Week after week on this show, we’ve talked about how police oversight efforts seem to have reached a boiling point. In hearings, briefings, and committee meetings, activists and residents have demanded more control of the Chicago Police Department. But in two major speeches this week on combating gun violence in Chicago, the issue of police reform took a back seat. Since the start of 2016, there have been more than 3,000 shootings and 500 murders in Chicago. That’s more than any other big city in the country.

On Monday, in a City Club speech, ousted CPD Supt. Garry McCarthy suggested the focus on reform was emboldening criminals to disobey police. Three days later, at a much-anticipated evening address to an invite-only crowd at Malcolm X College, Mayor Rahm Emanuel outlined his approach to combating gun violence by adding more patrols and economic programs for youth. In this week’s episode, we discuss the laser focus on Chicago crime, the missing puzzle pieces on police reform, and the Mayor’s credibility less than two weeks before the City Council votes on major changes to CPD oversight.   

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