RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE CALCULATION OF CHICAGO CRIME RATES
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WHEREAS, Providing for the safety of the general public is the responsibility of the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Part of protecting the public is the accurate reporting of crime statistics; and ,
WHEREAS, According to Year-end Chicago Police Department data, between 2010 and 2013 Chicago's overall "index crime" rate - which tracks homicides, criminal sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated batteries/assaults, burglaries, thefts, motor vehicle thefts and incidents of arson - have dropped nearly 19 percent a year, far beyond the expected decrease; and
WHEREAS, City of Chicago Inspector General Joseph M. Ferguson has recenjb^jnished an audit of Chicago Police Department assault-related crime data from 2012 and ^Nedgefc the Chicago Police Department has undercounted aggravated assaults and batteries by more than 24 percent; and
WHEREAS, Unnamed individuals from within the Chicago Police Department interviewed for an April 7, 2014 report by Chicago Magazine confirm that the Chicago Police Department underreports (or changes the categorization of) certain violent crimes in order to show progress battling crime; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago Police Department refutes the findings and supports case status protocols and reporting methods, and
WHEREAS, the accusation of false reporting of information by the Chicago Police Department reporting methods cause a sense of frustration among the Police Department and distrust in the eyes of the public.
WHEREAS, the practice of underreporting prevents residents of the City of Chicago from getting an accurate understanding of crime in their city, elected officials from making the policy changes necessary to combat crime, and the hard-working rank-and-file members of the Chicago Police Department understand the impact of the work they are doing and the States Attorney from prosecuting and families experiencing the satisfaction of offenders being apprehended;
WHEREAS, understanding the method of auditing the data, reporting of the data and the accuracy of the data must be brought in line for the best interest of all: now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned members of the City of Chicago City Council, gathered together this 30th Day of April, 2014 AD, urge the Committee on Public Safety to expeditiously convene a public hearing to take testimony from the Inspector General, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department and other law-enforcement officials as well as solicit comment from the general public concerning the calculation of crime statistics as well as measures that can be implemented to clarify the Chicago Police Departments methods of operation and guidelines and clarify to all the reporting, classification and findings as reported.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That a copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Chicago Police Department Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Inspector General Joseph M. Ferguson and the Honorable James A. Balcer, Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety.
Alderman Carrie Austin, 34th ward Roderick Sawyer, 6th/ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the findings of this hearing be documented and presented to this august body and the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of the City of Chicago, so that the appropriate action may be taken to investigate, clarify and ensure integrity, correct any djwepaacies in the calculation of crime statistics and protect the public's interest.
Jobrt P ope, 10th wa
Jward Burke, 14th ward
HowarcfBrookinsJr., 21st ward ;
Robert Maldonado, 26th ward
Michael Chandler, 24 ward
Alderman Willie B Cochran, 20 ward Latasha Thomas, 17th ward