Chicago Cops: Meh, Burglaries and Car Thefts Will Just Have to Wait

As the violence in Chicago rages on, Chicago police are having to pool their resources in order to focus on the murder crisis in the Windy City, leaving other victims of violent crime practically on their own and unarmed. More from CBS Chicago:

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Starting this week, Chicago police are changing their responses to 911 calls. They’ll no longer come right away to reports of things like criminal damage to property, vehicle thefts, garage burglaries, or other crimes in which the suspect is no longer on the scene, and the victim isn’t in immediate danger.

The move will free up the equivalent of 44 police officers a day for patrol duties.

CBS 2′s Jim Williams spoke to some Chicagoans who think it’s the wrong move for the police.

On the block where burglars broke into a home on Christmas Day, Carmen Curio has a strong opinion on the city’s new 911 response plan.

“I think that’s ridiculous. I think if there’s a burglary, they’ve got to come. It’s what we pay for. They have to come,” she said.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy insisted crime prevention “in the future” happens when officers are on patrol, not tied up taking reports at the scene of non-violent incidents.

“I don’t mean to be flippant here, because I’ve been the victim of a burglary at least three or four times,” he said. “I’d rather have the officer on street, where he can prevent the shooting.”

Flippant? Absolutely. McCarthy forgets that he has a firearm, the rest of the city’s law abiding citizens do not.

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According to the Department of Justice, one in three home invasions end violently when residents are home at the time of the crime. It should be noted that in Chicago concealed carry is illegal. States and cities across the country that have embraced concealed carry for law abiding citizens have seen their violent crime rates plummet. At a time when the police are incapable of even responding to things like burglaries, concealed carry is something that should be seriously considered to help protect vulnerable citizens (but it won’t be). Not to mention, now that the criminals know the cops aren’t going to show up after a violent crime takes place, the crime rate is bound to keep going up as consequences for lawbreakers are put on the back burner.

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