By Adam Harrington
Special to Inside
When they’re not out pounding the streets and chasing bad guys, one pair of Chicago Police officers takes on a second job as radio talk show hosts. Tony Amelio, a patrol officer in the 20th District, and Bill Jaconetti, a foot patrol officer in the 14th District, spend Saturday afternoons hosting the call- in show, “Cop Talk” on Berkeley, IL-based WJJG-1530 AM.
“It’s basically cops explaining some laws that people may not be aware of, and also Chicago history and things that may be interesting to other people,” said WJJG program director John Biehl. “It’s the number one police-oriented talk show.”
The program has been on the air a mere seven months, but has gained a following among other members of the police department and a substantial number of civilians.
Jaconetti said he considers the show a helpful way to use his experience in communicating with the public. “We comment on police stuff, we do discussions on homeland security, and how to protect yourself on the street and at home,” Jaconetti said. “I have 35 years of experience [as a police officer].” Amelio is a 23-year veteran officer.
“Cop Talk” features a montage of topics ranging from discussions relating to police work to political commentary and trivia. Other police officers call in as frequently as civilian listeners.
It also showcases civilian Chicago history expert Victor Justino, who devotes the last several minutes of the show to a historical topic, such as the Chicago Fire, in a segment called “Vic’s Neighborhood.” Jaconetti calls Justino “probably one of the most knowledgeable people in Chicago history.”
The officers pull no punches when it comes to discussing a controversial issue. When the issue of television violence came up, Amelio said: “Jenny Jones and Maury Povich Jerry Springer is at least comical, but they’re morons.... And who’s out there watching them? Some kids before or after school!”
Even when discussing big city issues, the program has a distinctly small-town feel. During the hour, the station played commercials primarily promoting businesses in the 14th and 20th police districts, buffered by the themes from “Dragnet” and “Hawaii Five-O.” Amelio and Jaconetti also held a contest where they drew names to give away a ticket for a fish fry at a Holiday Inn.
Still, Jaconetti said he hopes the program moves up to a bigger and better position in the world of radio talk shows. “We’re starting out at a small station, just like [sports talk show host] Mike North and many others did,” Jaconetti said. “We’d like to bring the show to a more powerful station, so more Chicagoans can hear us.” Jaconetti added that it may be a while before that happens.
“We’re trying to set up some groundwork,” he said. “We don’t want to undermine our station, because we like the fellow that owns it, and it has a pretty good listening audience for a small station.”
“Cop Talk” airs Saturday between 5 and 6 p.m. on WJJG-1530 AM. Jaconetti said the station gets audible reception everywhere in the city except the Loop area. |
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