Chicago Police Honor Fallen Officers During St. Jude Memorial March
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Thousands of Chicago police officers turned out Sunday morning to honor their colleagues killed in the line of duty, reports WBBM's Nancy Harty.
There have been plenty of marches recently about police, but the St. Jude Memorial March is by the police. Cadets stood holding pictures of the 567 officers who have been killed in the line of duty over the years, dating back more than a century.
Garry McCarthy says he is proud to be Chicago's police superintendent.
"It's a difficult time for the profession of policing right now and it's never been a more important time that we work hard and get it right and prove that we're professional while at the same time serving the public," he said.
While massive protests about police have rocked cities like Baltimore and Ferguson, McCarthy says complaints against officers in Chicago have dropped by almost a quarter in the last two years.
He says saluting police officers may not be in vogue right now, it's appropriate.
On Saturday, thousands came out to the lakefront for the annual Run To Remember. That event supports children of Chicago police officers killed or severely injured in the line of duty.