administrator Alan Steen said: "We are saddened that this incident occurred and extend our sincere hope that Mr. Gibson recovers quickly."

And within days, Halstead's earlier stance seemed to waver. He halted joint investigations with the ABC and said he would review officers' multicultural training to ensure that it covered concerns of the gay community.

But the turmoil caused by the incident is still reverberating in Fort Worth, a city of more than 700,000 people that has long embraced its "Cowtown" nickname, a nod to its working stockyards and ranching heritage.

Despite its old-time roots, its modern history is a blend of conservatism and tolerance -- a paradox well known to Councilman Joel Burns.

Burns' homosexuality, and his 16-year relationship with his partner, became a focal point of his 2007 campaign. At one point, a former councilman urged voters at a Republican Women's Club to vote for a heterosexual candidate, noting that "he's married to a female and the other's married to a male."

"I thought people were going to hate me," said Burns, a real estate agent. Instead, his donations increased, and he won the seat with 54% of the vote.

Now, Burns said, "the talk of town is not about how Fort Worth values diversity, it's about how Fort Worth is an intolerant place. . . . I'm hearing about how people are making threats against public safety officers. The whole thing makes me sick."

Darlene Miller, who lives near the Rainbow Lounge, said the incident had made her uneasy about the bar and its patrons. She's thinking about taking a different route with her two children when they walk to a nearby movie theater.

"I feel terrible even thinking that," said Miller, 39.

Some residents wonder how well they actually know their neighbors.

Robert L. Camina, a filmmaker who has lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for 11 years, said he had never felt like an outsider.

"I can hold hands with a guy in public and not be afraid," said Camina, 36. "I've never felt uncomfortable going to a bar. I've never felt that people were giving me looks."

After the incident, he began to wonder whether it was simply bad judgment and poor timing on the part of law enforcement -- or a homophobia that he had overlooked.

"I thought we'd gotten past this sort of thing a long time ago," Camina said.

Sean Goldberg, a manager at the nearby Gallery Art Cafe, said the incident had changed him.

He was at the Rainbow Lounge that night but was leaving as the police pulled up with a paddy wagon.

"My first thought was, 'Someone must be hurt. They're going to help somebody,' " said Goldberg, 31.

Hours later, friends called with tales of people huddling in corners of the club and sobbing at the bar.

"They still hate us," Goldberg recalled thinking. "Even after all this time, and all that's changed, they still hate us."

p.j.huffstutter@latimes.com
_________________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

So I guess police can't check licensed premises of gays. Because God forbid they do, it's anti-gay. Same sort of thing is happening with Pres. Obama, you say something against one of Obama's policies, your a racist.

It is a nice try by the fucking fruits to stop the police for ever checking on their bars and lounges which usually are open sex clubs and use the Gay Bashing shit to force the police to leave them alone and have the freedom to break any laws they wish.

Tenn. police rule ex-QB McNair's death a homicide - Det. SLC rules it a murder-suicide - Girlfriend whacked him!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Shot twice in the head and two more times in the chest, former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was the victim of a homicide, police declared Sunday. But authorities wouldn't say it was a murder-suicide -- even with his 20-year-old girlfriend dead at his feet from a single bullet.

McNair had been dating Saleh Kazemi for several months, and Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said Sunday that a semiautomatic pistol was found under her body. She was shot in the head.

McNair, who was married with four sons, had a permit to carry a handgun in Tennessee, and he was arrested once before with a 9mm weapon although charges in the case were dropped. Police said they had not yet determined who owned the gun found at the scene.

Investigators weren't looking for a suspect but were questioning friends of the couple as well as Kazemi's ex-boyfriend. They were also waiting for results of drug and other laboratory tests before deciding whether McNair was killed in a lovers' quarrel.

"That's a very important part of the investigation as we work to ultimately classify Miss Kazemi's death," Aaron said.

The details surfacing after McNair's death stand in stark contrast to the public persona he enjoyed during his career.

McNair repeatedly played through serious injuries and pain to win, though he came up a yard short of forcing overtime on the Tennessee Titans' famous drive that came a yard short of forcing overtime in the 2000 Super Bowl.

Generous, he frequently took part in charity work for both the Titans and later the Baltimore Ravens after a 2006 trade. McNair even helped load donated food, water and clothes onto tractor-trailers that he had arranged for Hurricane Katrina victims, and paid for three football camps for children himself this year.

McNair and Kazemi were found dead at a Nashville condominium -- which overlooks the Titans stadium -- that he rented with his friend Wayne Neeley. Police believe both died early Saturday. Neeley found the bodies hours later, and called a friend, Robert Gaddy, who played at Alcorn State with McNair. Gaddy dialed 911.

"People have certain things that they do in life," Gaddy said. "We don't need to look on the situation at this time (but) on the fact we just lost a great member of society."

The quarterback's agent, Bus Cook, said he had never heard Kazemi's name until news of the shooting broke Saturday. What McNair's wife knew wasn't clear Sunday. Cook said Mechelle McNair was "in and out of it." He said she had no comment after the police called his death a homicide.

"It doesn't make any sense. I don't know what to say," Cook said.

Mechelle was "very upset, very distraught" Sunday, Cook said. She was preparing to finish funeral arrangements Monday.

McNair split his time between Nashville and his farm in Mount Olive, Miss. He recently opened a restaurant near Tennessee State University that was aimed at serving healthy, affordable food to college students.

McNair was also seen so often at Kazemi's apartment that a neighbor thought he lived there.

McNair met Kazemi when his family ate often at the Dave & Buster's restaurant she worked at as a server, and the two began dating in a relationship that included a vacation with parasailing. Photos posted on TMZ.com showed McNair gazing and smiling at the young Kazemi.

"She pretty obviously got mixed up way over her head with folks," said Reagan Howard, a neighbor of Kazemi's.

A man who answered the door at a house in the Jacksonville, Fla., suburb of Orange Park said it was the home of Kazemi's family, but said her relatives did not want to comment.

"We don't have anything to say, please leave us alone," he said.

The victim's sister, Soheyla Kazemi, told the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville that the young woman had expected McNair to get a divorce. "She said they were planning to get married."

Kazemi often was dropped off by limousine in the early morning hours and recently went from driving a Kia to a 2007 Cadillac Escalade registered to both herself and McNair. Her niece told The Tennessean that Kazemi thought McNair was divorcing his wife of 12 years soon.

Nashville courts had no record of a McNair divorce case, but a home he owned in Nashville is on the market for $3 million.

The real estate agent declined to comment. Her online listing for property described it as a "gigantic house" of more than 14,000 square feet and photos showed a pool, home theater, baby grand piano and ornate furnishings throughout.

McNair and Kazemi were together Thursday night when she was pulled over driving that Escalade. She was arrested on a DUI charges, and he was allowed to leave in a taxi even though he was charged with drunken driving in 2007 when his brother-in-law was stopped for DUI while driving McNair's pickup truck.

McNair led the Titans to the 2000 Super Bowl, which they lost 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams despite his 87-yard drive in the final minute and 48 seconds. He was co-MVP of the NFL with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in 2003.

Manning said in a statement Sunday that he had some great battles with the quarterback.

"Sharing the NFL MVP honor with him in 2003 was special because of what a great football player he was," Manning said. "I had the opportunity to play in a couple of Pro Bowls with him, and the time spent with him in Hawaii I'll never forget. I'll truly miss him."

The Titans drafted Vince Young in 2006 to replace McNair, who had mentored him since he was a teenager. They never played together but did play against each other that year.

"He was like a father to me. I hear his advice in my head with everything I do. Life will be very different without him," Young said in a statement Sunday.

McNair grew up in Mount Olive, Miss., and became a football star at Alcorn State, the Division I-AA school in his home state as he dominated the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He became a Heisman Trophy contender as reporters flocked to little Lorman to watch the man known as "Air McNair."

He still holds the Division I-AA (now known as Football Championship Subdivision) records for career yards passing (14,496) and total offense (16,823). McNair was drafted in 1995 by the Houston Oilers, who eventually became the Titans.

Picked four times for the Pro Bowl, McNair finished with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. He led both the Titans and Ravens to playoff berths, including two AFC championship game appearances with Tennessee. Injuries finally led to his retirement after the 2007 season

Besides his wife, McNair is survived his sons Junior, Steven, Tyler and Trenton.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Lesson number one: All the money in the world won't save you from a crazy bitch!

Lesson number two: You play with another person's love and emotion, you can end up dead!

Four dead, 22 wounded in bloody six hours - But wait.... a 1/2 dozen more murders today along with a handful of people shot!

Four people were killed and at least 22 others, including an 8-year-old boy, were wounded in shootings and stabbings during a bloody six hours late Saturday into early Sunday.

About 9:55 p.m. Saturday, a 26-year-old man was stabbed multiple times in the armpit near East 71st Street and South Vernon Avenue and was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in critical condition. A suspect is in custody, police said.

About 11:45 p.m. Saturday, a 19-year-old was shot in the buttocks at 6549 N. Lakewood Ave. and was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in an unidentified condition, police said.

Three minutes later, a man was fatally stabbed in the chest -- reportedly by his sister -- at his home at 4351 S. Champlain Ave. Andre Armstrong, 35, was pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m. Sunday at Stroger Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

At 11:49 p.m., four males were shot -- including an 8-year-old boy -- near West 58th Street and South Union Avenue. Police said a 26-year-old man was fatally shot; an 8-year-old boy was shot in the arm and taken to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in an unidentified condition; a 30-year-old man was shot in the abdomen; and a 34-year-old man was shot in the leg, police said.

Marchello Henderson, 26, of 10446 S. Wabash Ave., was pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m. Sunday at Stroger Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office, which said Henderson was shot multiple times.

The violent attacks continued early Sunday.

At 12:29 a.m. Sunday, a man walked into Roseland Community Hospital and was treated for a gunshot wound to the abdomen, police said. It was not immediately clear where the shooting occurred, but Calumet District police prepared the report on the Far South Side.

About 12:50 a.m. Sunday, a 40-year-old man was shot three times -- twice in the groin and once in the leg -- during a possibly domestic-related incident at 8127 S. Coles Ave., police said.

At 12:57 a.m. Sunday, a 19-year-old man walked into South Shore Hospital and was treated for a gunshot wound to the hip, according to police. An address of the shooting was not immediately available.

At 1:12 a.m. Sunday, four males and a female were shot at 2852 W. Polk St. Three of the victims were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and two were taken to Stroger Hospital, police said.

Two men died after they were shot about 1:45 a.m. Sunday near East 63rd Street and East Maryland Avenue. Loweton Harmon, 26, of 9131 S. Parnell Ave., and Leundra Phillip, 22, of 10 Penn Oaks Dr. in North Liberty, Iowa, were both pronounced dead at 3 a.m. Sunday at University of Chicago Hospitals, according to the medical examiner’s office.

About 2:25 a.m., a man in his 30s was stabbed in the abdomen area during a fight in the 4300 block of West Shakespeare Avenue, police News Affairs Officer Michael Fitzpatrick said. The man was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in an unidentified condition.

A man in his 20s was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting in the 4700 block of West Jackson Boulevard about 2:40 a.m. Sunday. The man was taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition, Fitzpatrick said.

A police-involved shooting occurred at 2:45 a.m. near a well-known bar at East 75th Street and South Michigan Avenue. Police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez said police found four men shot on the scene and someone opened fire at the officers. No officers were injured.

Two men were taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition with gunshot wounds to the stomach, legs and torso. A third man was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the foot. The last man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with a gunshot wound to the torso, according to Perez, who said one person is in custody and a weapon was recovered.

At 2:54 a.m., a 21-year-old man was shot in the neck at 5958 S. Honore St. The man was taken to Christ Medical Center in an unidentified condition, police said.

At 3:42 a.m., two males were shot at 735 N. Harding Ave. One suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and was taken to an unidentified hospital and the second person later showed up at Stroger Hospital in an unidentified condition, according to police.

_________________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

Chicago hasn't even had it's heat streak of 90 degrees plus days yet. We might be using "Chicago 2016" as the murder total for the year.

Just some of the news stories on the inner city violence flaring up!

Two men shot to death on SE Side

Two men, including a 22-year-old from Iowa, were killed on the Southeast Side early Sunday in a shooting.
Loweton Harmon, 26, of 9131 S. Parnell Ave. and Leundra Phillip, 22, of 10 Penn Oaks Dr. in North Liberty, Iowa, were both pronounced dead at University of Chicago Hospitals at 3 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
Police said both men were shot in the area of East 63rd Street and East Maryland Avenue about 1:45 a.m., police said.
The medical examiner’s office said both men were shot multiple times.
Calumet Area detectives are investigating.

Man fatally stabbed, girlfriend suspected

A 35-year-old man died early Sunday after allegedly being stabbed by his girlfriend.
The stabbing happened in the 4300 block of South Champlain Avenue about 11:45 p.m. Saturday, according to police.
Andre Armstrong, of 4351 S. Champlain Ave., died on the scene at 12:30 a.m., a Cook County Medical Examiner's office spokesman said. Armstrong suffered a stab wound to the chest, the spokesman said.
Armstrong's girlfriend is suspected in the stabbing, and she fled the scene after the stabbing, police said. She was not in custody early Sunday.
Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.

Three shot, one killed, in Englewood shooting

One of three people shot Saturday night in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side has died.
The shooting happened in the 5700 block of South Union Avenue about 11:45 p.m., according to police.
Marchello Henderson, 26, of the 10400 block of South Wabash Avenue, died on the scene at 12:30 a.m., a Cook County Medical Examiner’s office spokesman said. The spokesman said Henderson was shot multiple times.
No shooter is in custody early Sunday.
Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.

Man shot in head on South Side

A man was shot in the head Sunday afternoon on the South Side.
About 12:15 p.m., the man was shot in the 600 block of East 87th Street, according to police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez, who said the man was shot in the head.
The man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in “trauma” condition, Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor said.
Calumet Area detectives remained at the scene at 1:30 p.m.

One killed, one injured in Back-of-the-Yards shooting

A man was killed and another person was injured in a shooting Saturday morning in the South Side Back-of-the-Yards neighborhood, police said.
The shooting happened in the 4700 block of South Paulina Street about 11:40 a.m., according to police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.
One person was initially taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in "trauma" condition and another person was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor said. He said it was unclear whether the second victim was shot or suffered another type of injury at the scene.
Police said the critically wounded man soon died from his injuries. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed the fatality but said the man's identity and age was not yet known.
No one was in custody Sunday afternoon. Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.

Man dead following Kenwood shooting

A man died Sunday morning after being shot on a street in the South Side Kenwood neighborhood, police said.
Police responded to the shooting in the 4700 block of Forrestville Avenue about 10:15 a.m., according to police News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor, who said a man was shot at the address and taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The man was shot while walking on the street, according to Wentworth District police.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office had not been notified of the fatality as of 11 a.m.
No one was in custody Sunday morning. Wentworth Area detectives are investigating and remained at the scene.

Good news for Chicago as crime stats drop - Bad news...Last night made up for it

Late night and early morning shootings leaves a few dozens shot, 1/2 a dozen murdered and the violence continues. Englewood had over a dozen shot last night alone.

Good news for Chicago as crime stats drop -
PRELIMINARY STATISTICS | Homicides down 12.7%, all crime drops 10.4%


Murder and Mayhem last night..... Shots fired by the police and also a police shooting.

It was crazy..... Area 1 and Area 2 ran out of Detectives.

Four injured, two in custody after two South Side police involved shootings

FROM STNGWIRE REPORTS
Chicago Police were shot at while responding to a shooting that left four men injured near a well-known South Side bar. The incident marked the second police-involved shooting within an hour early Sunday.

Charges for two people taken into custody in each incident were pending Sunday morning.

Four men were shot in the 200 block of East 75th Street before police arrived at the scene, according to police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez, who said someone opened fire as officers responded to the scene.

The four shot were taken to area hospitals, two in serious condition. No officers were injured in the incident, Perez said.

Two men were taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in serious condition with gunshot wounds to the stomach, legs and torso. A third man was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the foot and another man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with a gunshot wound to the torso, Perez said.

An offender was taken into custody at the scene and a gun was recovered, Perez said.

The shooting happened near a well-known South Side bar, Willa’s Fifty Yard Line. Police on Sunday morning could not confirm whether the shooting happened inside or outside the bar.

Just 45 minutes before the 75th Street incident, police fired shots on the 7200 block of South Honore Street in the South Side Englewood neighborhood, although no one was struck by gunfire, police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer said.

One person was in custody from that incident and a weapon was also recovered, Greer said. The person had not been charged as of 9:30 a.m.

The Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) is investigating both shootings, spokesman Mark Payne said.

Wentworth and Calumet Area detectives are also probing the incidents.

What will our Aunt Bea do after retiring from the CPD? What she does best, a sex show host! Here is a preview! Exclusively on Shavedlongcock!

Click to watch and laugh!

Good old Aunt Bea!

Tribune Breaks The News - 6 different arrests made for guns at Taste of Chicago - others arrested for different weapon violations

Gun, knife arrests at Taste of Chicago

Six people were arrested on charges of illegally carrying guns and two others face charges of illegally carrying knives at the Taste of Chicago and in Grant Park on Friday, authorities said.

Police said a 15-year-old boy was arrested with a shotgun after being spotted with it at Taste, while five other people were arrested outside the Taste grounds; a total of 31 people were arrested at Taste Friday, according to police. The five adults arrested on felony gun charges Friday appeared in Cook County Bond Court today.


In addition to those arrested with guns, there also were two people arrested on misdemeanor charges of illegally carrying knives, police said.

The majority of the 31 arrests were on charges of battery and reckless conduct, police spokesman Roderick Drew said in an e-mail this afternoon.


There were no incidents of shots fired inside the Taste, although there was an unconfirmed report of shots fired on Van Buren.

One police sergeant was admitted to the hospital after passing out at the Taste and one bike officer was hurt responding to a call who received stitches to his leg, Drew said.


Drew said the flare-ups of fighting at the Taste were dealt with quickly.

"You always have incidences flare up at a gathering that large," Drew said. "The officers were quick to arrive on the scene whenever a problem was reported. All in all, the vast majority of people were there to relax, have some food and enjoy themselves. A few were there to cause trouble."


Drew said police are pleased with the outcome Friday night, considering the volatile nature of the crowd.


"There are always thing that you could have done better," Drew said, but did not elaborate. "We're going to sit down after the [Taste] and look at refining the plan."

Police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez also noted that police were able to catch all five of the adults arrested on gun charges outside the perimeter of the Taste.


All five of the adults appeared in Cook County Bond Court today. Four had bonds set at $100,000 by Judge Laura Sullivan.


The four who appeared in bond court and had their bonds set at $100,000 were: Catrice Winston, 34, of the 1400 block of West Morris in Berkeley, who was found with a .25-caliber handgun with 9 rounds; Dashawn Dandridge, 18, of the 400 block of West Rutledge in Park Forest, who was apprehended with a loaded .38-caliber handgun; Shawntel McPherson, 18, of 14800 block of Ellis Road in Dolton, who was caught with a loaded .38-calibre handgun; and Kyle Walker, 21, of the 9300 block of South Prairie Avenue, who also was arrested with a loaded gun. Daryl Stewart, 28, of the 3300 block of West Madison Street, also was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and appeared in bond court today after being caught with a loaded .22-caliber handgun, but his bond amount was not immediately available.

In what appears to have been the most serious arrest, a 15-year-old boy was caught with a loaded shotgun he had been trying to hide in a backpack, police said.

About 7:30 p.m., a police supervisor saw one group of young people exchanging gang signs with another, putting people in the area "in fear," said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.

Among one of the two groups, the supervisor saw a teenage boy with a bulging packpack, police said. Officers saw the shotgun sticking out of the suspect's backpack and when the teenager saw police he started to run off. Police ran after him and arrested the suspect as he ran across Lake Shore Drive toward Lake Michigan, police said.

Hundreds of police officers had been scattered throughout Grant Park for the Taste of Chicago -- many of them on horses, Segways and all-terrain vehicles. Other officers with binoculars were stationed in a lookout tower standing about 50 or 60 feet over the crowd not far from Buckingham Fountain.

Some incidents were seen or reported. About 9:40 p.m., some 30 police officers had to break up a melee at Congress Parkway and Michigan Avenue as large crowds dispersed west out of Grant Park.

What started out as an altercation with a small group of people involved -- shoving, pushing, yelling -- within seconds became a larger fight with 10-20 people involved, according to a witness. Police quickly handled the disturbance. No one was hurt and Drew had no information about any charges.

About 8:30 p.m., police made a few arrests at the Taste following some sort of disturbance near Buckingham Fountain, Drew said Friday. He had no detailed information about that particular incident.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Good work by the officers involved in these arrests. Each of these officers should receive a Super-Duper Jody Weis Crime Reduction Ribbon.

How do you like the name of this tavern opening up right next to the Bridgeview Cook County Court House - The Mug Shot Saloon

So Detective Shavedlongcock is asking... So will the patrons be the people who have mug shots or the cops who take peoples' mug shots?

Another Benefit Coming Up - July 11th - "This One's For Gina" Sgt. Gina Dwyer (CPD)

Photo: Sgt. Gina Dwyer - Chicago Police Department


On December 6th, 2008, Chicago Police Sergeant and long-time Mount Greenwood resident, Gina Dwyer-Meliska, suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of a condition called Apical Ballooning Syndrome (ABS). Although she was fortunate enough to receive CPR moments after her collapse, Gina was without oxygen for several minutes and remains in a minimally conscious state, changing the course of her life.


Although Gina's condition has stabilized, her biggest concern remains to be any neurological damage that may have occurred due to her loss of oxygen. Gina initially spent 17 days in ICU and has transferred to acute long-term care facilities. Unfortunately, Gina has faced many setbacks that interrupt her therapy. At this point, Gina faces indefinite, long-term care which will put a financial burden on the family.


Through this ordeal, it has become increasingly obvious how many hearts and lives Gina has touched throughout the years. First and foremost, Gina has always put her family in the number one position. Gina has a husband and three children all of whom Gina adores. Although they have been devastated by her illness, the family has been surviving with an outpouring of love from family, friends, and community.


With that being said, Gina is a remarkable, dedicated individual that has always contributed her time and efforts to others, working on countless benefits and in organizations going above and beyond the call of duty. Gina has been a dear friend and mentor to many, always seeing the good in a person and pushing those she knew to do their personal best, all while achieving her own personal goals: whether it be running a marathon or working towards her Masters degree, Gina has always been an inspiration.

It is at this time that we are asking for your help to aid the Dwyer-Meliska family. Please join us for a benefit:

July 11, 2009
115 Bourbon Street
3359 West 115th street
3-8 pm


There will be food, fun, beverages and prizes! If you are unable to make it, but would like to send or make a donation - non-monetary gifts to:


This One's for Gina
c\o Maggie Engstrom
11118 S. Washtenaw
Chicago, IL. 60655

link for $$$ donations: http://thisonesforgina.mltprojects.com/donate.html


It is at this time that we need to take action for someone who has always given 110% to others...... This One’s for Gina.Thank you in advance for your generosity and consideration,


~The Committee

(Sorry, comment section closed on this post - posted for information purposes only)

Sneak Preview Secretly Obtained By Detective Shavedlongcock of Michael Jackson's Funeral

Man arrested at Taste of Chicago with sawed-off shotgun - City plays down the group of gangs fighting at the Taste of Chicago

Man with sawed off shotgun busted at the Taste of Chicago

A man was arrested just before Friday night’s fireworks display after attempting to bring a sawed-off shotgun into the Taste of Chicago, less than a week after a northwest Indiana man was arrested for carrying a loaded handgun near a Grant Park security checkpoint, police said.

The latest arrest was made about 7:30 p.m. Friday at 300 E. Jackson Dr., according to police News Affairs Officer Gabrielle Lesniak, who said the man was arrested for attempting to bring a sawed-off shotgun into the Taste.

Police could not provide additional details on the arrest and the man's identity was not being released Saturday morning.

The incident marks the second arrest at this year's Taste of Chicago which involved a gun offense.

Shrome D. George, 25, of the 3400 block of S. Salem Ct. in Michigan City, Ind., was arrested after he was found to be carrying a fully loaded .9mm handgun as he attempted to enter the Taste through one of the security checkpoints last Saturday evening, police said.

City: 1 million watch lakefront fireworks

An estimated 1 million people gathered along the lakefront Friday night, filling Grant Park, to watch the city's early 4th of July fireworks display over the lake and Navy Pier.

About 1.25 million people passed through the downtown area Friday for the holiday weekend festivities including Taste of Chicago, with about a million finding some lakefront area location to see the fireworks, said Cindy Gatziolis, a spokeswoman for the Mayor's Office of Special Events.

