McCarthy Plans Listening Tour To Strengthen Police Relationship With Chicago Residents
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's top cop was planning to go on a listening tour, to learn how to improve relationships between Chicago police and the residents they are sworn to protect.
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy planned to meet with residents and community leaders in all 22 police districts in Chicago, so he can hear their concerns. He'll be accompanied by high-ranking police officials, and they'll all listen to what people have to say about the state of police service in their neighborhoods.
The superintendent wants to hear what people think about policing in their communities, and how to best build trust between Chicago residents and the men and women in blue.
The relationship has been strained lately between the black community and the Police Department.
McCarthy said building trust with the community will result in lower crime, and ensuring that everyone in the city receives the same level of security.
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) said he likes the superintendent's plan.
"Bringing this new thing that he's trying to do, the listening tour, may give people more confidence to come, and talk, and express what's going on, and maybe he can get an opportunity to put out some fires before they start," he said.
Rank-and-file officers also will get a chance to voice their concerns to the superintendent, and when the tour is done, McCarthy will file a report, along with recommendations on ways to improve the department's relationship with the community, to Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Some, like Alderman Anthony Beale are skeptical of McCarthy's new push
"Now he wants to listen after four years but he could have been listening and really taken a lot of input from the aldermen from day one," Beale said. "There's a history of not really paying attention to the elected officials who represent those communities."
While the announcement of the tour came less than 24 hours after the rioting began in Baltimore, Supt. McCarthy maintained the timing was coincidental.
