Kim Foxx Wants State's Attorney's Office To Be Involved In Police Shootings Sooner

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A new approach on controversial police shootings that gets prosecutors involved more quickly is one of the top priorities for newly elected Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.

CBS 2's political reporter Derrick Blakely sat down with Kim Foxx as she begins her first week on the job.

Kim Foxx and her team started pulling together a list of changes she wants to address while in the state's attorney's office. Foxx is considering having prosecutors investigate controversial police shootings sooner, instead of waiting for a report from IPRA.

"There's nothing to preclude the state's attorney's office from getting involved even before that," Foxx said. "To come out and look at information as its fresh, evidence as its fresh. That's what prosecutors do."

Former State's Attorney, Anita Alvarez delayed pressing charges in the Laquan McDonald shooting, waiting first for action by IPRA and the FBI. The resulting outrage fueled Foxx' victory.

"That, I think, when we are trying to building trust with the public," Foxx said. "That, when we are trying to say our job is to look at these cases, it is a responsibility that we have and we should get to it earlier."

Just last month, Chicago experience three police involved shootings in one week, including the killing of 19-year-old Kajuan Rae by a sergeant who said Rae pointed a gun at him. No weapon was recovered.

"With a number of these cases, there's no harm in having the state's attorney involved earlier," Foxx said.

Foxx emphasized that not every police-involved shooting needs to be reviewed by her office, but the devil is in the details.

Which ones get scrutiny? And who makes the call?

Crucially important points still need to be worked out. Foxx acknowledged there's been improvement in police oversight, accountability, and transparency – but it's early.