Supt. McCarthy Tries To Stem Violence This Weekend
(CBS) –Police Supt. Garry McCarthy was working a beat Friday, as his department sought to avoid the type of spike in deadly shootings that occurred last July Fourth weekend.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez rode along.
Because the Fourth of July has historically been violent in Chicago, McCarthy says he felt it was important to join his officers on the street to do the job he's asking of them.
He says he and his officers will be working longer hours --in most cases, 12-hour-shifts -- through Monday.
"We're going to make a lot of gun arrests. There's going to be shootings. Unfortunately, there's going to be murders," McCarthy says.
The goal this year is to keep those numbers below the 50 shooting incidents and nine killings last year.
McCarthy isn't sure why the holiday weekend seems to be more violent. He says it could have something to do with the sheer number of people out on holidays.
As of Friday afternoon, two people had been fatally shot since Thursday.
Some Lawndale residents were glad to see the presence of police Friday evening.
"I feel more safer now that I can walk up and down the street," Deondre Dorsey, 14, says.
