Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling addresses retirement rumors, 'teen takeovers'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling spoke at the City Club on Wednesday.

As an anticipated rise in crime during the summer season is approaching, Supt. Snelling put to rest rumors that he is about to step down as the city's top cop.

"I'm going to be here as long as I have to be here, or until it's time, like any other profession," Snelling said. "In this profession, we ask a lot of people, and we give a lot, but I can tell you right now, rumors are rumors."

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Snelling also denied there was any friction between police and the mayor's office since the city's former Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood was fired by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Snelling called Gatewood a great partner with CPD.

"I'm not going to discuss anything that has to do with the inner workings of the department and City Hall," Snelling said.

However, Snelling did make it clear during his City Club appearance it's time to stop make excuses for criminals.

"I think we've become so focused on why an offender offends, we've forgotten to ask the question about what we can do for those people that they've offended against," Snelling said.

Snelling told the mostly business friendly crowd, that government cannot save everyone and there are some people who should be locked up. He says accountability is necessary for all criminals regardless of age.

"When I have a kid who decides that with a $700 gun that he's going to point it in the in the face of an elderly woman and force her to an ATM and draw out her savings, that's a choice that you made to commit a heinous crime, and you have to be held accountable for it," Snelling said.

And Snelling says no more excuses for kids who participate in "teen takeovers." Not only should they be held accountable, Snelling believes their parents should be too."

"It's not parent shaming to say you should know where your children are at 10, 11, 12 o'clock at night, when you have a 12-year-old or 13-year-old," Snelling said.

Also, Snelling says focusing on youth will be a major part of CPD's plan to curb summer crime by working with community partners, and he says CPD will continue to focus on areas where there is an uptick of certain crimes. In the past year, motor vehicle thefts have been on the rise.