CHICAGO — Chicago Police Department leaders reviewed their school year preparations, other public safety efforts, and recent crime statistics in a Monday morning press conference.
Led by Angel Novalez, chief of the department’s constitutional policing and reform office, questions from reporters focused on the new school year which began that morning. Department leaders noted 80 safe passage routes being supported by officers. They also briefly discussed drills run the previous week to simulate an active shooter entering a school.
Novalez also reviewed crime statistics typically given out by department Superintendent David Brown at his press briefings, noting:
- Year-to-date compared to 2021: homicides are down 19%, shooting victims are down 19%, and shootings are down 18%
- This past weekend compared to the same weekend in 2021: homicides were down 50%, shooting victims were down 14%, and shootings were down 24%
- 8,225 guns have been recovered by CPD which is a 4% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2021
- More than 3,000 gun arrests have been made so far this year
- More than 900 offenders have been arrested for carjacking related offenses so far this year
Glen Brooks, director of the department’s community policing advisory panel, discussed a weekend gun turn-in event at Hope Community Church in which more than 170 firearms were collected. He told the story of a grandmother showing up with multiple guns she found in her home and stating whoever they belong to they don’t need them.
View the entire media briefing in the video above.
