Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Block Club Chi: Railroad Police Regret Using Bait Trucks In Chicago, Promise Not To Do It Again

Caught my eye thanks to a screencap of this story posted to RAGE's ig page. Will share below meanwhile check out this Block Club story about this so-called "bait-truck" set up by the Norfolk Southern Railroad and Chicago Police.
The Norfolk Southern Railroad on Friday said it regrets its controversial “Operation Trailer Trap” sting in Englewood and will stop the practice just days after activists’ videos of the “bait truck” operation went viral.

The railroad, which was harshly criticized by neighbors, politicians and viewers of the videos around the world, said the sting “eroded trust between law enforcement and the community.”

According to activist videos posted online, a semi-truck was left on Englewood streets with boxes of shoes inside. Officers waited for people to try to break into the truck, and then arrested them. It was a joint operation between Norfolk Southern Railroad and the Chicago Police Dept., which has already said it will take “a hard look” at the practice going forward.

After initially defending the tactic, Norfolk Southern now says they don’t plan to do it again.

“Norfolk Southern recognizes that, despite the need to safeguard freight in the area, this operation eroded trust between law enforcement and the community,” Herbert Smith, manager of community and legislative affairs, said in a statement. “We sincerely regret that our actions caused further unease, and we don’t plan to use this method in the future.”
I almost forgot did 2nd City Cop say anything about this? Yes they did from this past Saturday. I'm not a fan of this tactic, but this is how the local police blog looks at it.
Almost immediately after Kim Foxxx dropped all charges against the burglars who cut open truck trailer seals in order to unlawfully loot whatever was within, Norfolk Southern acquiesced to the criminal class and agreed to allow their trains to be looted with impunity
Emphasis (what I placed in bold) is mine. Also:
Reverse Stings are completely legal and accepted police tactics. If you don't cut open a trailer seal and unlawfully enter and remain within while intending to commit a theft, YOU CAN'T BE CHARGED! It's like an actual law. Imagine that - obey the law and nothing happens.

But now, newly emboldened burglars can cut open train cars and parked trucks and loot with the knowledge that whatever they break into isn't being watched by cops.  And the cost to everyone else can be calculated in million of dollars. And you can thank Kim Foxxx and the ACLU for starters.
Anyway here's the RAGE ig post

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