President Obama speaks at police chiefs conference, attends Bulls game
CHICAGO (WLS) -- President Obama addressed the International Association of Chiefs of Police at their annual conference being held in Chicago on Tuesday. As many as 14,000 law enforcement professionals and vendors attended the four-day conference at the McCormick Center, and several thousand of them were in attendance for the speech. The president received a standing ovation after his address.
The president spoke to law enforcement not just about the uptick in violence in various cities across the United States, but also about building trust between police officers and communities, addressing racial bias in law enforcement, rerouting resources to benefit law enforcement, reforming the criminal justice system and supporting stronger national gun control legislation.
President Obama opened his remarks by reaffirming his support and respect for the police while also calling for a "robust debate" about how to improve relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve, especially communities of color.
"I reject any narrative that seeks to divide police and communities they serve; that frames any discussion of public safety around 'us' and 'them,'" he said. "Your work, your services, really has helped make America safer than it's been in decades. That's something of which every American should be proud."
But the president also said that, "I know there are few people more invested in declining crime rates than minority communities that are historically underpoliced. That's why I'm confident that in this debate people of good will can find common ground. And you've shown that there are actions which we can take that will make a difference."
President Obama praised law enforcement around the country for their commitment and said police are too often scapegoated when society's problems are at the root of violent crime.
"We can't expect you to contain and control problems that the rest of us aren't willing to face or do anything about," he said.
Protesters demonstrating at City Hall before Obama's speech agreed, saying joblessness in black and Latino communities is a core problem.
"We don't need to get tougher on crime, we need to get tougher on poverty," said activist Ro Davis.
"There needs to be a focus on economics instead of this get tough on crime position that America is taking," agreed Mark Carter.
Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, addressed the group Monday. He called for background checks on anyone who buys a gun.
The president echoed Supt. McCarthy's call for universal background checks and spoke about the importance of gun control laws in order to protect the lives of police officers.
"And the fact is that in states with high gun ownership, police officers are three times more likely to be murdered than in states with low gun ownership," Pres. Obama said. "That is a fact. So you know that more guns on the streets do not make you or your communities safer."
"It is easier in some communities to find a gun than to find fresh vegetables at a supermarket," he continued. "That is just a fact."
Obama closed his speech by recalling a story about a police officer that went viral in 2014 for all the right reasons. He spoke of Officer William Stacy, called to a Dollar General store to arrest a woman who had been caught shoplifting. The woman, who had stolen three eggs because she was 50 cents short of the dozen, told him her grandchildren hadn't eaten in days. Instead of arresting her, Officer Stacy purchased the dozen eggs for her so she could feed her family.
"'He pushed my world in the right direction,' the woman said, and I will never forget it," President Obama said. "That's America at its best. That's some good police work. That's what so many of you represent. I thank you for the work you do."
Following his speech, the president will attend several fundraisers in downtown Chicago. The first event is at the LaSalle Street headquarters of the company Power Reserves whose CEO is hosting a quick fundraiser for Democratic candidates running for Senate.
Then the president is off to another fundraiser at the Public Hotel in Chicago's Gold Coast, where tickets max out at $33,400.
OBAMA ATTENDS BULLS GAME
Security has been beefed up at the United Center in preparation for Obama to attend the Chicago Bulls game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. He arrived shortly before the start of the game.
Secret Service officers are on hand at the United Center, where fans are already subject to entering through full length magnetometer metal detectives. For previous seasons fans were only scanned by metal detecting wands.
"It's very thorough," says Hector Garcia of Valle Security. "Sometimes the wand can miss things."
Garcia's company ran security at Soldier Field for more than a decade. He and other security officers say sports stadiums are obvious potential targets for several different types of threats, including terrorists.
"I think we've been very fortunate. It's something that we're concerned about every day here, and certainly among all the pro leagues and NCAA, etc., that we do the best we can to mitigate risk," says Dr. Lou Marciani of the Center for Spectator Safety and Security.
President Obama is a well-established Bulls fan who as attended games in the past.
"I admit it, I'm a Bulls fan," Obama said at a past basketball event in Washington D.C. "It's never easy celebrating a non-Bulls team in the White House. That's all I've been able to do."
The president watched the Cavaliers battle his Bulls courtside, even surprising TV viewers by practicing a bit of a punditry.
"You've got a new coach. He's opening up the offense a little bit. The question is whether he's going to be able to hold onto the defense with a new offense," Obama said.
Obama will spend the night at his Kenwood home before leaving Chicago Wednesday morning.
President Obama is scheduled to leave Chicago early Wednesday morning.
