Cops to Rahm: Hire Local

Is Al Wysinger a token local nominee for Chicago police superintendent?

That’s the suspicion among posters to a popular Chicago police blog. Wysinger is one of three finalists, along with Newark Police Chief Gerry McCarthy and U.S. Drug Czar R. Gil Kerlikowske, a former Seattle Police Chief. The cops, who hated former FBI agent Jody Weis, are clearly rooting for one of their own.

“The Ballerina is appeasing us by at least putting in ONE candidate from within for the 3 that he’s narrowed it down to. Then when we think he’s giving us a chance at an insider who has done the job, BINGO, he jams it in our asses and breaks it off with an outsider and another several years of bull s--- and rotten morale,” wrote one poster.

Wrote another: “Let’s hope it's Al, also. Guy from Seattle? Trying his hand at being ‘Big Boy Police?’ Some Fed? How’d that work out last time. Worked with Al years ago, good copper, good guy. Worst I’ve heard about him is that he’s a ‘nice guy’ and not a pompous jagoff and that some crybabies didn't like that he got an award for popping off duty.”

Hear that? Wysinger is not a "jagoff." In the police lexicon, there is no higher compliment.

The cops already think Emanuel is kind of a jerk. The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Gery Chico, in part because Emanuel called the current pension system “unsustainable.” The union also criticized Emanuel for an ad in which he suggested city employees need to start acting like public servants.

When reporters asked the mayor-elect whether another outsider could cure the morale problem that developed under Weis, he answered, “My No. 1 goal … is what do we have to do to reduce violent crime in the city.”

Because Rahm Emanuel is going to do what’s best for Chicago. And he doesn’t care who calls him names.

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