McCarthy: Law Enforcement Has 'War On Drugs' All Wrong
CHICAGO (CBS) -- At least a dozen community and social-action groups sponsored a rally at the Thompson Center on Friday calling for an end to the U.S. "war on drugs."
It marks the 40th anniversary of the declaration by then-President Richard Nixon.
WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports, Chicago's Police Supt. Garry McCarthy says they have a point.
"Law enforcement has gotten this wrong," he said. "Narcotics use is a criminalized social issue. It causes crime. Drug dealers get into disputes over turf.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore Reports
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"It's about the money. Mafia guys whack each other over concrete businesses. It's not about the concrete, it's about the money."
Simply busting a street corner drug dealer is the wrong approach, he said.
"If we just lock up a drug dealer, we may be actually causing violence. Because there's an established market were somebody is going to go, seeking drugs. That's demand. As long as that demand exists at a location, that supply will show back up."
He says police need to follow up to reduce the demand, and social services needs to provide treatment for addicts and rebuild communities--not just throw people in jail.
McCarthy is Newsradio 780's guest on "At Issue" this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
