Photo: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel talks about public safety with police Superintendent Garry McCarthy during a press conference at Breakthrough Urban Ministries on the West Side Friday.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy announced today the launch of “A Force For Good,” a new initiative that will assist community and faith-based organizations’ efforts to increase safety and reduce crime.
The two-year program will provide up to 50 community- and faith-based organizations with training to help them become more sustainable. The groups will learn how to identify and obtain grants, raise money and develop long-term strategic plans.
It will be funded by a $60,000 federal grant and nearly $1 million in pro bono assistance from other community organizations, the mayor’s administration said.
“We can’t police our way out this problem. We need good community relations to do it,” Emanuel said, adding that the city’s stronger curfews law is part of his comprehensive crime strategy to get kids, guns and drugs off the street.
Police rely on community organizations to help stem crime before it begins, McCarthy said at a news conference at Breakthrough Urban Ministries in East Garfield Park.
“We realize that crime strategy is only one facet of reducing crime,” McCarthy said. “We have to search for cures to crime, not just methods to reduce it.”
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Detective Shavedlongcock:
And how much money did your WHITE Catholic, Lutheran or Christian Church or Jewish Synagogue get from the City of Chicago.... NOTHING!!!!! Your parishioners don't shoot and murder enough people!
