Suspect charged after one Chicago Police officer is shot, one hit by car on West Side; number of officers shot or shot at in Chicago is on the rise
CHICAGO (CBS) -- One Chicago police officer was hit by a car and another was shot in the pinky finger, during a traffic stop on the city's West Side Monday night.
Police shot the suspect who had been in that vehicle, who has now been charged.
The incident happened at Polk Street and Sacramento Boulevard in the North Lawndale community, police said.
Police Supt. David Brown said officers were pulling over a car, which did stop. As the driver stopped, officers got out to talk to the man inside, Brown said.
But almost immediately, the driver rammed one of the officers and pinned the officer between the suspect's car and the squad car, Brown said. The officer suffered a leg injury when his ankle was pinned, Brown said.
Video first obtained by 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner on Twitter shows the driver accelerate, pinning an officer between the driver's car and an unmarked police car.
As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported, the video is pretty difficult to watch. But it also just how lucky the officers are to have non-life-threatening injuries.
Another officer fights to drag the driver out of the car.
There was also an exchange of gunfire during the incident. The suspect fired first and an officer returned fire, police said.
An officer was struck by gunfire in the pinky finger, while the male offender was also shot. He was taken into custody.
The officers were taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County with non-life-threatening injuries.
"One officer shot in the hand. The other had his ankle and leg crushed between the offender's car and a squad car. The officer's in surgery that had his ankle crushed. He's needing all our prayers for a full recovery. The other officer is still having shrapnel fragments taken out of his hand this morning, but he is in good condition," Brown said during a graduation ceremony for new police officers Tuesday morning.
In a statement, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was "very relieved to hear that none of their injuries were life threatening, and that a suspect was apprehended on scene."
"My family and I are sending them strength as they make their recoveries, and thank them along with all of the first responders who assisted last night for their courage and quick action during a chaotic and potentially deadly situation," Lightfoot added.
The suspect -- James Callion, 28 -- was charged with Tuesday with attempted murder of Chicago Police officers.
Guns were recovered from the scene and body camera video will be used in the investigation.
We confirmed Tuesday that this was the 11th Chicago Police officer shot or shot at so far in 2022.
Brown emphasized the danger associated with police work.
"There's been a 500 percent increase over the last few years," Brown said. "This is the most dangerous time to be a police officer, where offenders are brazen -- not only against our residents with these violent crimes, but not hesitant at all to fire upon officers."
When we asked CPD to clarify between what dates there has been a 500 percent jump — they didn't answer. But Brown might be on to something.
Just 20 officers were shot or shot at in Chicago in 2017, and also in 2018. There were 22 in 2019. But in 2020, that number soared to 80 officers. Last year came close, with 76.
"One thought is that police officers have been a lot more exposed to risk," said Northwestern University crime policy and policing expert Wesley Skogan.
Skogan said the COVID-19 pandemic brought mandatory overtime, canceled vacation, and longer shifts - which create more opportunities for these types of shootings.
And it's not just in the city of Chicago.
In December, the National Fraternal Order of Police published data showing that Illinois was second, only behind Texas, when it came to the number of officers shot in the line of duty last year.
For another culprit, Skogan also points to a growing sense of mistrust with law enforcement.
"When people lose trust, they stop paying attention when they're told to do things, and their sort of inhibitions to act out whatever it is they're acting up - which they're acting out all over the place.
Dr. Arthur J. Lurigio, Professor of Criminal Justice and Psychology at Loyola University, echoed Skogan in his assessment of the cause of greater violence toward police – while adding some additional factors.
"Alienation, marginalization, social isolation, gun circulation, low clearance rates, government distrust, social inequality… same factors that propelled the COVID climb in violence," Lurigio said. "The added element is lack of respect for police and lack of fear of the police. Institutional power was diminished in the fake news era and Jan. 6 aftermath."
While we could not find evidence of to that 500 percent figure Brown quoted, there was a 264 percent jump in the number of officers shot or shot at between 2019 and 2020.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the Monday night incident, and will review police body camera and pod camera footage of the shooting. The two officers involved will be placed on administrative duties for 30 days, as is standard procedure in police-involved shootings.
