Chicago's Crime Fight: A Team Effort

As 2024 draws to a close, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Superintendent Larry Snelling are celebrating a citywide drop in violent crime. They say it's a result of everyone working together. "It takes a village, " Johnson explained at a press conference. "We can't just blame the cops. " The city's homicide rate is down for the third year in a row, with 572 recorded as of December 27th. That's a decrease from 620 in 2023. Johnson credited a "whole of government approach" for the progress. Snelling added that it's not just about new ideas, but also about focusing on what's important – like holding criminals accountable. The city has seen drops in shooting incidents and victims, as well as robberies and motor vehicle thefts. Cops recovered over 12, 000 guns and made more than 32, 000 arrests. Both the mayor and superintendent thanked the public for their support and cooperation. Snelling has six key goals for the Police Department in 2025, including officer wellness and community partnerships.