Monday, September 23, 2013

Sun-Times: Rahm, McCarthy ride along with police officers in two of Chicago’s most violent districts

I wonder what they come away with on this ride along that the reportedly took on Sunday:
For at least the second time since taking office, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has gone on a nighttime “ride-along” with Chicago Police officers, this time in two of Chicago’s most violent districts.

It happened Sunday night when Emanuel and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy joined officers regularly assigned to the Gresham and Grand Crossing districts.

The mayor’s office disclosed the ride-along without revealing details.

Shortly after taking office, Emanuel did a similar ride-along with a Gang Enforcement Unit and came away with a few suggestions on how to sharpen the Police Department’s focus in the never-ending war on gangs.

Emanuel refused to reveal specific changes proposed by members of the Homan Square-based Gang Enforcement Unit, nor did he share details of the “one incident” that he said occurred.

But, he subsequently convinced an emotionally torn City Council to authorize tickets for people caught in Chicago with small amounts of marijuana to free officers to pursue gang and gun violence. The suggestion emanated from gang officers involved in the ride-along.

When you think of a ride-along, you inevitably envision a reality show such as “Cops,” where traffic stops, arrests and takedowns are captured on video in dramatic fashion.
But, Emanuel said his first ride-along was more about learning “firsthand what our police officers are facing . . . what they see, how they organize.”

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