WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, OFFICERS?

On Jan. 25 at 9 p.m. I was stopped by the Chicago police as I was walking
with my brother-in-law to a corner store for a pack of cigarettes. Earlier,
from my mother-in-law's window, we had noticed police activity that seemed
unusually high. I saw many squad cars going down Chicago Avenue and watched
from a second-floor window as the police stopped and searched four
pedestrians. I joked with my brother-in-law that I would go with him for
protection.

When we reached the intersection of Chicago and Hamlin, a police car was
driving up Hamlin, and the officer at the wheel rolled down his window,
told us to stop, and positioned his car at an angle, preventing us from
crossing the street. The driver got out with his partner. Another police
car pulled up, and those two officers got out of their vehicle.

My brother-in-law and I were surrounded, but had done nothing
suspicious--unless walking down the street at 9 p.m. in the snow to get a
pack of cigarettes appears suspicious. Well, perhaps the suspicious part
comes from the fact my brother-in-law is black and I am white.

The police officers told us to take our hands out of our pockets. It was
cold, and I did not bring gloves. They began interrogating us: What were we
doing there, did we have any drugs on us, etc. I felt harassed and told the
officers so. The officers said they were just interviewing the citizens of
Lawndale as part of CAPS. I asked: If it was only an interview, were we
free to go, as an interview is voluntary. They refused to let us leave
until they checked our IDs. The officers were intimidating, and I admit I
felt threatened by their actions.

Thankfully, the officers returned my ID and let my brother-in-law and me
proceed without further hindrance. However, I am concerned about how the
other citizens of this neighborhood are being treated in this sweep of
police activity. While I understand the need to get drugs off the streets,
the intimidation and threat of force appear to be targeting the average
citizen. If this happened in the Peterson Woods community, the police
Office of Professional Standards would be inundated with calls, and the
local alderman would be in fear of losing the next election. Why would this
type of force be necessary in any community?

Eric Steier,

Oak Park