Politics

Daley Says He Won't Turn Down Help To Fight Crime

Gov. Rod Blagojevich Has Suggested Sending In State Police, National Guard

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Mayor Richard M. Daley said Saturday he will not turn down any help fighting violence in Chicago, following a suggestion by Gov. Rod Blagojevich that Illinois State Police or the National Guard should be sent to fight crime.

"To me, this is not a political game," Mayor Daley said, "This deals with lives of men and women that are first responders with the Chicago Police Department, or State Police and or the National Guard."

Daley added, "If they want to assist us, we'd be glad to assist us in many ways – that's as simple as that."

Blagojevich said Wednesday that the state needed to help the city in the wake of a rise in the violent crime rate.

"I think we, those of us at the state level, need to offer a helping hand, and do something to help the mayor get his hands around this uncontrolled violence that's taking hold of some communities in the city of Chicago," Blagojevich said Wednesday.

Earlier this week, police Supt. Jody Weis did not refuse help from the state, but he did dispute Blagojevich's characterization of violence in the city as out of control.

"We've enjoyed phenomenal success in crime fighting since 2004," Supt. Weis said. "My predecessor did a great job since 2004. We may go up a little bit this year. But I don't see us going to the levels of the 70's or 90's when the murder rates were in the 800's. Although it sounds really bad, if you do a mathematical projection it's going to be right in line with the success the Chicago Police Department has had since 2004."

The record for homicides in Chicago was set in 1974, when the number totaled 970. The second worst year was 1992, when there were 943, and the following year, there were 931. But in none of the past five years have there been more than 500 homicides in the city, and even when the city led the nation in murders in 2003, the total was a comparatively modest 598.

While newspapers compared the governor's offer to that of a Wild West sheriff offering to ride to the city's rescue, the governor's comments about Chicago violence made news around the world. It is not likely to help Mayor Richard M. Daley's effort to bring the 2016 Olympics to town.

Some close to Daley thought the governor was sending the mayor a message: stop blaming Blagojevich publicly for deadlock at the state capitol.

"It's the Hatfields and McCoys, you know that. There's a lack of trust," Daley said Tuesday. "Last year, the governor took all money away from Democratic legislators. He said, 'I don't like you any more!' And he took all the money away."

Supt. Weis says he would accept help from the Illinois State Police at his news conference Thursday afternoon. He chose to ignore the political infighting, and to tell the governor, "We'll use whatever help you send."

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