CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling's appearance at his department's City Council budget hearing was barely underway on Tuesday when he addressed reports that some active police officers have ties to hate groups.
"We will do everything that we can to remove those members from our ranks," he said.
Snelling promised an investigation and more. He said it serves the police department no good to have members of hate groups in CPD. A recent investigation from the Chicago Sun-Times found that nine Chicago police officers had ties to the Oath Keepers, a hate group central to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.
"We will not tolerate it," he said.
Chicago Police Chief of Internal Affairs Yolanda Talley cautioned that they only have allegations of nine officers in hate groups, but she promised a swift investigation.
South Side Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) followed up.
"You said, 'swift,' so what does swift mean in your mind?" Dowell asked.
After some back and forth, Talley said the investigation would take place in less than six months.
"I really think this is low-hanging fruit, given the fact that we really want to focus on changing the whole culture in the police department," Dowell said.
Also during Tuesday's budget hearings, City Council members expressed frustration at how long it is taking the City to acquire new police helicopters.
Chicago has three police helicopters, which are out of service more often than they're operational. Chicago Police Deputy Chief Dwayne DeVries, who heads the police department's counterterrorism bureau, said they are frustrated because air support is essential to cracking down on carjacking and such.
"Without the helicopter, you don't have the eyes in the sky that can follow these vehicles," he said. "We are not having our officers chase these vehicles and cause harm to the public. When the helicopters are up, we see where these cars end up."
That allows CPD to get officers on the scene before suspects arrive at their destination.
Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) pointed out other major cities have fleets of helicopters, with Los Angeles boasting more than 30. He said he doesn't understand how other cities can have the resources to have so many aircraft while Chicago does not.
"Where is our new helicopter?" Reilly asked.
Several alderpersons seemed dismayed to hear that the two new police helicopters they authorized under former mayor Lori Lightfoot won't likely be delivered before the fall of 2024 — after the Democratic National Convention.
Snelling said there might be another possibility: a newer, more expensive helicopter that could be delivered within six months.
DeVries said the newer helicopter would be better due to its twin-engine design, which he said matches those of most major departments. The design, he added, allows for better fuel usage and doesn't require as much maintenance, but he said it is twice the price of the single-engine choppers Chicago has ordered.
Reilly said he and others want the purchase of new helicopters to be accelerated, and he said he would be willing to sponsor a budget amendment to provide more money for aircraft.
Read more from Chicago's budget hearings here.
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