National Guard troops considered for Chicago's violence

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis wants to be clear: Any talk by Gov. Rod Blagojevich that crime in the city is "out of control" is just plain wrong.

At a news conference Thursday, a day after Blagojevich raised the possibility of bringing in state troopers or even the state National Guard to Chicago to help fight violent crime, Weis politely but firmly called the governor on what he'd said.

"Quite frankly, we need to get back to the mission and important job of fighting crime instead of fighting misconceptions," he said.

Weis elaborated on what his spokeswoman said Wednesday in response to Blagojevich's comments, pointing out that while the murder rate is up 13 percent this year, statistics suggest that 2008 will likely end as one of Chicago's least deadly in four decades, with fewer than 500 homicides.

"Hopefully, today we will be able to get some of those facts out," he said.

If Weis was trying to clear up some misconceptions the governor has about crime in Chicago, the governor's office apparently didn't take it that way.

"We are so happy Superintendent Jody Weis recognized our offer of assistance and we look forward to working cooperatively with the Chicago Police Department," Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said in a statement.

Weis also said the crime rate in Chicago is "consistent with national trends" and Chicago isn't any different than other big cities, none of which, he said, "are bringing in National Guard resources."

In fact, after Blagojevich raised the possibility of bringing in the National Guard, his office moved quickly to clarify that the governor was only talking about the possible use of tactical helicopters used to combat drugs and was not considering bringing in National Guard troops.

Like Mayor Richard Daley, Weis was caught by surprise by Blagojevich's comments. And on Thursday, he steered clear of the suggestion made in the press that the governor's comments had more to do with his fight with Daley over Blagojevich's plan for a casino in the city than crime in Chicago.

"I go out of my way not to get caught up in any political battle," Weis said. "That's kind of between the governor and the mayor."

Weis said he sees no way the city will return to the days, as recently as the 1990s, when there were more than 900 homicides a year.

He also said that while rates of certain crimes, including homicides, are up, that increase may not have anything to do with any police department.

"If you track back during different years, you will see often times when there's high unemployment, crime goes up," he said. "When you have low unemployment, a strong economy, crime goes down."

Weis did not close the door on help from the state police, explaining that his department already works with state law enforcement in a number of ways.

"We would always be willing to take more folks," he said.

He also made it clear his department knows how to fight the kind of violent gang-related crime that has made headlines in the city in recent months.

"The Chicago Police Department is a proven leader in combating gangs, guns and drugs," he said.