Sarge's thought of the day

Wednesday May 2 2012 Top Story

Pam Zekman, an investigative reporter with WBBM Channel 2, snuck up to visible CPD foot patrol Officer Joe Pagan at the Merchandise Mart, while on his beat and doing his assigned job as the Kinzie and Wells foot patrol officer. Zekman had a microphone and camera man, demanding answers from Pagan, "What are you doing in the Merchandise Mart?..."

On Pagan's foot beat, the low crime rate is partially attributed to his charismatic personality. Every day, he meets and talks with people on his beat. Also contributing is Pagan's zero tolerance for loitering, which is frequently tied to pickpockets and purse snatching.

On his beat at Kinzie and Wells, Pagan knows the merchants, the daily riders on the CTA brown line, the every-day Chicagoans, patrons, and employees on his beat. Most of them know Joe as well.

Chicago needs more police officers on the job and officers like Joe Pagan. As a foot patrol officer, Pagan has beat integrity, is proactive every day, and knows the people on his beat.

The Willis (Sears) tower and the John Hancock do not allow the public to walk through as the Merchandise Mart does, and there isn't a CTA stop in those buildings either. As part of a beat patrol, I am 50-50 with respect to whether a CPD foot patrol officer should be assigned to the Merchandise Mart because of its unique function as a quasi-public building. I am 100% opposed to a jealous 018th district officer fueling a story and setting up a fine fellow officer.

Proactive foot patrol officer Pagan at Kinzie and Wells represents the CPD with stellar performance.

Top quality Chicago Police officers like Pagan should not be tainted by the City's record high murder rate. As a self made, non politically connected beat foot patrol officer, Pagan was assigned to a low crime, high profile, Kinzie-Wells beat, which includes a quasi-public building with no metal detectors upon entry - - the Merchandise Mart. This post makes a juicy story.

The City of Chicago needs more police officers on the job. Certainly, the CPD needs to weed out the jealous rat in the 018th District that dropped a dime on Joe working his beat at the Merchandise Mart. In the long run, the rat will tarnish their own FOP officers.

If the Chicago Police Department had more foresight 20 years ago and less politics, and employed more vigilant police officers like Joe Pagan rather than connected bureaucrats, maybe there wouldn't be as much violent crime or murders in Chicago today.

Outside of the job, Joe Pagan is a family man with high family values, and spends numerous hours volunteering and leading in his neighborhood - a strong collaboration with his character and accountability for 14 years on the job. His performance has earned him high profile posts.

My mission for 20 plus years has been top quality public education and strong neighborhoods in Chicago. Joe Pagan has taken a lead with this mission and has been the Chairmen for Latino outreach for Logan Square Concerned Citizens.

Larry Ligas

Community Reformer and Chairman, Logan Square Concerned Citizens

cell (312) xxx-xxxx
reply to: LarryLigas@LarryLigas.com