Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy on Radio Chicagoland this morning

Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy discusses regional crime issues on Mornings with Ray Hanania this morning. The interview is podcast on iTunes.com and can be heard directly off the web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com. McCarthy, the secret service agent who was injured during the assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan, discusses a wide range of issues including regional crime trends. McCarthy, chairman of the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, also notes talks about crime trends, noting that there were 39 homicides this year (in the task force region) compared to 50 in 2006. He said the Task Force has "cleared 75 percent of the homicides" compared to the national average which is 60 percent. He also discusses the coyote problem int he Southwest suburbs.

To find the show, scroll down to 12-30-08 on the virtual iPod on the web site (all shows are listed in Chronological order and can be heard online without leaving the web page). Or, go to www.iTunes.com and download the podcast to your own iPod.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Park government hypocrisy -- as usual

Not a few days went by since we noted the unkempt condition of the new ("award winning") Orland Park Police Headquarters than the Village of Orland Park sent out a press release on the topic. Not about their failure to maintain one of their properties that had weeds and grass growing more than a foot tall all over the lawn, but about the poor, hapless folk who have lost their homes to mortgage scams and scumbag banking practices protected by the Bush administration and targeted for relief by John McCain.

Sure, village property gets a pass, but if you have your home snatched up by a banker and the bank is not taking care of it, the village wants to hammer you.

The village didn't say peep when the Police Headquarters was getting moans and graons from its citizens, who complained to me and I posted the story last week.

Village officials are so thinned skinned, they took the posting as a personal attack, insteasd of being responsible, because that's the way they are in Orland Park: hypocrites. They love to bask in the glory and public praise -- Mayor Dan McLaughlin is the worst -- his name is all over the village newsletter, the village postings, the village flyers and handouts and all the press releases. But not a peep when the screw up.

Of course, there are a few village employees running around throwing around their weight threatening businesse to get their daughters placed in programs, telling business owners if they don't give their daughter a break, they have clout and can "make you are break you." A direct quote from one business owner.

You won't see McLaughlin do anything about that. Hell, he can't take any criticism at all about Orland Park.

Here's the story from the Southtown on plans to crack down on unkempt properties.

McLaughlin used to be a great guy, long before clout and power and privilege got to his head. Too bad. He could have been great. But that's one reason why he's not in statewide office, and the talk is to push others around him who have the talent, like Police Chief Tim McCarthy, who many admire as wanting to do the right thing.

Ray Hanania
www.OrlandParker.com

Grass gets attention in Orland Park, even when it's not officially "Tall Grass"

The amount of email letters and even some calls on the Orland Park Police Department's unruly lawn problem (Some language has been cleaned up to keep this site PG):

• Great web site. I love the local news. The other papers just do not tackle any controversy. It's good to see your site. The OPPD center is an eyesore. I drive by it everyday wondering the same thing. Keep it up. TJ West Avenue
  
• As a police officer, I know there is much talk at the station about your blog reference. The most interesting gossip is speculation that Chief Tim plans to run for Mayor. Forget about the senate, but Mayor is possible. Anonymous. PO
  
• Tim McCarthy for mayor? Yes!
  
• Cut the damn grass! I see the mayor's lawn is always cut nice and neat. Check that work out sometimes. LB, Glenlake Dr
  
• I thought it was an English Garden, but that doesn't sit well with our Irish Mayor. Debbie, Mallard Drive
  
• I love the site! Shake-em up Ray. RD
  
• Whatever happened between you and Mayor Dan? You were pals once and you served on the Civic Center Commission. Was it the Mike Brennan battle for the Orland Township? Will you be writing about that topic?

We love email here at the OrlandParker.com ... send it directly to me, if you don't want to post or subscribe to the Blogger.com system at rayhanania@comcast.net. We'll keep it all anonymous but you can identify your street name if you want it published.

BY THE WAY ... I saw two workers digging through the weeds in front of the Orland Park Police Department site this morning. The OrlandParker.com is read ... even better than the former site we ran several years ago when we were attacked by McLaughlin and Dodge. They workers didn't look too happy sloshing around in the drizzle and pulling the large plants out and putting them in a wheel barrel.

But, the McCarthy rumors are swirling around the community. I've heard them from a dozen residents and a few friends in City Hall. McLaughlin "retiring?" I don't think so, but that rumor is prompting the McCarthy for public office rumors and to be honest, McCarthy would make the town's BEST Mayor. I hope that either he does it or, if McLaughlin clings to office (as all mayors-for-life do) that Chief McCarthy will run for the U.S. Senate seat. No one is more recognizable than McCarthy, who is considered a heor for his act of saving the life of a president.

Ray Hanania
www.TheOrlandParker.com

Award winning Police Department needs grass mowed -- badly

I am a big fan of the Orland Park Police Department and its chief Tim McCarthy. We're lucky to have him. And I thinkt he village of Orland Park should feel the same way.

But, according to a few sources in the village's tight little political system, you have to wonder.

For example, last week, the Village of Orland Park Police won a prestigious award, taking first place in the Chicago Building Congress (CBC) 2008 Merit Award Program for Rehab Construction.

Orland Park was one of four finalists in the rehab category, including the Peoria Civic Center, Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Powerhouse and the Metropolitan Tower on the Park, a high rise condo conversion project on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The award was accepted by Trustee Patricia Gira, who I also admire for having an openness that is a bit rare among some of the village officials, Chief McCarthy and Deputy Chief Jerry Hughes. The award was presented at the Chicago Building Congress Award Program at the Union League Club.

The Village boasts the award, too, bragging deservedly, "The award celebrates the collaborative effort required by the building process and the impact upon the community at large. Judging was based upon the distinctiveness of design, quality of construction, positive impact on the surrounding community and safety record."

And, it's the Police department's second award. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the Police Department with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification last November. Orland Park is the only police facility in the country and the first project of this kind in the south suburbs to achieve the LEED Gold Certificate.

Well, if the village thinks so highly of the Police Department and its police chief, why is the village Public Works Department allowing the grass to grow so wildly around the building. It really looks unkempt. It certainly does not reflect pride in the Police Department and their new building to keep the property so disheveled.
















Come on people. It looks like the Police Department is abandoned property, not award winning property. (Maybe the Police Department is just on a long list to receive sod and no one cares? So they're not cutting the weeds knowing they will eventually replace it with sod. Still, not good enough an excuse.)

McCarthy is well thought off not just in Orland Park but in the entire state of Illinois. Many insiders believe he still has an excellent future in regional politics (he could run for the U.S. Senate to succeed Barack Obama and do very well given his police credentials which are tops and his highly publicized bravery in defending President Ronald Reagan from an assassin's bullet -- which McCarthy took.

Actually, McCarthy is more thought of than Mayor McLaughlin, who rumors have it plans to not seek re-election. I newver believe rumors about Mayor's-for-Life like McLaughlin. They said the same thing about Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley before the last election, and of course, he did run for re-election and won handily.

Well, if McCarthy doesn't run for U.S. Senate, he can always fill McLaughlin's shoes if the rumors are right.

Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/