Chicago Police Officers To Work In Pairs In Wake Of Dallas Attack
By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Jul 8, 2016 2:43PM
By Aaron Cynic/Chicagoist
With the country reeling from the week’s two high profile police shootings of black men, and Thursday night’s sniper attack in Dallas that left five officers dead, the Chicago Police Department has mandated its officers now work in pairs for safety. A statement sent to Chicagoist Friday morning said the policy is meant to “increase visibility and strengthen officer safety.”
“This week’s events are also an important reminder of our work with community partners to continue promoting positive engagement between officers and the residents we’re sworn to protect,” the release went on to say.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson also plans to reach out to the Dallas Police Department, according to department officials, to offer condolences and any assistance after the ambush-style Dallas attack that occurred during a peaceful rally over the police-involved shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota this week. Similar peaceful protests in Chicago Thursday night briefly blocked the southbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway.