McCarthy Defends Police Shootings, Asks for Help Ending Gun Violence as Number Increases

AP Photo/Paul Beaty

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy made the media rounds yesterday to address the rise in police shootings. McCarthy defended his officers' actions, disputed claims from the family of 13-year-old Jimmell Cannon that he was unarmed; explained to WBEZ's Alison Cuddy that police are trained to aim for "fire at center mass until the threat has been abated;" said Chicago Police recover more firearms than any other jurisdiction in the country; and pointed out that aggravated assaults and batteries against police have more than doubled in the past decade.

McCarthy also made a call to city residents for assistance in trying to stem the rise of police shootings. He called on parents to ensure their kids are heeding curfew and asked people to heed the commands of officers.

“Why would you run? Why would you point a weapon at the police?” he said.

Cannon's family still contends he wasn't holding a BB gun at the time of his shooting. The family of Joe Banks Jr., shot by police an hour prior to Cannon, have already filed a complaint with the Independent Police Review Authority.

Meanwhile, the number of police shootings increased last night as an off-duty cop shot and wounded a man who came at him aggressively while the officer tried to investigate a traffic accident. According to Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden, when the officer got out of his vehicle, a man charged him, screaming, "You got a fucking problem?" with one of his hands clutching his waistband. The officer took that as a sign the assailant was armed and drew his weapon. No gun was found on the man who was shot.

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By Chuck Sudo in News on July 27, 2011 8:00 AM

Comments [rss]

Tafter

The parents of the 13 year old would have a lot more credibility in my eyes if they could answer the question: why did your son run when the police showed up? They were there and even said they saw the shooting. So explain why your son ran or shut up and let the review process work.

Tafter

And while I'm at it, this comment from the father of the 21 year old who was shot illustrates my #1 pet peeve about parents in general:

"My son is not that type of young man," Joe Banks Sr. said at a news conference Tuesday outside police headquarters, flanked by two pastors and more than a dozen relatives. "He's not a gangbanger, he doesn't sell drugs. … We are a decent family."

Really? Because you are decent family, your kids can't get into trouble? And you know for a fact that he's "not that type of young man"? Guess what, dad, kids lie. All the time. And depending on your relationship with your kid, you may be the most lied-to person in that kid's life as a parent.

I've seen this type of delusional parental behavior in so many situations. From bad grades, to trouble with other kids, to criminal acts, etc. I know its hard to accept, folks, but nine times out of ten, when little jimmy is being accused of wrong doing by an authority figure, the authority figure is probably in the right.

slickpoetry

I love how the kid's parents contend that he was not holding a BB gun. As if they were there actually watching him. How do they have any idea what he was doing? Apparently they didn't care the previous umpteen nights he was out past curfew in a park, but this night they knew exactly what he was doing.