The fireworks began a little before 9 p.m. and finished about 9:15 p.m. Traffic was diverted throughout the downtown area near the lakefront, and extra service was provided for the crowds by the CTA and Metra.

Chicago police spokesman Roderick Drew said despite the huge crowds, there were no major injuries that he was aware of as of about 11 p.m. and only minor incidents -- a few fights, a few arrests, a few people with minor injuries. He said more complete information would be available after all the police commands reported in.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Once again the only problems at the Taste of Chicago and its annual firework show was the groups of inner city teens and young adults running through the crowds and starting gang fights in the patches of people there to enjoy the activities. If the black and Hispanic gang members need to act like assholes, why not give them their own lake front festival at Rainbow Beach. Far away from the downtown fest.

Year after year, decade after decade... it's the same asshole every time.

Former Rock basketball player charged in drive-by shooting

PHOTO: James Earl Richardson

A former SRU basketball star is wanted on two counts of murder for allegedly killing a college student and manager of pizza shop in Greenville, North Carolina.

James Earl Richardson, 32, who played basketball at SRU from 1998-2000, is on the run from police and may face the death penalty once captured.

According to ABC News, Greenville Police issued the warrants over the deaths of Landon Blackley, a 21-year-old student at East Carolina University and Andrew Kirby, a manager at Michalengo's, a pizzeria in Greenville.

According to police, the incident occurred early Tuesday morning after Richardson got in a dispute at a bar in Greenville. He allegedly returned to the bar with a weapon began firing and then drove away in his BMW. The car was discovered early Tuesday morning in downtown Greenville.

Both victims were innocent bystanders.

The 6-foot 7 inch Richardson was a star at the Rock. During the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 seasons, Richardson was named All Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference- Second team. He still ranks fourth all-time in SRU history with 69 career blocked shots.

During the 1999-2000 season, SRU finished 17-12 and made a surprise run to the PSAC title game.

After leaving SRU, Richardson played overseas and even made an appearance in the American Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association. Richardson last played for the Albany Patroons of the CBA in 2005-2006.

Police are still investigating whether there was someone with him at the time of the shooting. Richardson is still at large and police consider him armed and dangerous.

_______________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

You go from star basketball player to dickhead felony shooter... What a prize this asswipe is.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to resign

Former vice presidential running mate says she will remain in politics

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced Friday that she is quitting her job at the end of the month, unleashing a torrent of speculation about her plans and the political wisdom of the decision.

Speaking from the backyard of her lakefront home in Wasilla, Alaska, Palin suggested she would remain active in national politics.

"We know we can effect positive change outside of government," she said, flanked by her husband, Todd, and members of their family.

Many took that to mean a full-fledged run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, without the encumbrance of her office and the difficulty of navigating a national campaign from a distant base.

________________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

Boy was this resignation sudden and without any type of warning. There must be a bigger reason for this that we are unaware of at this time.

Anybody care to take a guess why she is resigning? Leave it in the comment section please.

After his partner got 11 years for testifying against him - Former Chicago cop gets 19 years for stealing/robbing from drug dealers

Photo: Chicago Ex-Cop Mahmoud "Mike" Shamah

Chicago, IL (WGN-AM)- A federal judge Thursday sentenced a former Chicago police officer convicted of taking money during traffic stops, arrests and searches to more than 19 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said he believes there are two Mahmoud "Mike" Shamahs--the loving husband of a school teacher and father of a 4-year-old boy and the other a tactical officer on the South Side who thought he could steal on the job and get away with it.

Some of the victims in the case were drug dealers who had a few hundred dollars taken from them at a time, the judge said.

"But the most direct victims are the people you love the most," Gettleman told Shamah before sentencing him to 19 years and 4 months in prison. "I'm sorry you didn't think about that before you did your first robbery."

A federal jury convicted Shamah last year of a series of robberies while working in the Morgan Park District with a partner, Richard Doroniuk. The pair were snared in an FBI sting, stealing what they thought was thousands of dollars in drug cash from a storage locker.

Gettleman said he thought federal guidelines that called for a minimum sentence of about 24 years in prison were too harsh, especially since Doroniuk, who pleaded guilty and testified against Shamah, was sentenced to less than 11 years earlier this week.

Still, Gettleman said he hoped his sentence would send a message to other police officers and help restore Chicago's faith in its police department.

"I love this city, and I love my own community," the judge said. "I want to respect the policemen I see."

Shamah, dressed in a gray pin-striped suit, had asked the judge for mercy on him. He said he was taking responsibility for his actions, but he also blamed a system that stresses arrests over good police work for eroding how he thought of his duties.

"I lost respect for my job, your honor," Shamah said. "I lost the police officer I wanted to be."

Shamah's attorney, Anthony Pinelli, had argued for a lighter sentence by taking the position that Shamah's stealing was theft and not robbery.

The officers involved would put money in their pocket while making arrests, he said, and would inventory less than they had really recovered.

"They took money they shouldn't have. I understand that but is every step of the arrest process a crime because they took money later?" Pinelli said.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Meghan Morrissey called for an enhanced sentence because Shamah used a weapon and body armor.

Shamah had contributed to the general distrust of the police, Morrissey said. She agreed that Shamah seemed to have two sets of behaviors in his life, noting that he would never do something to hurt his family or steal from his own loved ones.

"But you put the defendant on the South Side of Chicago in a (tactical) car with a gun, and all of the sudden, he starts operating with a different set of standards," Morrissey said.

Shamah must repay $1,780 he took during the arrests, the judge decided, and will be responsible on his release from prison for about an additional $7,000 stolen from a storage locker. He must report to a federal penitentiary Aug. 10.

_______________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

As Detective Baretta use to sing.... Don't do the crime if you can't do the crime. And as I have always said, I don't believe any cop should be robbing anybody - almost 20 years in jail for stealing cash is a bit excessive.

Two different shots fired by police tonight - In both cases nobody struck by gunfire

#1: Police doing a sting on robbery suspects at 11900 S. Vincennes. Undercover cop has a gun placed into his chest and robber demands his cash. After a few shots fired by CPD, bad guys in custody, gun recovered and nobody hurt.

#2: Off Duty sees a man with a shotgun at 7600 S. Union while driving home. Once again shots are fired by the police but nobody hit. Suspect in custody and weapon recovered.

Thank the Lord it was another WIN-WIN for the police. Even if no bad guys were shot - what is even more important is that NO COP WAS SHOT!

Chicago police shoot, kill man after Lawndale home invasion: police

Chicago Police fatally shot a man who allegedly pointed a gun at officers chasing him following a Thursday night home invasion in the West Side’s Lawndale community, police said.

Officers from the Mobile Strike Force Unit patrolling in the 1900 block of North Spaulding Avenue saw three men fleeing across a vacant lot about 9:15 p.m. Thursday, according to a police News Affairs statement. One of the men was wearing a mask and was carrying a gun.

Officers pursued the men on foot and the man with the gun pointed the weapon at assisting officers, prompting police to fatally shoot him in the 1900 block of South Christiana Avenue, according to the statement.

The statement said the officer pursuing the man with the gun repeatedly ordered him to drop his weapon, according to the statement. A weapon was recovered on the scene.

The other two men officers saw fleeing across the vacant lot made good on their escape, the statement said.

Chicago Fire Department officials said the man suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was initially taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. Police said he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has not been notified of the death as of 1:15 a.m.

None of the officers were injured.

Further investigation revealed the men committed a home invasion moments before the chase, the statement said.

Mark Payne, a spokesman for the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates all police-involved shootings, said his department remained on the scene at 11:30 p.m.

The IPRA and Harrison Area detectives are investigating.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Thank the Lord once again that it was "them" and not "us"!

Good work to all involved!

Boy I wish this happened to our Chicago preachers! Police Taser Pastor 'Helping' Driver in Traffic Stop & pepper spray to disperse his congregants

WEBSTER, Texas — Police used a Taser on a pastor and pepper spray to disperse his congregants Wednesday after the pastor allegedly interfered with a traffic stop in the church parking lot.

Congregants say they were in the Iglesia Profetica Peniel church for an early morning prayer when pastor Jose Elias Moran went to assist the stopped driver, a church member, by asking the police what had happened.

An incident report on the Webster police department's Web site said Officer Raymond Berryman tried to calm Moran and arrest him. But police say he pushed the officer, went inside the church and returned with 40 other congregants.

