Crime-fighting by MCSD

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
August 9, 2012

I hear there is a new knuckle-brained plan at our McHenry County Sheriff's Department. Deputies drive their patrol cars to certain locations ("hot spots") in the County and then park and wait for crime to come to them.

Why, all you have to do is look at the Crime Map on the Sheriff's website and you can see all the crime. Serious crime, I mean. Like Motorist Assists and Citizen Assists...

Squad cars are pretty well marked these days, including with reflectorized strips. So don't you think that a burglar, robber or other miscreant driving around and looking for a mark might just spot the patrol car and head on down the road a little farther?

What happens when Dispatch radios a call? The deputy can't go; he is assigned to sit somewhere and wait for crime.

Who goes? A shift sergeant?

Who thought up this scheme? What do the deputies think of it?

Makes a lot of sense; right? Right?