Former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is proposing that the city of Chicago not replace police who quit or retire and use the money for anti-violence programs like the one he runs.
That could save lives in more ways than one, he says.
Duncan now runs Chicago CRED, an anti-violence group working with young people at risk. He told a City Club of Chicago that society needs the police.
But, he said Wednesday, the city should reduce its number of police officers in order to pay for more outreach workers, life coaches and clinicians.
There’s less crime in other cities but more cops here, Duncan said: “Chicago has twice as many police as L.A. per citizen — twice as many, but still three times the level of violence; almost exactly the same number as police per citizen as New York but five times the level of violence.”
A video with Malik Tiger, who left gun crimes behind with help from CRED, showed efforts can work. A life coach helped reshape his future.
Duncan advocates redirecting money that would replace police who leave or retire. He says $150 million to $200 million out of a $1.6 billion police budget could make a difference.