Illinois State Police troopers join Chicago police in fugitive hunt

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois State Police troopers reported for duty at 6 a.m. on Chicago's West Side. They'll work with Chicago police officers to track down fugitives in an effort to stem violence in the city.

The 40 state troopers are part of the 20 to 25 "surge teams" within the Chicago Police Department's Fugitive Apprehension Unit. Surge teams are composed of five CPD officers and two troopers.

Thursday was the first day of deployment. The agreement between Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel was announced last week . The troopers will help track down wanted criminals and serve warrants.

"There is an existing partnership, and this is an outgrowth of that. And as Garry McCarthy stated, their job is to partner, and taking people with arrest warrants of the street," Mayor Emanuel said.

"I would think a greater police presence does help on one end, but you need community involvement to get whatever it is going on in your community out," Latina Brooks said.

"Police need some help there's too much going on. Forty murders in a weekend. It's too much," Draye Vortice said.

Sources said the troopers will be assigned to overlapping 10-hour shifts from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in four high-crime districts, including Englewood, Austin, Calumet and Gresham.

The troopers are staying in a suburban hotel for the 30 days, possibly longer if the strategy proves successful.

"There are existing partnerships between law enforcements that actually have consequences in reducing gangs, guns and helping us take and build on the progress we're making," Mayor Emanuel said. "We're making sure it's felt throughout the city in every neighborhood and community, so every family enjoys a level of safety they need."

Neither the Illinois State Police nor Chicago Police Department commented on the strategy Thursday.