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Top Cop Frustrated With Spike In Violence, But Not Blaming Poor Officer Morale

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Frustrated by the violent start to the new year in Chicago, interim Police Supt. John Escalante acknowledged officers might be less productive at the moment, but said he doesn't believe morale has been affected by the scandal over the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

During a news conference at Police Headquarters, Escalante repeatedly used the word "frustration" when discussing a rise in violent crime to start 2016.

According to the Chicago Tribune, there have been 119 people wounded in shootings so far this year in Chicago, and at least 20 killed by gun violence.

"As you're well aware, we have seen an uptick in violence, especially with our shootings and murders, which are all – the vast majority are – gang-related; but also heavily driven by social media. It is the new way of taunting," he said.

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The Police Department has fallen under intense scrutiny in recent months, after the city released video of Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times on a Southwest Side street, just hours after Van Dyke was charged with murder in McDonald's death in October 2014.

The Emanuel administration fought for more than a year to keep that video out of the public eye before a Cook County judge forced the mayor to release it.

The fallout from the video has included the firing of former Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, the ouster of the head of the Independent Police Review Authority, a U.S. Justice Department investigation of the CPD's use of deadly force, and new training procedures for officers in how and when to use force. The Emanuel administration also has announced plans to expand the use of police body cameras and Tasers.

DNA Info Chicago reported police officers have been making significantly fewer investigative stops and seizing fewer guns this year, and quoted sources who said fear of getting caught in a bad situation while making stops has led to less aggressive policing.

The superintendent acknowledged there has been a recent decrease in gun seizures, but said he doesn't believe the increased scrutiny on the department has affected morale.

"We have to be concerned, always, about morale; but right now I'm not overly concerned, no," he said.

Escalante said there has been some confusion over new procedures, and that might be slowing things down for officers.

Officer Enrique Delgado Fernandez – in front of the boss – said heightened scrutiny, new training in the use of force, and extra paperwork amid the fallout from the McDonald scandal have not led to a slowdown of policing.

"The job's going to change, regardless. You just have to keep pace with it," he said.

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