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

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 27, 2011 1:00PM

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.