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Danger-Wary Chicago Police To Continue Working In Pairs

WBBM's Lisa Fielding

(CBS) – A top police official says the fatal shootings of three officers in Baton Rouge, La. are weighing heavily on the minds of Chicago police, who will continue working in pairs for safety purposes.

"Anytime officers lose their life, it affects us all," First Deputy Supt. John Escalante told reporters Monday.

"The risk is always out there, but the ambush style of these recent shootings are a new risk we now have to deal with," he added, referring also to the slayings of five Dallas police officers. "We sent a strong contingent of officers to Dallas for those funerals; looks like we'll be doing something similar (for) Baton Rouge."

Escalante says the Chicago department already reached out to the police department in Louisiana. "We offered our condolences and any assistance they may need."

"In light of the Dallas situation, we issued an order that all CPD officers will be in two man cars, we don't want anyone riding alone, including supervisors. We've gotten positive feedback from that because there is that extra level of safety and security knowing that when you make a stop your backup is there."

Escalante says there is no known threat to Chicago or its police officers. He says the two-man squad order will continue until further notice.

"The two man squad is nothing new. Most patrolmen have a partner. The only officers this applies to are the dayside supervisors. They are now being asked to bring a patrolman with them," Escalante says.

Among those calling for additional changes in the way the department functions, tactically, is former Supt. Garry McCarthy. He says Chicago police should dump the idea of "fixed posts" in the community.

"Fixed posts actually put officers in a bad tactical situation, because you know where they are," he tells CBS 2.

Police union leader Dean Angelo Sr. agrees. He says open-air roll calls should also end.

"We don't think this is a good time to continue that practice," he says.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is calling on residents to personally thank police officers for the risks they take every day.

"It's essential and imperative at this moment. If you talk to officers, they feel almost hunted," he said.

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