Quinn: If Chicago needs help battling violence, just ask

Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday said he is prepared to deploy Illinois State Troopers to boost Chicago’s efforts to combat violence — but Mayor Rahm Emanuel hasn’t asked.

“If they have a need for additional help, they should let us know,” Quinn told reporters in an unrelated news conference on Tuesday. “I think it’s always based on their request. I’m not going to impose anything on any local municipality in the state or a big city like Chicago.”

Quinn’s comments came after a violent holiday weekend in Chicago that left 13 dead and at least 58 wounded despite hundreds of additional officers assigned to city streets in that time period.

Quinn said the state provides troopers on foot and in cars in and around East St. Louis on the weekends.

“We’re prepared to do that in Chicago, we have done that in Chicago,” Quinn said. “I’m prepared to help the mayor and police chief if they request it.”

Quinn added: “I communicate with the mayor all the time and I think that we’ll have a conversation on that very shortly.”