Chicago cops turned a blind eye to gang shootout amid protests, reveal police scanner leaks: 'Let 'em do it'
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: According to a citywide police scanner in Chicago, two officers were heard voluntarily letting a gang shootout play out even as the unrest and looting continue in different parts of the country following the death of African-American man George Floyd in police custody.
In the scanner recording, obtained by TMZ, the cops were alerted to a shooting at Cermak and Spaulding at 9.27 pm amid the violence and riots that continued to rage Monday night in Chicago. "There's gangbangers vs gangbangers. They're shooting across at each other," the alert said. In response, one police officer was heard saying, "Let 'em do it," while another responded with "Let it be!"
In a second alert, the caller confirmed that the gangs were indeed shooting at each other at the same location. It was not immediately known if the police responded to the call, the second time around.
The Chicago Police Department told TMZ that they were still verifying the authenticity of the calls. "The Chicago Police Department takes all allegations of misconduct by Department members very seriously. CPD upholds and honors the expectation of Departmental professionalism at all times. CPD has initiated an internal investigation into the audio remarks captured on the alleged CPD radio transmission. The investigation remains ongoing," the department said in a statement.
While the outlet has independently verified that the call went over the police scanner, they were unable to confirm if the voices heard in the call were of police officers. Law enforcement sources said that police radios have gone missing during the recent civil unrest and hence it was wholly possible that the call was answered by people who were not cops.
Meanwhile, residents in Cicero, a suburb of Chicago, said police officers allowed Latino gangs to patrol the community with bats and crowbars to fend off looters. The gang members apparently started targeting African-Americans driving on Cermak Road. There were also reports of business owners on rooftops with assault rifles and other guns preparing to defend their buildings from the rioters, according to Chicago Sun-Times.
Cicero Police Superintendent Jerry Chlada Jr has denied the claims, calling it "ludicrous." He also refuted rumors that the police bought the gang members pizza in exchange for their services. “That’s ludicrous. Cicero Police Department would never team up with gangs or buy them pizza,” Chlada Jr said at a news conference on June 2. “We were trying to get all of our citizens inside of the house last night all night long and again this is why we are imposing this curfew.”
Cicero has declared a state of emergency. A curfew will be in effect from 8 pm on June 2 to 6 am on June 3. Chlada said that police arrested 60 people and there were two shooting fatalities in the area where looting was taking place. However, it was immediately clear how the victims were involved. The investigation is ongoing. “We are asking every Cicero resident to not to be involved with taking law into their own hands,” he said. “Allow us to handle any criminal activity and to remain in their homes.