Shootings And Murders Skyrocket In January In Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The year did not get off to a good start for Chicago police, with murders in January at the highest level in 16 years, and shootings more than double what they were at this point last year.
Gunfire wounded at least 292 people in Chicago last month, more than double the number of people shot during the same month last year. The city also had 51 murders in January, an increase of more than 75 percent over the 29 murders in January 2015.
"Both figures represent unacceptable increases from 2015 and were driven primarily by gang conflicts and retaliatory violence," CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in an email. "While we have much more work to do, the entire Chicago Police Department is determined to keep every Chicagoan safe. We will continue to work tirelessly on ways to stop violence, and restore accountability and trust in communities throughout the city."
January's crime figures have Chicago on pace for 602 murders this year, and 3,447 shooting victims. The city has not had more than 600 murders since 2003. That's still a far cry from the 800 to 900 murders a year Chicago saw most years from the 1970s to 1990s, but it also out paces New York City and Los Angeles, which have larger populations. Through Jan. 24, New York had 28 murders and 76 shooting victims. Through Jan. 23, Los Angeles had 23 homicides and 77 shooting victims.
Acting Police Superintendent John Escalante admits he and his command team can't put a finger on exactly why there were so many shootings and murders in January. He certainly doesn't think it was the warmer temperatures.
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"We've had some spikes of cold during January," Escalante said. "We hit below zero a couple weekends ago and unfortunately we still saw the shootings. This weekend was nice, we saw the shootings."
He is hoping more local control of enforcement teams in high-crime areas will help reduce the gunfire.
"Having the gang enforcement teams report directly to the deputy chief has helped," Escalante said. "We eliminated several unnecessary layers of communication as far as rapid redeployment when there's conflicts that need to be addressed."
While he says police are not giving up on the increased foot patrols, Escalante wants some of his teams to be in marked cars and more visible.
West Side minister Rev. Ira Acree said he believes the reasons are a tough economy for many Chicagoans; and the fact Mayor Rahm Emanuel is back on his heels, because of the scandal and upheaval at the Chicago Police Department in the wake of the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
"The criminals know that, and they are taking advantage of this, and many of our citizens are dying as a result," he said.
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In response to the bloody start to the year, more than 350 Chicago police officers and 31 sergeants have been moved from foot patrol into vehicles, to give them greater ability to quickly respond to violence.
The department also said it plans to utilize decentralized gang and enforcement units and targeted raids in an effort to disrupt gang violence.
