Jul 25, 2008 11:17 am US/Central
Police, Community Unite To Curb Violent Crime
Weis: Community Should Be Comfortable With Police
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Police Supt. Jody Weis attends a breakfast meeting with community members on the Near South Side. They came together to discuss ways to curb violent crime.
CBS
Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis Friday morning met with community leaders who say they need his help, and that they can help him.
As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, the neighborhood organizers want Weis to help them join in a new movement to bring an end to the spate of violence that has hit Chicago streets.
Tracking Summer Shootings In ChicagoAs another summer weekend begins, concern about gun violence and the rising crime rate escalates again. To address those concerns, Weis attended a breakfast meeting with Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) and community leaders at the Second Presbyterian Church, at 1936 S. Michigan Ave. on the Near South Side.
Weis said he wants Chicago Police to build better relationships with their neighborhoods to help solve and combat crime. Fioretti says to accomplish that goal, he has called for more officers walking the streets, rather than driving by in squad cars.
The group came together to figure out how the community can help.
"We're all going to fight this issue. We're going to fight it collectively, on how we have to address the problem," Fioretti said. "We have to raise our expectations of our children. We have to invest in our children. We have to spend the time with our children – whether it's an hour a day, two hours a day, whatever it takes."
Weis emphasized that the community has a vital role in solving crimes.
"We need the citizens' cooperation. We need the intelligence they can give. People know their blocks; they know their streets. And if they see something that's unusual or they see something that's wrong, they have to feel comfortable in the Police Department to pick up the phone," Weis said. "If they don't feel comfortable calling us, call their clergy; call someone."
An outdoor roll call for Central District officers was scheduled for Friday morning. Weis is partial to outdoor roll calls because they demonstrate to people that police are on the street, and people are welcome to come and talk about officers regarding their concerns.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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