Don’t let the presumed drop in crime that goes with this cold weather fool you. The 19th district is still running out of cops.
When a Chicago police district has no officers available to immediately handle 911 calls, the district enters “Radio Assignment Pending” or RAP status.
Calls for service stack up when a district is in a RAP and when a unit does become available, they are generally given the most important assignment pending.
Read more about RAPS and see CWB’s list of known RAPS in 2013 HERE.
Our district has recorded at least four RAPS in December:
- Tuesday, December 3, 2013, starting at 4:59AM. End time unknown.
- Friday, December 6, 2013, from 3:35PM to 4:00PM
- Sunday, December 9, 2013, from 5:43AM until after 7AM (end time not clear).
- Monday, December 9, 2013, from 2:09PM until 5:00PM.
The afternoon RAPS are particularly infuriating because the district actually has some officers available who are not handling calls for help. Unfortunately, they are required to sit around and watch a “Safe Passage” corner for hours on end, so they can’t pitch in.
We consider the Safe Passage manpower sponge to be a “Secret Santa” gift from our Mayor.
Image: Real Simple