The congregants say Moran fled into the church when the officer grew angry and began to yell, and Moran's family disputes that the pastor touched the officer.

Moran's son Miguel said 30 witnesses saw the officer turn aggressive and repeatedly kick the church door. Several members were hit with pepper spray and children were present, Miguel Moran said.

"They treated him as if he were a drug dealer or murderer, but he is a pastor that tries to help the community," Moran said. "The police always want to be right but they are not."

Moran's wife, Maria, said she tried to help her husband after he was hit with the Taser but police threatened to arrest her.

"My husband has a heart condition and with electrocution who knows what could've happened," Maria Moran said, referring to the Taser's electrical shock.

"A pastor has to tend to his flock," she said. "That is all he was doing."

Speaking from a hospital bed Wednesday night, Moran told The Associated Press he planned to hire an attorney to file charges against the officer. He was being held at the hospital overnight for additional tests.

Police did not immediately return calls seeking comment and more details of the incident. Police Sgt. James Lovel did not specify Moran's status, except to say he was in custody and negotiations for bail were taking place Wednesday night.

Webster is a suburb southeast of Houston.

____________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

Nothing like tasering the asswipe preacher sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong and then spraying all his followers with pepper spray, to boot!

Boy I would have loved seeing the Rev Meeks on video being tasered about 3 or 4 or 27 times! When he jumped out of that car a while back and started messing with the Sgt on the traffic stop!

Oops.... Teacher puts her sex video on DVD for classroom kids... by mistake....

Click to watch

NorCal students get X-rated version of class DVD
2 hours ago

ELK GROVE, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California elementary school teacher sent her students home for the summer with a video of class memories, only the DVD included six seconds of her having sex on a couch.

Officials at the Elk Grove Unified School District asked families of the teacher's 24 students to get rid of the DVD after the unintended clip was found spliced in a scene where children were sharing stories in class.

"Just destroy them," said spokeswoman Torrey Johnson.

Johnson said the teacher, whose name isn't being released, sent the DVD home with her students from Isabelle Jackson Elementary on the last day of class Friday. She learned of the mistake after a parent called her. She then called all the parents to ask them to destroy the DVD.

The school district, located just south of Sacramento, initially sent a letter home to parents asking them to return the DVDs, but then asked parents to simply destroy them.


The teacher involved, Crystal Defanti & her husband

The Illegal Alien Lettuce Pickers News of the Day

Illegal Alien Lettuce Picker held in Naperville day-care assault of little girl

The husband of the operator of a Naperville children's day care center had bail set at $1 million Thursday after he was charged with sexually assaulting a 3-year-old girl at the center.
Jose Luviano, 43, of the 100 block of Cedarbrook Road in Naperville has been charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, Assistant DuPage County State's Atty. Cathy DeLaMar told Judge Peter Ostling.

According to the charges, Luviano assaulted his victim at his home while she was attending the Christian Dollhouse Daycare, which is operated by Luviano's wife out of the couple's home.

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Eight Illegal Alien Lettuce Pickers arrested in string of 18 Waukegan burglaries

Left to right: Gerardo Alvarez, Jesu Briseno, Eric Estrada, Kevin Mejia, Krystal Sifuentes, Sergio Siguentes.

Waukegan police arrested eight people today in connection with 18 residential burglaries dating back to February.

The spree came to an end Tuesday after police stopped a stolen car carrying three of the suspects, police Lt. Ed Fitzgerald said. Authorities also found a handgun and items taken in a recent burglary, Fitzgerald said.

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Webio founder & Illega Alien Lettuce Picker David Hernandez hit with lawsuit

Alleged Ponzi schemer David Hernandez was hit with a lawsuit Thursday, after he signed multiple contracts with an office space leasing company in Chicago but allegedly didn't hold up his end of the contract and now owes the company roughly $270,000.

Hernandez -- who was charged with allegedly bilking nearly $12 million from 100 investors in 12 states to fund his company, NextStep Financial Services, in a Ponzi scheme -- failed to notify Amata, LLC, the company that filed the suit against him in Cook County Circuit Court Thursday, of his company’s legal problems and failed to follow through with his end of the contract, according to the suit.

NextStep Financial Services had been “involuntarily dissolved” in May of 2003 -- four and a half years before Hernadez entered into office space and furniture rentals with Amata, owing them $265,510.61 in unpaid rent for his Downtown offices, the suit alleges.

The suit also accuses Hernadez of deceiving Amata about the financial state of his company, and failing to mention he was being investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Hernandez, 48, of Downers Grove, who co-founded the now-defunct ChicagoSportsWebio.com, with popular broadcaster Mike North, showed up in court Monday after he was released from the hospital following an alleged drug-induced suicide attempt.

Hernandez allegedly used the Ponzi scheme money to pay himself, his family and furnish the start-up costs for the sports-talk Web site.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

So wonder Mayor Daley keeps telling all these illegal aliens to flock to Chicago... because as fast as they can get here they are being locked up for their crimes!!!

Taliban kill Brit Army commander - Britain's most senior war casualty since the Falklands.

THE Commanding Officer of the Welsh Guards has been killed in action in Afghanistan - Britain's most senior war casualty since the Falklands.
Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, 40, was blown up in an armoured vehicle by a massive hidden bomb yesterday afternoon.

A second soldier died alongside him in the devastating blast and six more were seriously wounded.

The high flying colonel's death is a huge scalp for the Taliban and a disaster for the Army.

It caps one of the bloodiest weeks of fighting in opium-swamped Helmand province in the three year-long NATO security mission.

British forces have suffered more than 25 wounded this week alone, The Sun can also reveal.

In an appalling coincidence, the bombers struck just as the Queen was unveiling the Elizabeth Cross as a new honour for the fallen's families yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a badly needed major US bail out for our overstretched troops in the province also began today.

American commanders launched their biggest mission in the southern badlands so far, striking a Taliban-held area in the ungoverned south of Helmand with 4,000 US marines.

Colonel Thorneloe is the most senior officer to die in combat since Colonel 'H' Jones was killed in the Falklands in 1982.

The legendary CO of 2 Para was killed while leading a charge during the Battle for Goose Green.

The loss of their CO is a massive blow to the elite Welsh Guards.

The Aldershot-based battalion has seen their officer ranks decimated on the bitter summer tour, losing a major and a lieutenant already.

But as their figurehead and leader, the loss of any regiment's CO - codenamed Sunray - is deemed irreplaceable.

Confirming the deaths last night, a Task Force Helmand spokesman said: "The loss of these brave soldiers has hit us all very deeply; we grieve for them at this very sad time.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and colleagues who feel the greatest loss."

A highly rated leader of men who was being groomed for the top, Col Thorneloe was travelling in a tracked Viking vehicle at the time of the attack.

He had been meeting commanders to discuss an ongoing British offensive - Operation Panther's Claw - in the insurgent hot post under his control in central Helmand, near Lashkar Gah.

Top brass have been heavily criticised for sending the controversial Viking to the war zone after it failed to withstand bombs and mine blasts.

More than 20 servicemen have died inside them so far, and they are being withdrawn from service early next year.

The second soldier to die in the blast was from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.

His killing has also hit the government hard.

He was well known in Whitehall corridors of power, having previously worked very closely with ex-Defence Secretary Des Browne as his Military Advisor.

In the worst officers losses suffered by any unit in Afghanistan so far, one of the Welsh Guards' four company commanders,much loved Major Sean Birchall, 33, was killed two weeks ago in a similar blast on his vehicle.

The regiment also lost a fourth member in April, a bomb killing Lance Sergeant Tobie Fasfous, 29.

In another bitter irony, it had been Col Thorneloe's grim job to write moving tributes to all three the dead men.

Finishing Sean Birchall's eulogy, he wrote: "I want to end by saying that we remain resolute and determined to see through the mission that Sean played such a massive part in helping us to deliver.

He would expect nothing less."Wednesday's carnage takes the total UK death toll on the NATO security mission to 171.

Dubbed Strike of the Sword, the US attack on the region of Dawa began in the earlier hours of yesterday with a massive helicopter assault.

Brig Gen Larry Nicholson said the operation was different from previous ones because of the "massive size of the force" and its speed.

He added: "Where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces".

It is the first large-scale operation since US President Barack Obama ordered the deployment of 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan.

As many as 10,000 are being sent to Helmand to reinforce the under-resourced 9,000-strong British force.

Meanwhile, a US soldier was captured by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan.

_________________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

As with every service person killed our prayers are with you and Godspeed to this hero. Sad news.

Michael Jackson Memorial To Be At Staples Stadium Tuesday; 11,000 Tickets Available

LOS ANGELES -- The Jackson family has confirmed there will be a public memorial held for Michael at the Staples center on Tuesday.

The memorial is set to occur at 10 a.m., said Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine, after days of unconfirmed speculation over when and where the King of Pop would be honored and laid to rest.

In a statement, Sunshine said there will be a limited 11,000 tickets distributed for fans wishing to attend the service, free of charge.

Sunshine confirmed few details about how the tickets would be given out, but it is known there will be a registration system, with further details to be released sometime on Friday, July 3rd.

Randy Phillips, chief executive for AEG Live, which owns Staples and was Jackson's promoter, has said he's been conferring with the Jacksons since last Thursday about holding the service at the venue. Michael Jackson finished his last rehearsal at the Staples Center the night before his death.

Though Phillips discussed the idea with Michael Jackson's family for several days, he said the final decision laid with Jackson's mother.

"It's all up to Katherine," Phillips said.

A Jackson memorial would potentially attract tens of thousands. Phillips says AEG will issue tickets to Staples and provide a simulcast on big screens outside the arena.

Overflow crowds would likely be permitted to gather at Nokia Plaza, with the service broadcast on large video screens.

Original speculation about a memorial and funeral service had focused on Jackson's former home at Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County, but a family statement said no such service was being planned there.

Jackson specified no plans for a funeral or wishes for his remains in his 2002 last will, filed in a Los Angeles court Wednesday.

Jermaine Jackson said Thursday that he would like to see Neverland Ranch as his brother's final resting place.

However, it's believed permits for a burial at the sprawling Santa Barbara, Calif., estate could not be arranged in time.

Authorities had said a memorial at Neverland posed safety concerns, saying that the narrow hillside road could be overtaxed by thousands of vehicles.

At once a symbol of Jackson's success and excesses, Neverland became the site of a makeshift memorial after his June 25th death.

Scores of fans have streamed past the gated entrance to leave handwritten notes, photographs, balloons and flowers.

He was 29 and at the height of his popularity when he bought the ranch, naming it after the mythical land of Peter Pan, where boys never grow up.

There, he surrounded himself with animals, rides and children.

Jackson fled the ranch -- and the country -- after his acquittal on charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor in 2003 at the estate after getting him drunk.

_____________________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

Michael's father Joe Jackson wanted to charge $25.00 a ticket. He was talked out of it by friends and rightfully so.

This funeral should be more fun that a 3 ring circus. I can't wait to see it on TV.

So a cop who ripped off some dope dealers gets a LIFE + 255 years but a politicially connected firefighter who rips off $193,000.00 gets PROBATION?

Firefighter gets probation for scamming $193,000 from Orland Fire Protection District

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Criminal Courts Reporter
A former Orland Park fire lieutenant was sentenced to three years probation today for bilking the Orland Fire Protection District out of more than $190,000 by falsely claiming he was on active duty in the military while he was actually overseas working as an independent contactor.

Lawrence Masa, 44, apologized before Cook County Judge Thomas Hennelly sentenced him on theft and official misconduct charges.

“I’m truly sorry that this happened,” Masa said.

Between March 2003 and December 2006, Masa collected over $193,000 from the Orland Fire Protection District by falsely telling them that he had been called to active duty, according to prosecutors.

Masa is not on active duty with the Armed Forces and has not been since 1988, when he was in the Army Reserves.

While on leave from the fire department, Masa worked abroad as an independent contractor for crisis response for countries including South Africa, Pakistan, Nepal, Kenya, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

On five separate occasions, Masa requested and was granted various leaves for each absence, Assistant State’s Attorney Diane Ghaster said.

Masa has been employed with the Orland Fire Protection District since 1995.

Orland Park officials at this morning’s hearings refused comment.

__________________________________

Detective Shavedlongcock:

Hmmmmmmmm the Memphis police officer who stole money from the drug dealers is going to die in jail but the firefighter who stole $193,000.00 from his own fire department will get only probation?

The criminal justice system is past broken... very sad.

FBI - Memphis Police Officer Sentenced to Prison Term of Life Plus 255 - Yes that is life plus 255 years! No, nobody was murdered either!

WASHINGTON — Arthur Sease IV, a former Memphis Police Department officer, was sentenced today to a prison term of life plus 255 years by Chief Judge Jon P. McCalla in Memphis, Tenn. A jury convicted Sease in February 2009 of 44 counts of civil rights, narcotics, robbery, and firearms offenses.

"The peace and prosperity of our nation hinge on the integrity of our law enforcement officers," said Loretta King, Acting Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "We will continue to vigorously prosecute police corruption both to protect the rights of individuals and to maintain faith in our legal system."

"Effective law enforcement begins with honest law enforcement," said U.S. Attorney Lawrence J. Laurenzi. "We will aggressively pursue and convict those officers and agents who violate the law and the public's trust. We have entrusted law enforcement officers with our safety and protection and we demand that they perform their duties honestly and truthfully."

"The sentence is extraordinary in that it is one of the longest ever imposed for civil rights violations which did not involve a victim's death," said My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Memphis Field Office. "We will vigorously investigate abuses of authority to defend the fundamental right to ethical behavior by government employees."

"This sentencing sends a serious message that police misconduct will not be tolerated and will be dealt with harshly by our courts. While criminal conduct brings dishonor to those who commit them, this officer's actions should not reflect negatively on our fellow officers who continue to serve this community with pride and integrity," said Police Director Larry Godwin.

The evidence at trial showed that from November 2003 through April 2006, Sease conspired with other members of the Memphis Police Department to use their authority as law enforcement officers, to rob suspected drug dealers of cash, cocaine, and marijuana. Sease and his co-conspirators would then resell the stolen drugs for their own profit. The government proved that Sease committed or was involved in 15 separate robberies.

Five other individuals had already pleaded guilty in this case. Andrew Hunt was sentenced in February 2009 to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in September 2006 to a federal civil rights conspiracy, robbery affecting interstate commerce and drug distribution. Former Memphis police officer Antoine Owens pleaded guilty in August 2007 and received a sentence of 63 months incarceration and three years of supervised release in March 2009. Alexander Johnson, another former Memphis police officer, pleaded guilty in April 2007 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release in March 2009. Laterrica Woods, a civilian who helped Sease and Hunt with one of their robberies, also pleaded guilty to a civil rights conspiracy in September 2007 and was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release in April 2009. Harold McCall, also a former Memphis police officer, pleaded guilty to a civil rights conspiracy in a related case in May 2007 and received a sentence of three years probation including one year of home confinement in June 2009.

This case was investigated by Special Agents Tracey Harris, Maria Irizarri and Jaime Corman from the FBI's Memphis Division and Sergeants Matt Whittington and Billy Greenwood of the Memphis Police Department Security Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Parker from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

U.S. Attorney Lawrence J. Laurenzi specifically commended Memphis officers Tony Parks and Thurmond Richardson for their contribution to the investigation. Testimony at trial revealed the officers learned that a Memphis police officer was robbing drug dealers. Their investigation revealed Hunt as the officer. Richardson and Parks initiated an undercover operation of a planned robbery, resulting in Hunt's arrest and evidence implicating Seale.

The Civil Rights Division is committed to the vigorous enforcement of every federal criminal civil rights statute, such as those laws that prohibit unreasonable search and seizure, deprivation of property without due process of law and other acts of misconduct by law enforcement and other government officials. More information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, and the laws it enforces, is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Let me point out the key words of this FBI news release:

"The sentence is extraordinary in that it is one of the longest ever imposed for civil rights violations which did not involve a victim's death," said My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Memphis Field Office.

Now let Detective Shavedlongcock put it in my own words... There are serial killings in this country that have been given less prison time than this.

The FBI believes that if we (the police) commit a crime, we deserve 10 fold the sentence that would have been given to a career street criminal... It's very sad...

Son of 'King of Counterfeit' is charged

The 18-year-old son of a man dubbed the "King of Counterfeit" by Rolling Stone magazine was arrested on charges he sold counterfeit currency himself, federal authorities said Wednesday.
Arthur Williams III of Chicago allegedly sold 64 counterfeit $100 bills for $20 each, or a total of $1,280, in genuine currency on three occasions last month to an informant, prosecutors charged.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Like father like son... Not only for being in the counterfeiting business but for also getting arrested for counterfeiting...

