CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The City of Chicago is in mourning Monday after a weekend in which a 29-year-old female police officer was killed and one of her partners was critically wounded. Detectives are continuing to interview three people arrested afterwards.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown and Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked Chicagoans to hold up in prayer the families of 29-year-old Officer Ella French and her partner, who remains in very critical condition.
"When you see a police officer, say thank you, say 'thank you.' Devoted, dedicated officers reported for duty today, despite the pain of losing one of their own and despite their fears and likely the fears of their families as they walk out the door to report for duty," Lightfoot said.
Brown said French and two partners had made a traffic stop Saturday night on 63rd and Bell when one of the passengers shot at police, who returned fire wounding that passenger. He is not yet saying why the car was stopped by police.
"What we believe is the interviews with the offenders will reveal from their statements to us all of that information so we’re going to withhold us guessing at why the stop happened," Brown said.
Related
Brown said detectives are interviewing two men and one woman in the weekend murder.
"One of the offenders does have a criminal background for robbery, but it’s not extensive. The driver does not have an extensive (criminal) background at all. I think maybe another robbery, maybe another misdemeanor. We have yet to get the full criminal history of the female," Brown said.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has ordered all city flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer French, who had been on the force for three years. French’s critically wounded partner has been with the department for six years.
"There are some who say that we do not do enough for police and that we are handcuffing them from doing their jobs. There are others who say we do too much for police and that we never hold them accountable for what they do, particularly in black and brown communities. For all of this I say, 'stop, just stop.' This constant strife is not what we need in this moment," Lightfoot said.
Related
Supt. David Brown said talk on social media that Officer French had a newborn at home is not true.
Since 2019, there’s been a 500 percent increase in the number of officers shot at or shot, according to Supt. Brown.
"Thirty-eight officers in 2021 have been shot at or shot; 11 have been struck, and today, sadly we report one of the 11 has been deceased. An extraordinary number after last year’s 79 officers shot at or shot," Brown said.
The superintendent said that despite what happened during the traffic stop on 63rd and Bell on Saturday night, brave Chicago police officers continue to go about doing their jobs protecting the city.
"They go down dark alleys no one would go down. They confront violent offenders no one would confront," Brown said.