Chicago Police shifts cops from desks to streets amid spike in murders

Chicago Police Officer Erich Rashan listens as Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to officers attending a leadership program at Chicago's police academy Oct. 16, 2012, in Chicago. / Getty Images

Updated at 2:15 p.m. ET

CHICAGO Facing one of its deadliest Januarys in a decade, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy announced Thursday that 200 officers currently on desk duty will be put on the streets, CBS Chicago station WBBM-TV reports.

The officers will be redeployed to area headquarters with high incidents of gang violence and gun crimes. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and McCarthy made the announcement at a news conference on Thursday.

Civilians will take over the desk duties currently done by police officers.

The department will immediately move 60 officers. The officers will join so-called area saturation teams, which flood a neighborhood after violent crime.

More officers will begin to be transferred in February, and all 200 will be moved from department headquarters and district offices into patrol positions by March 31.

"This organizational change will result in more effective policing and the goal of reducing violence from gangs and guns," McCarthy said.

As of Tuesday, Chicago had recorded at least 42 homicides for the month of January, making it the deadliest January for murders since 2002.

The homicides include the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl, who was an honor student and recently performed with her school's marching band at President Obama's inaugural.

• Teen inaugural performer shot dead in Chicago
• Chicago mom loses all four children to gun violence

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Chicago mayor puts pressure on gunmakers

In Chicago, gun violence is taking more and more lives: at least 50 since the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds reports.

Among the seven people murdered in Chicago this past weekend was 33-year-old Ronnie Chambers, shot dead in a parked van.

He was the last surviving child of Shirley Chambers, who now has lost all four of her children to gun violence. CBS News spoke to her Monday at a local funeral home.

"It's not Chicago," said Chambers. "It's these people. It's these people with these guns. They shouldn't have guns, you know?"

[CWSMTB]

Apparently the strict gun control laws have not reduced gang violence. But, why are they just making these changes now?

I've noticed liberals use preposterous statements like gun owners are choosing guns over children. This is the most asinine statement I've ever heard. I'm a father and a gun owner and I'd give my very life to save a child - for anyone to insult me and other gun owners by saying I'm choosing guns over children is offensive.

I think it is time for the liberals theatrical rhetoric to stop and start taking action to protect children and citizens. The incident in Georgia yesterday shows that armed officers in schools do work and I believe making common sense changes as put forth in this article will make a difference as well. That is - if they will prosecute the criminals and lock them up. If liberals can get over the theatrics and pandering to the media, we can make meaningful changes.

[HKG3]

At least someone is FINALLY getting on with something that will produce results rather than ill-informed politicians with their AR/HiCap Mag bans. Good on him! The cops being transferred will probably be happy they aren't being desk jockies, and best of luck to them cleaning up the streets.

As for the clowns going for ARs, the FBI stats proves that, as usual, they are all incompetent and are tugging at our heart strings to play their political games instead of doing something rational, backed up by facts and data.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8
Only way to do this is mandatory gun safes, and I hate to say it, universal background checks. Nail the gang members for concealed carry with no permits and the streets will be clean without affecting the rights of those of us who are sensible, and dont have high homicide rates in our communities.

[SeeBSnews4u]

Last year, 90 plus percent of those in Chicago caught in crimes involving guns never served time, got probation, only to commit more crimes. How about starting there? Sheesh

[peter_out]

Youth need something to do not just hang out. Lower the U6 unemployment rate and gun crimes will go down. Every American boy wants a girl. Without that job he cannot usually become a married man.

Leaving U6 unemployment unattended as it has been for about 5 years, with an increase of about 2.5 million new U6 unemployed or underemployed per year, gun crimes will go up not down.

Mixing cops with disenfranchised Americans will have a brief effect.

[varigdc10]

Where are Al and Jessee, this is the time their people need the most help, comon, where are they?

[Johnnuke]

Nice that they bring up Ronnie Chambers at the end of the article. They guy had a rap sheet that included 29 arrests, 3 felony convictions, and admitted gang membership. Real big surprise that POS wound up dead.

[ammo17]

the only way to sraighten this mess out in chicago is to suspend habeus corpus.the criminals are in charge in that city and there is no way of getting around the truth.

[lilbit2558]

"It's these people. It's these people with these guns. They shouldn't have guns, you know?"

That's correct, those CRIMINALS shouldn't have guns.

Hey Chicago, how're those gun control laws working out for you?

[endpcnow]

Chicago should have a stop and frisk policy. It would target mostly black and Latino men but they are the ones committing the vast, vast majority of the crimes. The anti-gun nuts want to do away with my second amendment rights but will, no doubt, oppose a stop and frisk policy. Can't win with libs.