CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Some Chicago City Council members have expressed mixed feelings after viewing videos of the police killing of Dexter Reed Jr. during a traffic stop in march.
West Side Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) said the family of 26-year-old Reed used to live in his ward, and he mourns the death of the young Black man. He also acknowledged, though, that another young Black man — a police officer — was shot. He said his feelings are torn.
“I empathize with all sides,” Burnett said. “Of course, I’m more so hurt for our community. I’m hurt for our young people in the neighborhood. I’m hurt for the trauma that it brings in our neighborhood.
Burnett chose his words carefully because of the possibility of a lawsuit over Reed’s death, and he sidestepped questions about police stopping Reed because he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
South Side Ald. and Minister William Hall (6th) acknowledged the reason behind the stop is an issue.
“I’m concerned with the amount of stops that that community has,” he said. “I’m concerned with the amount of tactical units that we have. I’m concerned about the fact that neighbors and residents are living in fear.”
He said everyone has a right to home at night, though — residents and police.
“Whenever someone dies, the question we have to ask ourselves is: Did they have to die?” said Hall.
Following the release of police body camera footage on Tuesday, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said her office was investigating whether the officers’ use of force was legal.
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