Aldermen Grill McCarthy on Crime Stats

Police Superintendent Critical of Media for How it Reports Crime

McCarthy testifies in front of City Council CommitteeChicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says that he believes there is no indication that the department is ‘faking crime stats’ in an effort to artificially give off the perception that crime is lower than it is. McCarthy appeared before a joint session of the Public Safety Committee and the Workforce Development and Audit Committee for nearly three hours of testimony, before excusing himself to go to a doctor’s appointment. McCarthy is recovering from a heart attack he suffered in May.

The Superintendent sought to refute a Chicago Magazine series that questioned how the police department classified and reported crime statistics, citing six possible murder cases that were allegedly re-classified so the city could get them off the books. McCarthy says the city’s inspector general looked at the numbers and found “no evidence that CPD was cooking the books.”

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

“It’s real simple,” McCarthy said. “You can’t hide dead bodies.”

McCarthy also expressed frustration at the media for how it reports on crime, saying that murders are down more than 55% from 20 years ago, and that the city is still on track to see its lowest murder total since 1963.

“20 years ago, every single shooting, every single murder wasn’t recorded,” McCarthy said, even recounting a story in which he told a citizen who had complained about the current state of violence, “we’re setting records, did you know that?”

“I talk to news producers, editors all the time. We’re looking for fairness. Facts will prevail eventually.”

But not all aldermen bought the perception vs. reality line.

“Perceptions are trending negative,” said 44th ward aldermen Tom Tunney, who complained about a high rate of robberies in a police district in his ward.

“Data doesn’t matter in how people feel about their city,” said 27th Ward Aldermen Walter Burnett.

“There’s no magic formula, there’s no magic fairy-dust I can sprinkle to make crime go away,” McCarthy said, noting that a Pew study ranked Chicago has  having the 21st worst violent crime rate among big U.S. cities, and that the city has more police officers per capita than all but three major cities: Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Newark, New Jersey.

Though the hearing lasted nearly three hours, aldermen Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Bob Fioretti (2nd) were upset that they didn’t get out of it what they had originally intended when they requested it months ago. Aldermen were also frustrated that they were given less than 48 hours of notice that the hearing would even take place.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors