Editorial: Your chance to shape Chicago police gun policies

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Now is not the time for apathy. If Chicagoans question the appropriateness of how and when the police use physical force, including guns, now is their chance to do something about it.

Since October, the Chicago Police Department has offered residents a chance to comment on a proposed overhaul of its use of force guidelines at policy.chicagopolice.org. A two-page summary of the proposed changes and a 41-page draft of the new guidelines are on the website.

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Until 11:59 p.m. Monday, the city is accepting public comments.

On Tuesday, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson urged residents to comment. “If you don’t comment on it — and you don’t look at it, and you don’t comment on it — then don’t be upset with the policy that’s put in place because you didn’t help craft it,” he said at a breakfast at the Union League Club.

Highly publicized shootings and other incidents involving police have led to public outrage and protests in the last year. Demand for more accountability by police has come through loud and clear.

But to improve the system, the same folks out marching would be wise to weigh in online. Now’s the time.

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