Now even a Democrat recognizes the downside of demonizing the police

It's a great way of killing lots of blacks, as the police sit on their hands for their own safety.  No-one would claim that Chicago cops are angels but the shooter of Laquan McDonald has been charged and even Jon Burge was eventually jailed.  So unlawful police behaviour has not run unchecked. The high level of black criminality in Chicago is a big challenge to the police so it is no wonder corners are cut at times.  What would probably help the most is more manpower

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who wrote a letter asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Chicago Police policies in December, recently said the windy city’s law enforcement is “holding back.”

In coverage of the 44 people killed or injured in last weekend’s shootings in Chicago, WGN-TV reports, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin feels the spike in shootings could be related in part to low officer morale, as the Department of Justice investigates the police department.

“I think they're holding back now in fear of video cameras, DNA, and losing a job over a mistake they might make,” Durbin said.

In December of 2015, Durbin wrote a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch requesting the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ to investigate the Chicago Police.

“I urge the Department of Justice to open an investigation into the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to assess whether the CPD’s policies and practices comply with the Constitution and federal law,” the Dec. 3, 2015 letter says.

“The shooting death of Laquan McDonald (in 2014) is just one of a number of troubling incidents that have frayed the relationship between the CPD and the community it serves, and in truth, this most recent incident is only the latest in a series of troubling events over many years.

These incidents raise serious concerns about whether the CPD has in place appropriate policies and practices to prevent civil rights violations.  An impartial investigation by the Justice Department can help identify those areas where the CPD has fallen short and guide the CPD onto a better course,” Durbin said in his letter.

The U.S. Justice Department announced it would investigate the Chicago Police Department the following Monday, Dec. 7th.

Original report here


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