Now maybe both of them should work on some conterfeit "Get Out Of Jail Free" cards.....

Chicago Police shoot, injure man on West Side - Shooting # 2,729,345 for the calendar year.

Investigators were on the scene of a officer-involved shooting in the West Side's Lawndale neighborhood Wednesday night, police said.
The incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. at Whipple and Madison Streets, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer.
The man was injured in the shooting and was being treated at a local hospital, said Mark Payne, a spokesman for the Independent Police Review Authority, the agency that investigates police shootings. Payne did not release details of the shooting.

No officers were hurt in the incident, Greer said. A source said the man suffered a graze wound.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

The key words of this news story??? No officers were hurt in the incident, Greer said. A source said the man suffered a graze wound.

Once again I thank the Lord for no officers being hurt.

But these police shootings are now a weekly and sometimes a daily event lately. Let's keep praying and hoping that the police keep winning and coming out on top!

Regional Cook County Education Supt. Charles Flowers' home, office searched - Missing Education Funds Suspected

Investigators from the Cook County state's attorney's office wrapped up a raid early this afternoon at the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education in Westchester . They arrived with a search warrant early this morning in connection with an ongoing investigation into Supt. Charles Flowers.

Investigators seized about half a dozen boxes of papers and a computer from the office. Neighbors report officers also were at Flowers' home in nearby Maywood early this morning and left with boxes.

There is no sign of Flowers at his home or office. Also, his two sisters and nephews, whom he added to the regional office payroll when he took office in 2007, didn't show up for work either.

Other employees were allowed to go inside the office and are now being questioned by investigators.

The SouthtownStar in May was the first to report about Flowers' alleged misuse of public money. A state audit released in June confirmed the SouthtownStar findings.

There are unconfirmed reports that two of Flowers' second-in-commands left the office just one day before the raid. Deputy Supt. Harry Reynolds and Assistant Supt. Cynthia Broughton are said to have retired Tuesday, in a move that puts distance between them and Flowers.

Flowers has not returned multiple calls for comment.

Numerous purchases made on Flowers' regional office credit card were of a personal nature, the audit shows. Credit card statements obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests detail thousands of dollars spent on food and restaurants, a trip to a hair salon and limousine charges. Documents also reveal that Flowers began his tenure with a credit card limit of $5,000, and it is now at $20,000.

Flowers also used his district credit card to pay for airline tickets for family members to Mississippi and rental cars, as well as taking out almost $7,000 in cash advances both in Illinois and Mississippi, the audit shows. Although he claimed that the money was used to buy a car and furniture for the office, auditors could not find either.

This is all coming from an office where Flowers hired family and friends, including a nephew whom the audit shows was paid to eat lunch. Flowers approved $15,000 in cash advances for his executive assistant - who is also his sister - and another employee. In addition, two assistant superintendents each collected their $80,000-plus paychecks along with $12,000 and $9,400 in grant money for "consulting services" they did during normal working hours, according to the audit.

He also failed to make the June 30 deadline this week to repay a $190,000 loan for operations from the Cook County board of commissioners. He cited at the time he needed the loan because the office was facing a $413,000 deficit and was underfunded.

Flowers, the former special education teacher and administrator, was elected in 2006 to the office that is now nearly $1 million in debt. For the past few months, Flower's office was late on payroll and earlier this year the department didn't pay its group health insurance premiums on time, leading the company to temporarily cancel workers' health benefits. The majority of the two dozen or so workers have either been laid off or had their hours cut.

The office also owes nearly $20,000 in back rent to Westchester Public School District 92 1 / 2 for the regional office's space, documents show.

Flowers said he repaid the office for personal expenses, but the auditors could not verify that.

Duaa Eldeib can be reached at deldeib@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5960.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

The more feeder fish of Stroger and Daley they catch, the better chance at getting one of these feeder fishes to flip on the "Big Tuna".

I have a feeling that Todd Stroger is going to be the next big name to be named in a federal indictment.

U.S. indicts veteran Chicago cop in hitting of suspect while working for H.I.D.T.A. task force

ANOTHER CASE OF JODY WEIS HAVING YOUR BACK COVERERED!

A veteran Chicago police officer has been indicted on a federal civil rights charge for allegedly striking and injuring a suspect under arrest, federal authorities said today.

Officer Craig Swistowicz, 38, was assigned to a federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force when the incident took place in September 2007. He has been on the Chicago police force since 1997.

The U.S. attorney's office in Chicago removed itself from the case because of Swistowicz's assignment to the federal task force, so the indictment was brought by federal authorities in Milwaukee.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

While J-Fed is at the helm.... Don't do a fricken thing other than what you "HAVE" to do. Period!

Man held in Chicago police lockup dies (002nd District)

A man who was being held in the lockup at the Chicago Police Wentworth District headquarters died early this morning, but the circumstances of the death were unclear. The Cook County medical examiner's office said its preliminary information was that the man hanged himself.

Chicago Police News Affairs Officer David Banks confirmed the man, 30, died at Provident Hospital, where he had been transported at 2:30 a.m. from the station at 5101 S. Wentworth Ave.

He said police were conducting a death investigation, but had no information on why the man had to be taken to the hospital or why he had been arrested.

As of 5:30 a.m. the medical examiner's office was not officially releasing the man's identity pending notification of next of kin.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

Those turkey-bologna sandwiches will kill ya! If your only in there for 1/2 a day, wait till you are out to grab a bite to eat!

Well maybe it was the shank through his heart that killed him!

Chicago pays $915 per body for morgue transport; alderman says that's too much - Other cities as little as $75.00 per body

An influential alderman is arguing that Chicago pays far too much to transport bodies to the morgue, but the attorney for the company that does the work says it must charge that much to make a profit under strict city regulations.

Ald. Ed Burke (14th), chairman of the Finance Committee, plans to conduct hearings on the city contract with GSSP Enterprise Inc., which the city has paid $7.2 million since the start of its current five-year contract in September 2006.

The city currently pays $915 a trip. Under the company’s previous Chicago contract, it was paid $200 a body, or $300 for two bodies, a city Web site shows. In Dayton, Ohio, where the company is based, it only receives $75 a body, Burke said.

The alderman's push comes two-and-a-half years after the Tribune reported widespread problems with the company. You can read that story below.


“It is just inconceivable to me that Chicago pays so much to remove a deceased body, when other cities pay far less,” Burke said, noting the city’s current financial straits.

But Tony Cicero, general counsel for GSSP, said the company was losing money and nearing bankruptcy under its previous contract with Chicago. He also said GSSP was the lowest, most responsible bidder for its current deal.

Chicago requires body pickup at all city locations within 75 minutes of a call to dispatch, Cicero said.

“GSSP in Chicago has an operation running 24/7,” he added. “In no other municipality is that required.”

Employees who work for the company also have unionized, raising the company’s costs for the eight to 12 employees it has on duty at any given time, Cicero said.

“We have not heard anything from Ald. Burke and would be happy to sit down with him and answer his questions,” Cicero said.

Tribune's Dec. 24, 2006 story by Brendan McCarthy and Bob Secter:

Police call them the body snatchers, and their invasion from Ohio began in 2004 when a Dayton company called GSSP Enterprises Inc. won a city contract for the grim but necessary task of hauling thousands of Chicago's dead to the morgue.

Since then, GSSP has mixed up bodies, routinely overbilled for services, failed to meet commitments to use minority subcontractors and violated contract rules designed to preserve the dignity of the dead, a Tribune investigation has found.One former employee told the Tribune the company skimped so much on required staff and equipment that he sometimes was forced to stuff five or six bodies into a single van, even though one was the maximum the city allowed in most cases and never more than two.

A city audit last year found the company had failed to spend a penny with some of the minority-owned vendors it had promised to hire. Yet officials with the Daley administration's procurement office, which oversees city contract awards, took no action and said they aren't aware of any chronic problems with the performance of GSSP.

They recently rewarded the Dayton firm with a new five-year, $15.5 million deal that boosts the rate the city pays by 335 percent--to $915 from $210 for each body transported to the Cook County medical examiner's office from the scenes of murders, accidents, suicides and many natural deaths.

That is far more than paid elsewhere in the nation for the same service, experts say. The Cook County Sheriff's Police, for example, pay $130 per body to another company.

