Supt. McCarthy to meet with President Obama in Washington

WASHINGTON (WLS) -- Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy will meet with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.

McCarthy is co-chairing several policy proposal that would reduce penalties for some offenses and increase them for others.

The superintendent has long been a proponent of stiffer punishments for violent crimes, especially offenses involving firearms. However, he is also calling for an end to unnecessary incarceration for non-violent offenders. He said prison sentences need to be re-evaluated.

"I can point to a 160 shootings and murders in the city of Chicago this year that could have been prevented with stricter gun laws, stricter violent crime standards. That's the goal. The goal is not to arrest everybody. It's to arrest the right people for the right reasons," McCarthy said.

McCarthy is leading a group of 100 police chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors along with the top cop from New Orleans. They said many who are arrested need treatment for drug and alcohol problems or mental health issues.

The group believes more consistent care will lead to more effective policing and lower incarceration rates.