Where were the police? (Chicago, Lincoln: work, home, crime)

[emmi605]

I have to vent. Last night, my family and I decided to stroll through Lincoln Park and down around to North Avenue Beach. First of all, I had never seen it so crowded. There were families having fun...just what the fourth of July is all about. We walked for over and hour, finally landing at the beachfront to watch the fireworks. Although it was simple for me to witness illegal fireworks everywhere (I'll never get over seeing a seven/eight year old girl hold a roman candle in her hand as it spouted off fireworks into the air as her "mom" watched and smaller children ran toward the "pretty lights."), underage drinking, open liquor everwhere, and littering that completely trashed the park and beach. I could see all this, but we saw not one police officer anywhere. Why would the police and fire department go on the news with their special announcement Thursday night and then not enforce the rules???? I am so disheartened by what my family walked through last night. I felt as if we were in total, unsafe chaos. I really believed that the city of Chicago felt public safety was important. I cannot say I saw any evidence of that last night. Anyone out there have a similar experience? Any law enforcement that can shed some light on the lack of presence and enforcement?

[60-minutes-II]

20 000 v.s. 1 000 000 rowdy people......hmm I wonder who would win??

[Avengerfire]

Yep. There are only so many police officers.

[jessiegirl_98]

Maybe dealing with actual shootings and other gang related crime

[jdiddy]

Sounds like lots of people had fun but you.

[noid_1985]

Eating donuts or shooting someone Im sure

[illinoisboy]

I know how you feel. I hate walking around downtown and seeing all the littering and graffiti all over the place, especially on the lakefront. Chicago tries so hard on beautifying the city, just to have some gangsters and careless people to tear it all up. I hope that we are able to someday acomplish what New York has when it comes to crime.

[emmi605]

I'm not ignorant to the fact that there are limited police, but when the top news story is how the Chicago police will be out enforcing the new ban on "sparklers", I would expect something be done about a seven year old holding a Roman candle while it rained fire balls onto young children. I just resent the fact that we are made to believe that laws are being enforced when they are not doing so in reality. When a couple family members went back home for blankets they did finally see a cop.....in his car sipping a cup of coffee...ignoring the chaos around him as he read a paper.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by emmi605

I'm not ignorant to the fact that there are limited police, but when the top news story is how the Chicago police will be out enforcing the new ban on "sparklers", I would expect something be done about a seven year old holding a Roman candle while it rained fire balls onto young children. I just resent the fact that we are made to believe that laws are being enforced when they are not doing so in reality. When a couple family members went back home for blankets they did finally see a cop.....in his car sipping a cup of coffee...ignoring the chaos around him as he read a paper.

A 7 year old holding a Roman candle is a really poor parenting issue, not a police issue.

[Lookout Kid]

I'd love to see a fireworks crackdown in Chicago. It's just ridiculous what people are shooting off in large crowds.