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Fun with numbers

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A senior Department of Justice official on Wednesday corrected comments by Attorney General William Barr, who minutes earlier had said 200 arrests had been made within two weeks in Kansas City as part of Operation Legend, a federal anti-crime effort. […]

Speaking with McClatchy after the Wednesday event, the senior Justice Department official clarified that the 200 figure included arrests dating back to December 2019.

It also included, the official said, both state and FBI arrests in joint operations. […]

Prior to the DOJ’s correction of the misinformation, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas had cast doubt on the claim. Lucas said that he was aware only of one arrest that had been announced by the U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas City.

Let’s hope the results are more clear in Chicago.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 9:47 am

Comments

It’s time for a crack down. When you can’t even have a funeral without the fear of being killed your local government has failed you.

Comment by The Dust Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 9:51 am
200 is really one. “Fun” wouldn’t be the word I would have used.

Comment by 17% Solution Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 9:52 am
We need help, I hope the additional feds will help.
Barr with an over-exaggeration, I am shocked.

Comment by James the Intolerant Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 9:55 am
Life in post constitution America

Comment by Bob Loblaw Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 9:56 am
“Let’s hope the results are more clear in Chicago.”

Some things are already abundantly clear.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:01 am
Shocked, shocked I say to hear that Barr was fudging the truth.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:01 am
== When you can’t even have a funeral without the fear of being killed your local government has failed you.==
My goodness what a silly thing to say. Police are mere human beings. There is no way they could have known this was going to happen. Guess what, Operation Legend is made up of mere human beings too, not people with super powers. Maybe they can lend a hand, but no one is capable of magic. Maybe Barr should have sent Harry Potter.

Comment by Fly like an eagle Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:04 am
===When you can’t even have a funeral===

That wasn’t exactly Aunt Martha’s funeral, bub. But you do what you do.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:05 am
===When you can’t even have a funeral===

And another 100, 200 federal cops would have made a difference..how?

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:09 am
$10 says that on November 1, victory will be declared regardless of the actual number of shootings “we’ve stopped crime in Chicago, the numbers are the most beautiful they e ever been in Chicago…”

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:11 am
Extra law enforcement barely qualifies as a band-aid solution. Inner-city violence is a symptom of deep systemic racism and inequality. It is even resented, thus the many demonstrations. Trump gets away with corruption and has an entire political party defending him and obstructing justice. What kind of example is that to the poor young people of high-crime areas to not try to enrich themselves through criminal enterprise?

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:18 am
@Fly

According to the Trib this morning, Police were warned, and there were two squad cars and a tactical unit in the area.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-mass-shooting-chicago-20200722-5w2athnjcbatdnja56trvkmmwi-story.html

From the article:
==Brown in his remarks pushed back on criticism from at least one activist that there should have been a more robust police presence at the funeral. He said the department was prepared for the potential of danger based on intelligence police received before the mass shooting that there was a “gang connection” involved.

“We had two police squad cars there and we had a full (tactical) team in the area. And we treat all of our funerals that have any gang rivalry or gang connection in similar ways,” he said.==

To the post: I don’t know who to trust anymore. If they’re sending in accountants and detectives to raise Chicago’s abysmal solved case rate, I’m all for it. If it’s anything remotely near what unfolded in Portland, the local electeds need to raise hell in DC.

Comment by ChrisB Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:23 am
wow. Enrich themselves through criminal enterprise. Shooting up kids is real enterprise. Bring back the death penalty.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:24 am
Blue Dog Den “bring back the death penalty” I don’t think this is the solution. The people doing these shootings already figure they are dead. Not sure the overall answer. If easy it would have been solved already.

Comment by illinifan Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:32 am
Block Facebook, Twitter, You-Tube, etc. in the Chicago area for a week and watch how things calm down.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:34 am
“And another 100, 200 federal cops would have made a difference..how?”

Please don’t pose these hard questions to suburbanites who think all cops are magical crime ending elves. We don’t want anyone to have a stroke thinking too deeply about how and why violent crime occurs in the United States.

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:36 am
So the funeral goers shot up each other even though surrounded by cops? Ok. I guess don the legend has it right, 200 more federal cops won’t make a difference either if that’s the case.

Comment by Muddy trail Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:38 am
===even though surrounded by cops?===

I don’t think the CPD has actually explained where its officers were in relation to the physical location of the funeral.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:44 am
- Bring back the death penalty. -

Yeah genius, murder rates were so much lower when we had that.

