Chicago shooting: AG Merrick Garland meets with Chicago police, community leaders with launch of ‘strike force’

It’s part of a new federal plan to target illegal firearms and the people who transport them into Chicago.

“We are learning from the past,” explains Garland. “This is a tactic that works on gun networks, which are bringing guns into the city. Take them down.”

The multi-jurisdictional strike force will use federal, state and local resources to combat the growing problem.

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Chicago is one of five cities experiencing a major wave of violence where strike forces will be operating.

Garland arrives in Chicago on Thursday and met with police and community leaders. CPD gives him a behind-the-scenes look at local crime fighting efforts.

The meeting took place when Chicago police questioned three people ba interested in two mass shootings in Lawndale.

Garland also went to St. Agatha to meet with community groups that are working to stop criminal activity.

“Community support, trust, is what helps the police,” he said. “Police help communities trust.”

Garland documented the shooting deaths of two ATF agents and a CPD officer in June. The strike force will coordinate efforts to not only track down the guns, but also their origins and the people who shipped them to Chicago.

“This is a long-term effort, not a short-term resource, it’s a long-term, coordinated, cross-jurisdictional long-term effort, and it’s an important part we can all work together.” each other,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
The strike forces will not bring in any additional resources, but seek to leverage existing resources and better coordinate efforts across jurisdictions to track firearms to Chicago from out of state. However, Mayor Lori Lightfoot still calls it a game changer.

“If you pick up a gun, if you shoot into a crowd, we’ll not only find you, we’ll take you to federal court. We’ll take you to South Dakota and you’ll never see you. family again. So the choice is yours,” she said.

“That’s the real benefit of this partnership is that we’re not just focused on Chicago, we’re able to find and track these guns so we can hold them accountable,” CPD Supt said. David Brown.