State Troopers To Assist Chicago Police In Apprehending Fugitives
(CBS) -- After a listening session about combating street violence, the mayor and his police superintendent disclose that more arrests will be coming, reports WBBM's John Cody.
"Fugitive apprehension is the simplest way to reduce crime," said Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.
McCarthy says its direct action to get those with guns off the street using 40 additional state troopers authorized by the governor.
"They are wanted today. We put handcuffs on them, they don't commit a crime tomorrow," McCarthy said.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled the plan at a South Side listening session where community leaders offered prayer, and financial aid to small groups as two possibilities for reducing violence still prevalent in African American communities,despite an overall drop in the murder rate.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the 40 state troopers will be assigned to 20 to 25 surge teams, each consisting of five Chicago Police officers and two state cops who'll go out searching for the estimated 7,300 active fugitive warrants in the city.
"I live in this city. I grew up on the streets of this city. I think anything we can do to save lives and reduce the violence in this city is a good idea," said Hiram Grau, the Director of Illinois State Police.
Adding 40 state troopers may be largely symbolic, especially compared to the 550 Chicago police officers already reassigned this summer from department or desk duty to patrol or tactical teams. But it does create the perception that authorities are doing more with Chicago Police, state troopers, even sheriff's deputies on the front lines.