City of Chicago to Arm Cops with Tasers By June 2016

“We want to make sure that our officers are not just operating in either first gear or fifth gear, but to recognize the degrees in between so they can respond appropriately to each individual situation, where force can be the last option, not the first choice”, the mayor said.

Emanuel cut short a family vacation in Cuba this week to return to the city to deal with public anger after police shot and killed a 55-year-old mother, Bettie Jones, and a 19-year-old college student, Quintonio LeGrier.

On Tuesday, the officer who shot McDonald, Jason Van Dyke, appeared in court to enter a plea of not guilty to murder and misconduct charges.

According to NBC Chicago, during the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald, officers on scene called for a taser.

Scott Olson/Getty Images Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other officials have come under fire for how they handled the McDonald investigation.

Emanuel announced changes in police training and department policies on use of force during a news conference, pledging “nothing less than complete and total reform”.

He said McCarthy “has become an issue, rather than dealing with the issue, and a distraction”.

The city released the emails a day after Emanuel said police must be better trained.

Emanuel announced new policies regarding training and use of force.

“We have a community that is under siege by rogue cops and a police department that has two sets of rules, one for blacks and one for whites”, Acree told WGN. Officers will also be encouraged to call in additional personnel during incidents, Escalante said.

He said police must learn when they can use a gun and when not to do so.

The Republican says, “This tragedy further underscores the need for a broad and deep federal investigation, which I continue to strongly support”.

Last month, the Los Angeles Police Commission approved a five-year, $31 million contract between the Los Angeles Police Department and Taser for more than 6,100 body cameras and 4,400 Taser weapons for use by police officers.

Emanuel says the changes are aimed at “injecting some humanity” in how police operate.

The city fought for more than a year to keep the video from being released, prompting accusations of a cover-up in City Hall and calls for Emanuel to resign.

Other departments across the country have already moved toward helping officers discern whether they can safely hold back – and even take cover – to allow a tense or escalating situation to defuse.

Many of Emanuel’s opponents criticize the mayor, who is a close friend and former colleague of U.S. President Barack Obama, for only acting when a crisis erupts and not working to end decades of police abuse in the city. Police said Betty Jones was killed by accident. The mayor vowed to make police encounters with citizens less confrontational and more conversational.

“It is essential that they have the right guidance, training, and tactics to ensure the safety of our residents and themselves”, Emanuel said.