Public safety expert sees flaw in Chicago’s summer approach

Tahman Bradley and BJ Lutz

39 minutes ago

CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration released a summer safety plan that includes increased funding and additional resources, but a former federal prosecutor and public safety expert said he sees flaws in the approach.

The plan, released last month, includes $100 million dedicated to violence prevention, a community safety coordination center, the city’s first Department of Reentry to help residents returning from prison reintegrate into society and police expansion. Without actually increasing the numbers, the Chicago Police Department is hiring 400 new civilians and working to promote 200 more officers to detectives.

“We’re expanding the capacity of our outreach workers on the street, we’re working hand-in-hand with our victim services people, we’re working hand-in-hand with our Chicago Police Department and all of our agencies across the city,” said City Manager Grien Gatewood. Deputy Mayor for Community Safety. “No one agency can do this work alone. No department can do this work alone, and we as a city cannot do this work alone.”

In recent months, both city hall and the police department have pointed to a downward trend in shootings and homicides. And with summer here, those numbers are about to be tested.

Duane Deskins, a former federal prosecutor who helped develop public safety plans in several large cities, said there are areas for improvement in the city’s approach.

“It’s an economic development plan disguised as a public safety plan. There is nothing in the plan to deter someone who wants to commit violence from committing violence,” Deskins said. “If you’re going to use violence interventions, what are they going to say to people who are at risk of committing more violence? What are the consequences if you do this? What do you see now? Nothing.”

Asked about a deterrence strategy, Gatewood said the administration is making sure officers have the resources they need.

“They’ve done a lot of work on the ground in communities in partnership to make sure they’re hearing from community members and being more present in communities,” he said, adding: “We all want a safer city. We want to do everything we can to make sure that people who commit crimes are held accountable and accountable for those crimes. But also making sure we don’t over-police and people get the resources they need.”

The weekend that just ended included at least 19 people shot and at least two shooting deaths. But police crime statistics show progress. Homicides are down 14% year to date and there is about a 10% drop in shooting incidents. The department’s homicide rate through May is 65 percent.