Chicago police working on new CTA crime plan in wake of violence incidents
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are working on a new CTA safety plan after a string of recent violence on the CTA, including a deadly shooting in the Loop Monday.
The city will unveil a plan in a week that will include more manpower on CTA property and improved use of technology to prevent crime.
This comes in the wake of three violent incidents including a triple shooting Monday that killed a man in the tunnel connecting the Jackson Red Line and Blue Line stations in the Loop.
The shooting at around 2 a.m. was sparked by a personal dispute according to a police spokesperson and the shooters image was captured on surveillance cameras.
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The man who was killed in the shooting has been identified to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as 24-year-old Edward Charleston of Chicago.
CPD has already announced that a new counter-terrorism unit will be responsible for policing mass transit.
"What we want to do is put more of a presence not only on the platforms but riding the trains themselves," said Interim Chicago Police Superintendent Charlie Beck.
A CPD spokesperson also said officers riding the CTA trains are now dressed in uniform instead of plain clothes so their presence is known.
Crime on the CTA has been a constant battle for police. New data shows the arrest rate is up five percent compared to last year, but reports of assault and battery have increased.
