Department cracks down after Sun-Times articles

**Pedro56** · 01-24-07, 07:41 AM

2 cop cars towed for illegal parking

January 24, 2007
BY FRANK MAIN AND FRAN SPIELMAN Staff Reporters

Two Chicago Police cars were towed last week for being illegally parked -- and the department then sent out a memo warning cops not to park in handicapped spots or in front of fire hydrants.

The actions followed a Sun-Times story that reported the department is investigating a handful of police employees for suspected misuse of disabled parking signs.

One unmarked police car was towed at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of West Washington and another at 12:48 p.m. Friday in the 1500 block of West Taylor, police spokeswoman Monique Bond said. Both were in "no parking anytime" zones.

Later Friday, First Deputy Supt. Dana Starks warned, "under no circumstances should department vehicles be parked on a fire hydrant or in a handicapped parking space." The drivers will have to pay the towing costs, he said.

"The operator of a department vehicle must be prepared to justify their actions for having parked illegally, even when that action involves their official duties in response to an emergency situation," Starks wrote.

'Caused a lot of concern'

Tuesday, Fraternal Order of Police President Mark Donahue called the memo "inappropriate," adding: "It's an attempt to relieve the officers of discretion. It's caused a lot of concern among the membership.

"There are circumstances that are going to dictate -- especially in an emergency situation -- where you have no choice but to park the car where you can," Donahue said.

Bond said the memo was simply a reminder of an existing department order. "If an officer is responding to an emergency, and that is the only spot available, certainly that would be an exception," she said.

Still, some cops wondered if they will have to park their cars blocks from assignments.

"Let's say I have a call that there is a bum in Holy Name Cathedral and he won't leave," said one patrol officer, who asked to remain anonymous. "He is boisterous, but there is no threat of violence. Do I have to park three blocks away and walk?"

The officer said he and other cops might start ticketing city Streets and Sanitation workers for traffic violations if more police vehicles are towed.

But Bond insisted, "There will be no retaliation."

In December, the Sun-Times photographed at least a dozen unmarked police cars in a no-parking zone near the downtown Hyatt Regency Chicago. But Bond said the cars were parked appropriately. "The area was being closely monitored by police personnel in the event vehicles needed to be moved," she said.

fmain@suntimes.com, fspielman@suntimes.com

**Pedro56** · 01-24-07, 07:43 AM

They weren't towed by our own Tow Trucks but by the I can't drive, park anywhere Streets and Sanitation Mobsters. Little do they know they have just declared war.

**BEB** · 01-24-07, 07:45 AM

Chicago, war, and here's St Valentines Day coming up.

This isn't good.

Pedro56 - are the towings specific to police officers or just the media?

**Pedro56** · 01-24-07, 07:46 AM

Squad cars only.

**BEB** · 01-24-07, 07:49 AM

That's fucked up.

**bird1** · 01-24-07, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Pedro56

"The operator of a department vehicle must be prepared to justify their actions for having parked illegally, even when that action involves their official duties in response to an emergency situation," Starks wrote.

sorry i couldn't make on time to stop the burglar in your house. i couldn't find any parking.