CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Surrounded by several department heads on Monday, Mayor Lightfoot called on all agencies to focus on helping keep gun violence down as the coronavirus pandemic eases and more and more people take to the streets.
Mayor Lightfoot said her administration hopes to provide more resources, investment, and attention to the most violence-plagued areas of Chicago in hopes of heading off a surge in gun violence this summer.
"Not only is the police department going to be placing additional emphasis on some of those crisis, but every single city department that you see up here and more has been working in interdisciplinary groups now for weeks to look at these areas, understand the assets and opportunities that we have on the group, and flooding those areas with support and resources primarily focused at our young people, but also their families," she said.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said police alone cannot head off all the violence this summer. He and Mayor Lightfoot agree all city departments will be needed to deal with the root causes of the problems, like disinvestment, lack of resources, and joblessness. And the police will do what they can.
"We have to stop people from hurting others through violence, but the larger issue is how we engage the whole of government and all of the communities to stop people from wanting to meet out violence," Brown said.
As for the police, some district commanders will be working later shifts, so they can lead their officers through the peak hours for violence.
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