During this spat between the North and South Side Gang the members of the South Side Gang employed a dirty little trick. Two members of the South Side Gang dressed up as local policemen and ambushed members of the North Side Gang who willingly gave up believing that they were legitimate law officials. After the massacre took place the two disguised gang members escaped in what witnesses say was what looked like a police squad car. How had members of Al Capone’s infamous gang even obtained police uniforms and a squad car? There are theories that suggest that they had help from the inside, so if even the Chicago police forces were under the corrupt thumb of Al Capone where were Chicago’s citizens supposed to turn to in times of need. If citizens cannot trust their local law enforcement to protect them then somewhere along the line the security of Chicago’s citizens were compromised.
[1] "Organized Crime and Prohibition," University At Albany , last accessed April 4 2013 http://www.albany.edu/~wm731882/organized_crime1_final.html [2] "7 Chicago gangsters Slain by Firing Squad of Rivals, Some in Police Uniforms," The New York Times, February 15,1929, http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0214.html#article |