Jul 2, 2008 6:09 pm US/Central
Chicago Officer's Death Highlights Dangers Of Job
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Police officers around the city are mourning the death of Officer Richard Francis. From those who still cover a beat to those who have hung up their badges, they all see this as a reminder of the dangers of the job and the importance to take nothing for granted.
As CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports, on the city's South Side a beat cop walked his regular route Wednesday. He asked not to be identified, because he admits he's on edge. It's a reaction to the news of Francis's shooting death Tuesday night while patrolling his regular route.
"It's sad. Whether you know the individual or not you're gonna be upset," the officer said. "It's going to make you remember you have to be cautious out here."
Tuesday night's shooting is also a reminder of the dangers of the job, something this cop says the public often forgets.
"If a man goes into a building and has a gun, everybody else runs out the door, but they call us to go in the door and get the man," the officer said. "We get paid to do things that other people wouldn't think of doing."
Richard Brzeczek retired as the city's top cop in 1983. He wore a badge for nearly 20 years.
"I had seven police officers killed in six incidents when I was superintendent," Brzeczek said..
He says it's significant that Francis's shooter was a woman, and a reminder to officers to take no one for granted.
"We should not underestimate the potential violence of women," he said. "This department has a long history of quite a few hundred officers killed in the line of duty and some of those officers lost their lives at the hands of a female."
In fact, Donald Marquez was the last officer killed in the line of duty in 2002. He was shot by a 77-year-old woman.
While Marquez was the last officer killed in the line of duty, in 2007, Officer Jose Vazquez was fatally shot during a robbery, but he was off duty at the time.
Brzeczek says the death of every fallen officer carries a message: "Be a little more cautious about their own personal safety in public."
The goal, he said, is cover your beat...and get home alive.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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