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Emanuel Backing Supt. McCarthy Despite Criticism From Aldermen

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Monday he has full confidence in Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, even in the face of criticisms from some Chicago aldermen about violent crime.

WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports African-American aldermen, especially, have expressed frustrations that – although the overall crime rate is down – shootings and homicides are still high, particularly in some South Side and West Side neighborhoods.

Emanuel Backing Supt. McCarthy Despite Criticism From Aldermen

The mayor said he thinks McCarthy is making the right moves, though he displayed some frustration as well.

"Both Garry McCarthy, [First Deputy Supt.] Al Wysinger, and the entire leadership in the Police Department have my 100 percent support, but they also have my sense of impatience to get the results throughout the city to bring the type of public safety we want in every neighborhood," he said.

It's worth noting Emanuel expressed 100 percent support for former Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard, just before Brizard was forced out.

Ald. Howard Brookins (21st), who chairs the City Council's Black Caucus, said they aren't calling for McCarthy's ouster at this point, and they're glad the mayor seems to hear their concerns.

"In hearing the mayor's outrage with respect to this, and impatience with respect to the crime rate, he captures our frustration and the sentiment of the African-American caucus," Brookins said.

Over the weekend, Brookins told the Sun-Times it won't be long before aldermen might demand McCarthy must go, if the city's gun violence problem continues unabated.

He said, the closer the city gets to the next election in 2015 without a significant improvement in violent crime, the more pressure aldermen will face from their constituents.

"I won't be able to stop my members from calling for his head because the public is calling for our heads. The clock is ticking on all of us," Brookins said.

Brookins noted Chicago's gun violence has drawn national headlines that have damaged the city's reputation, and he said the city must act.

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