Letters to the Editor
June 1, 2012 9:28PM
New CTA Morgan Street Station at 952 W. Lake. Thursday, May 24, 2012. | Brian Jackson~Chicago Sun-Times.
Updated: July 6, 2012 10:47AM
Gov should sign eavesdropping bill
I’m writing in response to the Tuesday editorial “Bill Would Erode a Privacy Right.”
Suggesting that any Illinois police officer, let alone any police chief, would want to throw away any individual’s constitutional rights is ridiculous. The only intent of the eavesdropping legislation currently sitting on the governor’s desk is to allow narcotics officers who are involved in undercover investigations to be able to audiotape the transactions that are taking place during this type of operation. There is no other intent of the proposed legislation.
House Bill 4081 as currently written would, in fact, increase public scrutiny of law enforcement, tape-recording conversations that could be used as evidence by both the prosecution and defense attorneys.
This piece of legislation will without a doubt have an immediate impact on police undercover drug operations. It will help protect officer safety, secure better evidence for prosecution and protect the public from police misconduct, given that the same audiotape used by law enforcement can be used by defendants in court to defend themselves against entrapment allegations or misconduct by police.
By the way, in the past the Sun-Times has supported in-car cameras, tazer cams and videotaped confessions . . . but opposes HB4081. Really? I strongly urge the governor the sign House Bill 4081.
Thomas Q. Weitzel Riverside Chief of Police President, West Suburban Chiefs of Police Association
At first glance, I thought that the CTA selling naming rights to ‘L’ train stations was just another example of the crass commercialization of public space. But then I thought of a solution. Any corporation that names a station also should be required to maintain a public restroom at the station. As much as I would hate to tell someone to meet me at the Viagra stop or the Preparation H stop, the ability to breathe through my nose when making the morning commute to school might make up for it. “Fresh air brought to you by Hennessy.”
I can see it now!
Aaron Allan Dome, Bridgeport
