Chicago Police Looking to Change Training, Get Tasers

“We expect that every police officer develops skills and abilities that allow them to help dissolve confrontations by using the least amount of physical or lethal force”, acting Police Superintendent John Escalante said.

Departmental policies have been changed to reflect the de-escalation priority, with the goal of making police and civilian interactions “less confrontational and more conversational”, Emanuel said.

CHICAGO (AP) – City officials released hundreds of emails Thursday related to a police video that was kept secret for more than a year after a white Chicago officer shot a black teenager 16 times.

“The 55-year-old female victim was accidentally struck and tragically killed”, police said.

LeGrier and Jones were shot and killed by police early Saturday after officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance.

In May, mayoral spokesman Adam Collins complained to colleagues that the Independent Police Review Authority’s did not follow his recommendation on how to respond to a TV station about McDonald.

Emanuel said during a news conference Wednesday that he’s trying to make changes to rebuild that trust. Garry McCarthy and the U.S. Justice Department announced that it would investigate the department.

Chicago police officers surround a police vehicle as they watch demonstrators protesting the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald Dec. 18 in Chicago. Van Dyke was charged with murder 13 months after the shooting and just before the video was released to the public.

“We must ensure our officers have the right tactics, the right training and the right technology to resolve tense situations safely and security”, Mr Emanuel told reporters.

On Monday, Anthony LaGrier, the father of CPD’s latest victim, filed a lawsuit against the CPD citing “excessive and unreasonable” force used by cops, which led to his son’s death.

Both have been under intense scrutiny since a dashcam video was released last month showing a white officer shooting a black 17-year-old 16 times.

The police department will also double the number of tasers used by police to 1,400 and will encourage trained officers to use them first before drawing a gun, Emanuel said.

“There’s a problem that has to be addressed”, he said.

Emanuel said his administration studied the best practices of police departments in several other cities – including New York, Seattle, Portland, Ore., Cincinnati and Cleveland – in devising its own reform package.

One of the Chicago cases activists have rallied around is the death of Laquan McDonald. Protesters are calling for changes within the CPD and the resignation of Emanuel, as well as Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

An aide to Mayor Rahm Emanuel has allegedly been assaulted while attending a vigil for two people who were fatally shot by Chicago police. “They are part of the toolbox; they are not the toolbox”, he said.

Police have not said whether responding officers were equipped with a Taser during last weekend’s police shooting.

Janet Cooksey (left), birth mother of Quintonio LeGrier, walks away from an interview while a friend holds pictures of LeGrier shortly before a candlelight vigil in honor of Bettie Jones, a mother of five, and college student LeGrier.

His office says one of the changes is requiring every police officer going out on a call to carry a Taser.