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 10:44 am
from 1990 to 1999, Illinois carried out a whopping 11 executions. I would have thought the number would have been in the hundreds.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:04 am
You really can’t start offering up solutions when you don’t have the first inkling of what the problems are that cause this systemic violence.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:06 am
I think I join most Americans who are sick and tired of excuses for systemic violence. Whether its Chicago or Florida. White or black. Enough excuses.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:12 am
===I think I join most Americans===

You constantly put yourself in the majority, often when there is no evidence of such. Either start backing up your claims with actual numbers or sit the heck down.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:15 am
If the execution rates was in the 100s in the 1990s it certainly would have included at least a few innocent people

Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:20 am
rich. You are certainly correct. My apologies. I should have stated it something to the effect “the people we associate with don’t understand the complexities in all corners of society and we only hope and pray that folks don’t turn to violence to express their opinions or to settle differences. “

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:33 am
I really do not see how a team of 150 can make a big difference. I mean, they could bring in some accountants to start going after the money laundering/illegal drugs/gun running operations, but that is not going to eliminate a lot of murders.

They could bring in detectives to try to solve some of Chicago’s cold cases, to send a strong reminder that there is no statute on murder and even if you got away with it one should never rest easy. But I honestly don’t think that would make a big difference either. Many of the murders come out of a nihilistic mindset of expecting death anyway. And no peace officer can fix that.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:34 am
If CPD was there, where were they?
I know Rich asked the same question, and shootings happen quickly, but I believe they should answer the question.

Comment by James the Intolerant Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 11:34 am
There should be NO ‘results’ in Chi.

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 12:12 pm
I read that people attending the funeral returned fire. Is this normal now?

Tired of hearing systemic racism blamed for all violence. Was Al Capone a victim of systemic racism against Italians?

I agree that racism has made it harder for black Americans. Just don’t buy it as an excuse for violence.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 12:20 pm
Let’s hope for the silent majority will stand up this fall because obviously Democratic leaders don’t care about lives based on the statistics coming out of these large cities all it takes is a good look at actual facts statistics not your poor feelings.

Comment by The Dust Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 12:31 pm
===silent majority===

Biden leads by double digits.

Trump lost the popular vote last time too.

Keep up, please.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 12:36 pm
Chi-town has seen over 220 people murdered in last two months. CPD, the clearance rate is abysmally low. CPD is overwelmed and the street gangs are running parts of the city. Who ever wants to step in and help should be welcomed. Get the illegal guns and operators of them off the streets. Its the only way this gets better.

Comment by theCardinal Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 12:54 pm
Last Bull Moose,
Actually I found the premise of return fire to be a promising one. If people trying to carry out drive by shootings get return fire and especially if some of that return fire hits home, it could reduce drive by shootings. Isn’t that the premise of the concealed carry movement, that a good guy with a gun can intervene and stop crime? Even if it’s not a good guy exactly but simply someone with rival interests to the gun man, isn’t that good enough (assuming they hit no innocent bystanders of course)

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 12:58 pm
== Democratic leaders don’t care about lives based on the statistics coming out of these large cities.==
Still believe in a magical solution huh bud? It’s not they don’t care or the police don’t care or the community doesn’t care. You are misinterpreting. Many care but are having trouble coming up with a solution. And your lecturing about some magical beans isn’t helpful.

Comment by Fly like an eagle Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 1:38 pm
Feds have been working heavy in Chicago of late. Three huge drug busts done in cooperation with Chicago Police, West side and north side (Devon and Western) in just the last month or so. LOTS of people arrested. Big announcements from US Attny. those actions take months to put in place, so what will go down now is small fry without big leaders will freelance. and the Feds and the CPD will have an idea where to get them.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 1:53 pm
Fly like an eagle: there are always those who use tragic events to score political points for their team. Don’t feed the trolls.

Comment by 17% Solution Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 1:57 pm
blue dog Dem,

You cited the period 1990-1999.

During that same time frame, how many people were released from Death Row in Illinois because of wrongful convictions?

With all respect,

A person who was in the room at the U of I law school when George Ryan announced he was shutting down Death Row.

Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 7:23 pm
=== Let’s hope the results are more clear in Chicago. ===

There’s always hope…but then there’s the reality of Trump propaganda, so don’t con’t on it.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jul 23, 20 @ 7:55 pm