Emanuel apologizes for Laquan McDonald police shooting, repeats call for change

[alp227]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday apologized to aldermen for the police shooting of Laquan McDonald "that happened on my watch."

"If we're going to fix it, I want you to understand it's my responsibility with you," Emanuel said in a rare speech to the full Chicago City Council. "But if we're also going to begin the healing process, the first step in that journey is my step, and I'm sorry."

Emanuel — who has dismissed his police superintendent, parted ways with the head of the police shooting review agency and dropped opposition to the release of the McDonald shooting video during the last two weeks — framed up the situation as "a defining moment on the issues of crime and policing — and the even larger issues of truth, justice and race."

The address of about 40 minutes, coming during a crucial time of Emanuel's tenure, was more of a political speech designed to assuage Chicagoans than one filled with specific plans that several aldermen called for this week to deal with entrenched problems in the Chicago Police Department. Those problems were highlighted nationally by the fatal shooting of 17-year-old McDonald, an African-American, by a white police officer, the 13 months it took for video of the incident to be made public by court order and for a murder charge to be brought only shortly before the video's release.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-met-1209-20151209-story.html

[Kelvin Mace]

1. Resign,

you lying bastard!

[Truprogressive85]

2. not buying a single crocodile tear

he had 400 days

[merrily]

3. Heal this, Rahm.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. Blech, Frau blucher.

I heard his chat, and was supremely unimpressed.

[DebbieCDC]

5. Someone needs to tell that asswipe

that change comes from the top, when the person at the top facilitiated the coverup.

[billhicks76]

6. Too Late Jerk

[joanbarnes]

7. Just resign Rahm, become what you are destined to be: "Chicago's Nixon."

[Jesus Malverde]

8. Only took a year, seems like a political apology not a real one...nt

[Earth_First]

9. Resign, fucker...

Resign and offer your desire for reform within the department by organizing for national Civilian Review Board reform and offering the public a stake at community policing standards and holding law enforcement accountable for their actions!

Otherwise, this is nothing short of a shallow attempt at saving face.

Resign! Reform! Replace!