Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — Far South Side Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) -- who has infuriated rank-and-file-police officers by targeting their supplemental pay and proposing more power for “rent-a-cops” -- was chosen by Mayor Daley on Wednesday to chair the City Council’s Police Committee.
“I’d be hard-pressed to identify a poorer choice,” said Fraternal Order of Police President Mark Donahue. But, he said, “We’ll continue to work with the [committee] members for the benefit of Chicago Police officers and the people of Chicago.”
Beale, 43, replaces former Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th), who was convicted of shaking down a West Side developer.
Beale is a surprise choice for several reasons. Although he has cozied up to Daley recently in his push to develop Pullman Park, Beale was elected to the City Council in 1999 with the support of state Sen. James Meeks and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., longtime Daley critics.
And Beale has turned himself into a political punching bag with proposals viewed as anti-police.
Beale has targeted duty-availability pay, a supplemental, $2,800-a-year lump sum that essentially compensates officers for being on call at any time.
He has also criticized the roughly $1,800-a-year uniform allowance officers receive, and he infuriated the rank-and-file by proposing that private security guards patrolling three Far South Side commercial strips be empowered to write tickets -- for everything from parking and moving violations to loitering, littering and graffiti.
Daley denied that his selection of Beale was an “antagonistic move” toward police officers who are already furious with the mayor after waiting three years for a new contract.
“He’s had some criticism, but in the long run, he’s supported the Police Department and Fire Department tremendously in his district. He works very well in the 9th Ward,” Daley said.
Beale called the appointment a “new challenge for me to work with the rank-and-file” and the FOP. But, he still intends to target supplemental pay.
“Police and Fire is the biggest part of our budget. Those were legitimate questions because we are in a recession. If there’s some fat that needs to be trimmed, we’re looking at all aspects of the budget,” he said.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Sun-Times