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Chicago Police Changing Response Plan For Some 911 Calls

Starting this week, Chicago police are changing their responses to
911 calls. They’ll no longer come right away to reports of things like
criminal damage to property, vehicle thefts, garage burglaries, or other
crimes in which the suspect is no longer on the scene, and the victim
isn’t in immediate danger.

The move will free up the equivalent of 44 police officers a day for patrol duties.

. . .

“I think that’s ridiculous. I think if there’s a burglary, they’ve got
to come. It’s what we pay for. They have to come,” she said.

Ald. Nick Sposato (36th) said the constituents in his Northwest Side
ward pay high property taxes, so it’s not asking too much for a police
visit after a traumatic break-in.

“People are upset; they want to talk to a police officer. They want
to know something is being done to prevent this in the future,” sposato
said.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy insisted crime prevention “in the future”
happens when officers are on patrol, not tied up taking reports at the
scene of non-violent incidents.

“I don’t mean to be flippant here, because I’ve been the victim of a
burglary at least three or four times,” he said. “I’d rather have the
officer on street, where he can prevent the shooting.”

Police said they will still respond to 911 burglary calls if the
suspect is at the scene, or they’re if convinced the criminal can be
arrested right away.

“You’re upset; you’re violated. It’s happened to me. So, you’ve got
to weigh it, and I’m making tough decisions,” McCarthy said. “I’m making
a tough decision, but I’d rather have that officer on the street, doing
something to prevent the next shooting than – honestly – making
somebody feel better, because they’re responding rather than talking to
them over the phone.”

He’s making those decisions because of the city’s financial woes.

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