Chicago Mayor: Police Must be 'Less Confrontational and More Conversational

CHICAGO — After a series of shootings by police sparked protests and complaints that officers are too quick to fire their weapons, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday that police must be better trained to be "less confrontational and more conversational" in their encounters with citizens.

Emanuel announced changes in police training and department policies on use of force during a news conference, pledging "nothing less than complete and total reform" as he works to restore public trust in Chicago's 12,000-officer force.

Such reforms include doubling the number of Tasers available to officers — from 700 to 1,400. Every patrol car will be equipped with a Taser by June 1, 2016, Emanuel said, though he didn't mention how the city will pay for the new equipment. Tasers can cost between $500 and $1,000, potentially putting the price tag for the new stun guns at around $700,000.

"Just because you train that you can use force doesn't mean you should," he said. "And helping officers (make) that distinction — and the training that goes with it — is essential."

Interim Police Superintendent John Escalante said the city examined 15 police departments, including New York, Seattle, Cincinnati and Cleveland as it developed its policy changes.

Emanuel and Chicago police have been under heavy scrutiny since the city, under court order, released a squad car video last month showing white officer Jason Van Dyke shooting black 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times in 2014. McDonald, armed with a knife, is seen veering away from Van Dyke in the video before the veteran officer starts firing.

Van Dyke, who faces six first-degree murder counts, pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday.

The release of the video set off weeks of demonstrations, forced the resignation of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and has led to an ongoing wide-ranging civil rights investigation of the entire Chicago Police Department by the U.S. Department of Justice. Protesters also have called for Emanuel to resign.

"Our police officers have a very difficult and dangerous job. They put their lives on the line so the rest of us can be safe. And like all of us, they are human and they make mistakes," Emanuel said. "Our job is to reduce the chances of mistakes."

Activists were skeptical Wednesday that the changes would reverse decades of problems and mistrust between Chicago residents and police.

Ted Pearson, one of the leaders of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, noted that Emanuel waited until after the release of the McDonald video made leadership changes and gave a speech before the City Council in which he apologized, appearing at times to be near tears.

Last weekend, Chicago police killed two people: 55-year-old Bettie Jones, who police said was shot accidentally, and 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier.

Pearson's organization believes the only way to bring true change is to have a civilian police accountability council that isn't appointed by the mayor.

"The people have no trust in the police. They have no trust in the mayor," Pearson said. "The people in charge are continuing to give (some officers) a pass."

Police said LeGrier was being "combative" before he was shot Saturday. Both he and Jones were black.

Police haven't released the race of the officer or officers involved and haven't said how many officers fired or what the man and woman were doing before they were shot.

Emanuel was on vacation with family during last weekend's shooting. His office said he cut his trip to Cuba short and returned to Chicago Tuesday.

About 1,860 officers — or roughly 15 percent of Chicago's officers — have completed the training, according to department statistics. Advocates say that number should be 25 to 35 percent.

In saying the number of Tasers will be doubled, Emanuel mentioned the McDonald shooting. He noted that on audio recordings of communications between dispatchers and officers on the scene, several are heard "frantically" asking for a Taser before the shooting.

Police have said no officers or vehicles on the scene were equipped with one.