Chicago police alter policy on force following backlash
CHICAGO — A draft of a new Chicago Police Department use-of-force policy released Tuesday would give officers more latitude in deciding when to fire their weapons, backing off an earlier proposal that the police union had said was too restrictive and could have put officers in danger.
Chicago is struggling to forge a new police policy that balances the need for officers to do their work amid a wave of shootings, while restoring community trust following public anger over the shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014.
The new draft backs off a suggestion in October that officers not use force unless “all other reasonable alternatives have been exhausted.” That prompted concern from the police union that it was “too restrictive and would endanger officers who need to protect themselves in various situations.”
The proposal now says that officers are required to use de-escalation tactics only when it does not put their personal safety at risk.