Chicago Police To Roll Out New Training Program For Officers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago police officers begin the New Year with new training this morning, following a series of deadly police-involved shootings that have prompted calls for change within the department.
Starting Monday, officers will be required to watch videos and other presentations on de-escalation tactics. The focus is to retrain officers on how to respond to a critical situation using the least amount of force necessary.
The new training comes little more than a week after the police-involved shooting deaths of 55-year-old Bettie Jones and 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier.
Police shot LeGrier after his father called 911, saying his son threatened him with a baseball bat. Jones, a neighbor, had opened the door to the building for officers, and was accidentally shot when police opened fire on LeGrier.
Under new training announced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and interim Police Supt. John Escalante last week, officers also will learn crisis intervention strategies to deal with people with mental issues.
The mayor acknowledged the lack of trust between the black community and police.
"There's a difference between whether someone can use a gun, and when they should use a gun, and we as a city must train for that difference," Emanuel said. "We want to ensure our officers are not just operating in either first gear or fifth gear, but to recognize the degrees in between, so they can respond appropriately to each individual situation, where force can be the last option, not the first choice."
In addition to the new training, by summer the department will double the number of Tasers issued to officers on patrol.
Also on Monday, the head of the Independent Police Review Authority will announce staffing changes. Acting IPRA chief administrator Sharon Fairley was expected to announce the hiring of a new chief of staff and a new chief investigator. She's also buffing up the legal team, and has created a position for the community outreach manager who will be the go-to person for anyone who wants to file a complaint.
