It Took Laquan McDonald And a Federal Probe For Chicago PD To Launch New Deadly Force Policy

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson believes that his department has some tough lessons to learn about the use of deadly force stemming from the horrific murder of 17-year old Laquan McDonald. In an effort to change the way they police the streets of the crime-ridden city, all officers will be required to take an online course and undergo 12 hours of additional training on how to de-escalate a situation.

Even in the face of the federal probe which exposed racial bias, excessive and disproportionate uses of force, and repeated evidence of constitutional violations, Johnson insists that the department is being proactive about making major changes. He claims that the shooting of the unarmed teen 16 times "may have given us the springboard to move forward and change some things." 

Pressures from community activists like William Calloway played a role in the new department directive. They see it as a victory. "This is a big win for us, our voices were heard," Calloway declared. 

The Chicago Police Department is adamant, however, that the U.S. Department of Justice did not recommend the mandate. "The ball's in their court," police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. "We submitted our reform plan, we're doing that, as far as what the DOJ is going to implement, I don't know."

Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to send in the federal troops if the city doesn't figure out how to stop the killing. In February of this year, he addressed some of his step-and-fetch supporters and made his intentions crystal clear. "Chicago is out of control," Trump said. "If they're not going to solve the problem, then we're going to solve the problem for them."

However Superintendent Johnson gets it done, police reform is desperately needed in Chicago. Sending in federal troops and declaring martial law would be disastrous. Hopefully the focus will be placed on finding real solutions to the city's problems rather than whose idea it is. Just get it done. The people cannot wait any longer.