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
