By Rob Heidrick
Medill News Service

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis defended his officers' performance in the midst of a rise in the city's murder rate - one that has affected Mount Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park twice in the last week. But he acknowledged a need to beef up some policing tactics while improving communications with city aldermen, including Ginger Rugai.

A 26-year-old Beverly man was shot dead July 10 after he and another man were the targets of a gunman who approached them while they were sitting in their car in the 9600 block of South Charles Street.

A 19-year-old Morgan Park man was killed Tuesday when two gunmen shot him and another man as they sat outside the victim's house.

Appearing Tuesday before the City Council Committee on Police and Fire Weis noted Chicago has seen a 13 percent increase in murders since this time last year-a total of 256 killings in 2008. In the same time frame, police have seized 500 fewer guns, and there has also been a sharp decline in drug arrests.

The superintendent, who has held his job less than six months, attributed these trends to multiple factors, including understaffing, scaled-back tactical units and a rising fear among officers of misconduct lawsuits.

"We're not being as aggressive as we used to be," Weis said. "Every day we work against the odds; it's our mission to overcome them."

Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th), chairman of the Committee on Police and Fire, called for the committee meeting in the wake of the highly publicized shootings on July 3 that occurred near the Taste of Chicago. He said the rising crime rate could have more to do with poor enforcement techniques and miscommunication.

"It appears that all the figures are up, and it appears that the police are taking less initiative," Carothers said, noting that even routine safety checks would make a difference in slowing the flow of drugs and weapons through Chicago neighborhoods.

Weis said without the help of well-trained tactical teams such as the now defunct Special Operations Section, the department is less effective in disrupting gangs and other organized criminal operations.

The unit was disbanded late last year following allegations of corruption and brutality.

Weis and his deputies have proposed to replace SOS with a well-monitored Targeted Response Unit that would "act as a tourniquet" in preventing crime.

"We need very aggressive people to work it, but we need them to be professional and we need them to play by the rules," he said.

Despite raising serious questions about the department's organization and approach to preventing crime, many of the aldermen expressed their support of Weis and called for stronger partnerships with their respective police districts.

"Too often, the police are scapegoats," said Ald. Edward Burke (14th), a former police officer, himself. "No one should take our appearance here to be a lack of confidence among the City Council members."

Other ward leaders, including Ald. Danny Solis (25th), said they appreciate their local officers' efforts to make themselves more visible in the neighborhoods by patrolling on bikes and interacting with residents.

The aldermen also acknowledged that, as tragic as were the shootings at the Taste of Chicago, Weis and the police department could have done little to prevent it. According to Weis, a total of 995 officers were deployed at the festival, compared with about 550 last year. 23 tactical teams were in place, and an additional nine were called in on the day of the shooting, July 3, when attendance peaked at 1.2 million visitors.

"You'd need the 3rd Marine Division to protect 1.2 million people," said Ald. James Balcer (11th). "I commend the officers that were there. They did the best they could."

Weis agreed, adding that his officers could not detain everyone who looked like a potential threat. "There's got to be a reasonable suspicion, not a mere suspicion, that they will commit crimes," he said.

While Weis has already instituted sweeping changes in his first five months in office, including his replacement of 21 of 25 district commanders, council members said that further adjustments will be needed to improve communication and help the department run more smoothly. The aldermen warned Weis that his job going forward is not likely to be an easy one.

"Being the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department is like sitting on a stick of dynamite with the fuse getting shorter," Burke said.