The Chicago Police Department will gladly accept federal aid to stop the city’s rising violence, Chicago’s top cop said Tuesday night.
Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson responded to President Donald Trump saying he will send federal agents to Chicago, reports ABC 7 Chicago.
“As the mayor just said a few hours ago, the Chicago Police Department is more than willing to work with the federal government to build on our partnerships with the DOJ, FBI, DEA and ATF to boost federal prosecution rates for gun crimes in Chicago,” Johnson said in a statement.
Trump threatened to send in federal agents if Chicago doesn’t put a stop to its “carnage.” As of yet, it remains unclear what “feds” Trump plans to send to Chicago.
“If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible ‘carnage’ going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!” Trump tweeted late Tuesday. (RELATED: Trump Threatens To ‘Send In The Feds’ If Chicago Doesn’t Fix The ‘Carnage’)
Not all of Chicago’s city leaders responded positively to Trump’s announcement. Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp insisted that just policing won’t solve the city’s murder problem.
“If they are going to have help, certainly federal support and prosecution. But also making sure that we have jobs programs, that we have infrastructure investment to create jobs. Those are the kinds of things that are really going to help on this issue,” Zopp explained to ABC 7 Chicago.
Chicago’s murder count for January 2017 is already set to be as violent as last year’s. Approximately 40 people have died so far in January,while about 228 people have been injured in gun violence.
Fifty-one people were killed in January of 2016 and 272 had gunshot wounds.
“In January, we’re seeing a substantial increase from the prior year. I’m very concerned that that trend might continue. We’re seeing a significant increase in our penetrating trauma, mostly GSWs,” said Dr. Leslie Zun.
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