Chicago Hires Criminals to be Police

The Chicago Sun-Times has this today.

Some were rejected from suburban police departments.

Others sold cocaine and smoked pot.

'Why is it so hard to fire a policeman?'

A few were thieves. Others are related to crooks. One was even a gang member.

They're among dozens of people restored to the Chicago Police Department's hiring list after they were found unfit to become cops.

The Chicago Sun-Times explored a little-known appeals process for police applicants blackballed because of problems in their backgrounds.

Of 221 who appealed, 79 people were returned to the hiring list by the city's Human Resources Board between 2005 and 2007, records show.

One-hundred twenty-eight were kept off the hiring list and another 14 withdrew their appeals. . . .

Those interested in reading economic research on the impact that this hiring policy has on crime rates (hint it is bad) can download my research here.

Thanks to Gus Cotey for the link.