Emanuel Says Don't Judge Police On One Incident After Camera Catches Cop Sleeping
CHICAGO (CBS) -- After video surfaced showing a uniformed officer sound asleep in a squad car, Mayor Rahm Emanuel cautioned that all police shouldn't be judged on one incident.
"The video, I think, is there for all to see and make a judgement," Emanuel said.
The video of the Chicago police officer in a marked SUV at 63rd and Campbell has gone viral.
"Seven years ago, when I got into office, 63rd and Artesian it was, I called it, the corner of hell," said 15th Ward Alderman Toni Foulkes. "There was a lot of activity."
Since then, along West 63rd Street, police have stepped up patrols, an effort diminished by the sleeping cop incident.
"If you're asleep you're not paying attention to what's going on," Foulkes said.
But the mayor urges perspective.
"Look at the officers that were on a video playing softball with kids the other day," Emanuel said. "There's a lot of videos of officers and a lot of them do exactly what you would want them to do both on-duty and off-duty."
Still, for the new chair of the council police and fire committee, this is almost indefensible.
"I don't think there's a reason for that for anyone in city government," said Alderman Ariel Reboyas.
Mayor Emanuel didn't want to comment specifically on the sleeping officer, since the incident is still under investigation by police a probe that could lead to disciplinary action.
No further word from police either, on the work status of that officer.
