Jeff Cagle
i am a freelance news and editorial photographer living in the chicago suburbs.
my portfolio is at jeffcagle.com. You can also find me at instagram.com/jeffcagle
get in touch: jeffrey [dot] cagle [at] gmail
Ask me anything
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Protesters and police square off at the intersection of Michigan and Cermak
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I got to spend some time earlier this week at the Aurora Police Department as recruits were training in the firing range. Crime is down in Aurora, which is obviously a good thing, but the Beacon wanted to illustrate officers working. Instead of getting the usual shot taken during roll call, it was nice that they invited us to check out training and that I got to shoot this assignment.
There is a lot of negative press going around right now about police departments and officers. Rightfully so in some cases, but it doesn’t paint the whole picture. The APD has a great relationship with the media when we cross paths in the field and they invite us into their home to see what goes on behind the scenes.
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In what may be the most documented arrests ever, at least five Wall Street protesters were detained on Tuesday to the chants of “what’s your name!,” “fucking cowards,” and the like.
The only coward I see in this video is the one screaming the worst of his insults at police after the majority of them have made their way across the street and have their backs to the crowd.
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We just got our beers, and a detective said: ‘free dinner for everybody,’ and told everybody to get out
Joseph Biancofior, a Park Grill customer, after a suspicious device was found in Millenium Park. You’ve gotta love cop humor. The chef said the incident could cost the restaurant $20,000 in business. -
I got this muzzle flash at the expense of my right ear drum this morning during a peace officer memorial observance for National Police Week. I’m pretty happy with the gallery I came up with.
Off to shoot a fundraiser for the victims of this weekend’s fire, then shooting another police memorial observance.
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NYPD IMPACT - Rookies in the South Bronx (Antonio Bolfo) (via douglashaddow)
These incredible photographs deserve your time.
I have always been interested in public service, but it’s rare that police and fire departments will allow outsiders into their world — police especially. This is an incredible series and I hope I can make something like this sometime in the future.
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This comment reflects my thoughts perfectly on photos from stories like these when mass violence breaks out at events like the Taste of Chicago.
And I’ll tell you why the pictures are of the police and not the thugs causing the problems: because it’s far safer to be standing next to and snap a photo of someone who is armed, trained and gets paid to risk their life day in and day out to keep the peace and protect you than it is to get in the middle of a bunch of animals who are running around stabbing each other for wearing the wrong colors or twisting their fingers the wrong way.
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John Kass tells it like it is
The man accused of biting the nipple off a Chicago police officer during a struggle for the cop’s gun — and spitting it out on the sidewalk in front of Gibsons Steakhouse on Rush Street — was in bond court Tuesday.
I stopped by to hear the details. But before nipple biter suspect Fernando Cooper was brought before Judge Ramon Ocasio III, there were dozens of other cases — assaults, drugs, beatings, shootings at cars with kids inside, a veritable march of the barbarians.[…]
I thought of those times when a cop slaps somebody around. The politicians begin shrieking, and TV announcers excitedly warn viewers about the shocking video to come. The video is played again and again and again.
There was no video of the cops getting rammed by the car on the South Side. There was no video of the handcuffs whipping against that other officer’s face. And so far, there’s no video from Rush Street, a chunk of the officer’s chest ripped out by human teeth, then spat upon the sidewalk to be picked up later with a napkin and carried to the hospital.
Sometimes, it’s what you don’t see that shocks you. Unless you’re a cop, a prosecutor or a judge. They’ll see it over again tomorrow in bond court. Day after day.A lot of people rip John Kass as a wannabe Mike Royko, but every once in a while he has fits of brilliance like the last few graphs of today’s column.
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Need for Speed: Illinois Highway Edition?
The Tribune reports today about policy changes for Illinois State Police to initiate a chase:
Under the first level, called a “code one,” troopers are limited to following traffic laws. Officers operating under codes two and three can drive faster than the speed limit, but must call a supervisor before exceeding 20 miles over the speed limit.
And only supervisors can issue a “code red,” directing troopers to drive as fast as necessary, with no limit, State Police Lt. Scott Compton said. Those cases will later be reviewed by a committee, he said.Second City Cop raises an interesting point about what this could mean:
Limit liability at all costs. Including not being able to enforce any sort of speeding laws since they won’t be able to get permission to exceed 75 mph in enough time to catch up to someone doing 100-plus mph. For some reason, we see Illinois highways becoming closer and closer to DeathRace 2000 now.
Not that I plan on committing any crimes and using the interstate as my getaway route, but a few years ago I was ticketed for going 83 in a 65 mph zone and the trooper had to hop the grassy median and likely exceeded 100 mph to catch up to me quickly since we were going opposite directions when he clocked me. All for a $100 ticket.
My speedometer reads 160 mph and I’ve seen the needle in excess of 135. I plan on stopping should I see flashing lights in my rearview, but SCC is right, what’s to stop someone from taking off and creating a dangerous situation because they’re armed with this information and the knowledge that another ticket will leave them with a suspended license or worse?
