Escalante, Top CPD Brass Reassuring Officers 'They Have Our Support'
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Amid scrutiny and criticisms surrounding the Laquan McDonald case and others, Interim Chicago Police Supt. John Escalante wants officers to know he and other top brass have their backs if they do the right thing.
Escalante acknowledged a number of police officers have told him they fear taking some action that would make them the subject of the next videotaped shooting case.
"I've hit so many roll calls over the last few weeks, and periodically that comes up, because we try to get the input and feedback from the officers, and periodically somebody will say something to the effect of that they're concerned about being the next viral video," he said.
It doesn't have to be anything as extreme as the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald. Escalante said some officers worry that even when they're doing something right, it could be perceived as wrong.
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Escalante said top police officials are trying to reassure the rank and file if they do the right thing, police brass will back them up.
"We're just trying to reassure them, when we hit these roll calls, that they have our support; that we believe that, by far, the vast [majority of] men and women in this department do the job right, and want to do the job correctly. So we're just trying to get that message out to them," he said.
Still, Escalante rejected suggestions a hesitation by officers to act in any way sparked a major spike in gun violence in January. Last month, 292 people were shot in Chicago, more than double the number of people shot in January 2015. The city also had 51 murders last month, a 75 percent spike from the same time a year ago.
