Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to give every cop a Taser to reduce fatal police shootings
Mayor Emanuel cut a family trip to Cuba short this week after police brutality opponents renewed calls to unseat him
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday announced new training procedures and a push to supply all police with tasers amid mounting tension over police shootings of black Americans, reports say.
The city plans to supply all officers with Tasers and overhaul its training methods to promote the deescalation of physical confrontations with suspected criminals, local newspaper the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The mayor's office did not respond to a request for further comment from The Independent.
Mayor Emanuel cut short a family trip to Cuba this week after police brutality opponents renewed calls to unseat him over what they called his mishandling of police shootings. Over the weekend, Chicago police shot dead Quintonio LeGrier, 19, and Bettie Jones, 55, further incensing activists across the nation decrying what they call the violent and discriminatory policing of communities of colour in Chicago and across the United States.
In Ms Jones’ case, she “was accidentally struck and tragically killed” amid a standoff between between police and suspects, a Chicago Police Department press release said.
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced on December 7 that the US Justice Department would investigate the “patterns and practices” of the Chicago Police Department. The announcement came weeks after the release of video of a white police officer’s killing of a black teenager.
“Specifically, we will examine a number of issues related to the Chicago Police Department’s use of force, including its use of deadly force, racial, ethnic and other disparities in its use of force,” US Attorney General Loretta Lynch told the press.
A judge on November 24 charged Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, 37, with first-degree murder after video — captured by a police car dashboard camera — was released showing Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old LaQuan McDonald 16 times on October 20, 2014. Police have said that Mr McDonald refused to comply with orders to drop a knife he had been wielding.
President Barack Obama told the press that he was “deeply disturbed” by the footage. McDonald’s and other high-profile police killings drove hundreds of protesters to block Chicago’s retail district on Black Friday, the U.S.’s post-Thanksgiving sales event.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments