GRAND BOULEVARD — Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) is calling for more cops patrolling parks after a shooting early Tuesday left three dead and two wounded.
Dowell said a family member of a friend was among those killed Tuesday in the 300 block of West 42nd Street when two men opened fire on a group of about 30 people in a pocket park, killing a 24-year-old woman and a 25- and a 30-year-old man, and wounding a 24-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man.
Dowell said she had little new information about the crime, but said she was told during a briefing with police that it was believed to be gang related.
She said she now planned to press Supt. Garry McCarthy during budget hearings about increasing patrols in parks in at least the three districts in her ward.
“Chicago is in bad shape right now,” Dowell said.
She said the Central, Wentworth and Deering districts all have problems in their parks and on average have only one car they can devote to keeping the parks clear at night.
Dowell said she’s brought the matter up with McCarthy before, but now plans to push him for a commitment on the City Council floor during budget hearings.
She said specialized teams have already helped her ward.
The Wentworth District devotes several officers to foot patrols on 47th Street and other business corridors and part of their job is to get to know the business owners and the ongoing issues on the street.
Dowell said the officers on 47th Street have helped curb longstanding issues with public drunkenness and people selling loose cigarettes.
The City Council’s Committee on the Budget and Government Operations is expected to get the opportunity to question Supt. McCarthy on Oct. 6.
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