More Crime, Fewer Cops: No Answers From Daley

Mayor Daley dodged questions about the city's unfulfilled pledge to put more police officers on the street.

Taking questions after the opening of an extended runway at O'Hare, Daley would not respond to the Chicago Tribune's report that City Hall has refused to approve the funds to fill hundreds of department vacancies, despite the city's rising murder rate and the promise of Police Supt. Jody Weis.

After the event, as reporters asked Daley about police hiring, Weis stepped up to the microphone stand.

That's when the mayor abruptly ended the news conference. Daley said he would talk Thursday about O'Hare expansion and nothing else.

"We're going to stay on this subject matter because I think it's important to stay on the subject matter," Daley said. "No, no, it's good to stay on it. Yesterday I took questions [on other topics], tomorrow I'll take questions, so you'll see me all week. Don't worry."

From the Tribune's original story:

The Chicago Police Department is down hundreds of officers despite pledges by City Hall to boost the force to combat growing violent crime, police union and department officials confirmed Wednesday.

Police Supt. Jody Weis, facing criticism over rising homicide rates, promised aldermen to expand the department by 75 officers as part of an effort to put more officers on the street. But City Hall has not approved department requests to hire enough officers to keep up with retirements and other attrition.

Mayor Richard Daley has said the city must reduce personnel costs in the face of a dismal economy and a gaping budget hole but has not specified where the cuts could be made at this point.

Read the entire story here.