"What they pay them in Chicago, that's just ridiculous," said Bob Keller, director of the coroner's office in Lucas County, Ohio, where GSSP once worked and was paid $85 for each corpse it transported. "That can't be right."

But it is, and the story of how GSSP came to gain and maintain its increasingly lucrative Chicago franchise opens a window into how the city manages its portfolio of more than $3 billion in contracts.

Mayor Richard Daley last year ordered contract oversight increased after scandals, including abuses of the city's affirmative action set-aside program for minority owned firms. The GSSP experience raises questions about the effectiveness of those reforms.

`Exceptional service'

GSSP is owned by Brian Higgins, 35, a mortuary school graduate from Dayton. Higgins said his body-hauling firm has done a good job at a fair price for Chicago.

"GSSP and myself have provided the city with exceptional service--and I emphasize exceptional, uninterrupted service--for the past 2 1/2 years," Higgins said in an interview.

GSSP arrived in Chicago with glowing references from officials in the Montgomery County coroner's office in Dayton, where Higgins has personal business ties to some officials. His firm has held the body-hauling franchise there for several years and is paid $75 per transport--less than one-tenth of the Chicago rate.

Elsewhere in Ohio, however, GSSP had dissatisfied customers whom Chicago officials now acknowledge they knew nothing about. Just weeks before Chicago hired the firm in 2004, it was fired by Cuyahoga County, which encompasses Cleveland.

"They didn't have any resources, they couldn't adequately staff, they looked like they just crawled out of a garbage bin," said Adrian Maldonado, spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Office of Procurement. The Cuyahoga contract paid $88 for each body, but it was terminated less than a year after it began.

The story was similar in Lucas County, which includes Toledo, where Keller said GSSP was chronically late for pickups and arrived in "shabby" vehicles. Lucas County paid GSSP $85 per transport, but it dropped the firm in 2004 when its two-year contract expired.

Disastrous mix-up

Less than a year into its Chicago deal, GSSP's conduct came into sharp focus when its workers, in violation of the city contract, used the same van to transport two women who had died of natural causes in separate homes. The identities of the bodies became switched, and the mix-up wasn't discovered until one of the women was buried by the other's family.

The medical examiner's office blamed GSSP, but Higgins insisted his workers weren't at fault. He said police had waived a contract provision limiting most transports to one body a vehicle. A police spokeswoman said no waiver was granted.

Lawsuits filed against GSSP by the families of the women were settled out of court for an undisclosed amount of money.

Herschel Walker, a member of the early troops of $10-an-hour body haulers, said he often was required to transport multiple corpses in the same van during the year he worked for GSSP.

"There was times where me, myself, I had five and six in one van," recalled Walker, 24, who at the time was attending mortuary school and now works at a West Side funeral home. "Sometimes we even had seven."

Though the company had two vans for transports, it rarely had enough staff on duty to operate both, Walker said. He said he received no safety training, despite the danger of contact with bodily fluids. Walker said the vans were short of protective suits.

"Sometimes we didn't even have body bags," he said, adding that bodies were moved without them. The protective gear and the body bags were required under the city contract.

Higgins denied Walker's allegations and contended it would have been impossible to carry that many corpses in a van.

As is the case with most city contracts, GSSP was required to spend more than 21 percent of the value of its deal with minority- and women-owned subcontractors. Higgins himself is African-American, but his firm doesn't qualify for minority contractor status in Chicago because it is headquartered outside the metropolitan area.

Under its 2004 contract, GSSP lined up a roster of minority- and women-owned subcontractors it promised to hire.

GSSP also was required to file reports every three months detailing its spending with those firms.

The reports were never filed.

Subcontracting problems

One of GSSPs first subcontractors was Highland Park Ford. Carl Statham, the dealership's president at the time, said GSSP ordered three blue Ford Windstars but never picked them up or paid for them.

"I got stiffed with the vans," Statham said. "You know what it's like to sell a blue van? Blue is not popular.

"We couldn't even get in touch with them. Those damn vans just sat with us."

Statham said he called the city's procurement office several times to complain, but nothing happened. He estimated each van cost at least $20,000.

Higgins said he refused to take delivery because the dealership didn't order the kind of vehicles he specified. Instead, he said, he used older vans brought in from Ohio.

Another minority subcontractor on Higgins' list was Front Office Staffing, a Loop personnel agency he promised to pay up to $28,000 annually.

The staffing firm's job was to help hire body haulers, but it did much more than that, said co-owner Colleen Ahmed. GSSP lacked an office for its first several months in Chicago, so Ahmed said she let it use her office as a base.

Ahmed said she eventually kicked GSSP out after Higgins balked at paying the $17,000 she billed him as a finder's fee for his staff.

After a year of wrangling, Ahmed said she finally agreed to accept about half.

"Until Brian gets the bill, he's the nicest person around," Ahmed said. "But the minute Brian has to pay, you don't hear from him again."

Revealing audit

In what it described as an "interim audit," the Procurement Department last year found GSSP seriously out of compliance with its minority subcontracting pledges. GSSP had promised to hire seven minority subcontractors, but it hadn't paid a thing to five of those firms, the audit found.

GSSP's outlay to minority subs should have been at least $147,700 by mid-2005, the audit found. Instead, it had been only $10,832, just about 7 percent of the required amount.

Procurement officials took no action, though a note attached to the audit and sent to Higgins warned that GSSP could face "monetary penalties." Responding to a request by the Tribune, a department spokeswoman said no follow-up to the interim audit could be found.

At City Hall, oversight of the body-hauling contract is split between the Procurement and Police Departments. Police spokeswoman Monique Bond called GSSP a "good vendor" that provides "affordable" service. At the same time, Bond said police were tightening scrutiny of GSSP because of unspecified questions about its past performance.

"We want to ensure that those discrepancies don't occur in the future," Bond said.

Douglas Yerkes, a top procurement agency deputy, said the department had logged no complaints about GSSP. Yerkes speculated that Chicago might be paying top dollar for body hauling because it may be requiring GSSP to commit more staff and equipment than do other municipalities.

Higgins has signed two contracts with the city, and in both he has promised significant use of minority subcontractors. His current deal commits to spend up to $455,000 with a travel agency and up to $434,000 with a computer networking specialist.

He also promised to spend $2.1 million with Sutton Ford, a minority-owned dealership in Matteson. GSSP's new contract with the city requires it to keep a fleet of four vans, and it took delivery on them last month. The cost is a little more than $20,000 each.

Most of his spending pledge to Sutton Ford would be satisfied with the purchase of a mobile morgue for use in the case of mass casualties, Higgins said. He said he was developing the vehicle with police.

But Bond said police have not asked Higgins for such a vehicle and have no interest in it.

The Cook County medical examiner's office would not comment on GSSP's service because it is not a county contract.

Prior to the arrival of GSSP, body-hauling duties in Chicago were the responsibility of police. They hated the task.

The Federation of Police had long pressed to privatize body hauling, and an independent arbitrator finally ordered that be done a few years ago as part of contract negotiations between the city and the police union.

Lax regulations

City regulators have been accommodating to GSSP, which last year hired the law firm of influential developer Peter Bynoe to represent it on legal and lobbying matters with the city. Bynoe, a onetime Daley appointee to the Chicago Plan Commission, made a pitch on Higgins' behalf to Yerkes' boss, Chief Procurement Officer Barbara Lumpkin, when GSSP was bidding for its new deal last year.

Payment vouchers show the company routinely overbilled the city by hundreds of dollars each month. The only consequence was that a city comptroller's office employee had to adjust the math downward repeatedly before cutting checks, city records show.

City officials also told GSSP it didn't have to operate as many vehicles or maintain as big a staff as the contract called for. Police had overestimated the number of bodies the firm would be called upon to transport, meaning GSSP's revenues would fall short of expectations.

The city didn't stop there. Officials let GSSP out of the deal only one year into a three-year contract. It was put out for bid again with new specifications, and GSSP was free to seek higher compensation.

It did, and won the bidding over other competitors.

Under the new deal, which went into effect late summer, GSSP is now paid $915 a body. But the contract contains an escalator clause.

By 2008, the price can rise to $960. It can go up again the following year to $1,008. And by 2010, GSSP can bill the city $1,059 every time it moves a body to the morgue.

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Detective Shavedlongcock:

$915.00 per body to go to the morgue??? You got to be fucking kidding. The police department is without a work contract and being threatened with no pay raises as the City is paying almost $1,000.00 to bring a body down to the morgue.

This city is a joke!