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CHICAGO – The idea seemed simple though bold: Call reputed gang leaders to a meeting with top police and federal prosecutors and deliver an ultimatum to end killings in the nation's third-largest city.
Since he took over in 2008, the department has been weary of Weis, a career FBI agent who continues to be seen as an outsider by many rank and file officers.
The Chicago Gang Violence Reduction Initiative launched at an unpublicized Aug. 17 meeting, when Weis met with parolees and reputed gang members from Chicago's west side. The meeting, which was also attended by family members of victims, was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
"What are we doing negotiating or having a sit-down with urban terrorists who are killing with guns and drugs on the streets?" Chicago Alderman Bob Fioretti said. "Gangs are not to be coddled."
Experts say the tactic of meeting with gang leaders — whether formally with top administrators or at the neighborhood level — is just part of good police work.
The issue resonates deeply in Chicago, where the number of brazen shootings has escalated this year, even though the overall homicide rate is down. Earlier this year, two state lawmakers asked to send in the National Guard to patrol streets. On Wednesday, two cops were shot and injured while serving a warrant.
Weis said the message was simple: "If you should resort to violence, we'll sharpen our focus on you and really really make your lives uncomfortable. You have the ability to influence people within your sphere. You guys are in the position to stop the killing."
Fioretti, who is mulling a run at Chicago mayor, said Weis shouldn't have been there with reputed gangsters.
Weis said prosecutors at the meeting threatened attendees that they could be charged under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act if killings were traced back to gangs with members attending the meeting. The federal law, commonly known as RICO, provides stiffer penalties for acts performed as part of a criminal organization such as the Mafia.
Experts say the tactic of meeting with gang leaders — whether formally with top administrators or at the neighborhood level — is just part of good police work.
"It's become almost standard practice in police departments around the country," said David Kennedy, director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. "It's simply saying to people that violence is going to get special attention from law enforcement and that a whole lot of violence, especially in places like Chicago, is driven by gangs."
Originally posted by UmbraSumus
reply to post by sweetliberty
I saw it more as the issuing of an ultimatum in person.
If it was my City , this is the kind of Police Chief i would want running things. He could of played it cagey, hunkering down in his officer reading the report of the summit from the safety of his office.
Fioretti, who is mulling a run at Chicago mayor, said Weis shouldn't have been there with reputed gangsters.
link
Let the points scoring continue and be damned with the consequences for the City.
Originally posted by humbleseeker
I think one approach that the police need to take is a urban combat approach. Door to door, searches and arrest. Let the gangs no they are out of business. But to do this the people need to be impowered so they are not afraid of these urban terrorist.
Originally posted by humbleseeker
reply to post by dizzie56
I agree its not constitutional, I was just saying what would need to be done if you realy wanted to get rid of the major gang influence in some of those neighborhoods, the law is not enforced.
I dont agree with going door to door, yet if you realy want to take the fight to them, if it was possible and legal I would incorporate gang profiling anyone weaing hats sideways, blatent gang clothing, ect would be searched.
Maybe the govt could create small militias in the gang ridden nighborhood, made up of the good citizens in those neighborhoods arm them, empower them, and if the gang members dont submit kill them.
Gangs are a threat to innocent people especially to people living in those communities. They kill and still, and sell drugs, without a care
I whole heartedly stand by the constitution, unless we consider a member of a gang to be a terrorist then we could go to war with them like the taliban.