00:32USA: Chicago's mayor announces police reforms after deadly shootings
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a series of police training reforms during a press conference in Chicago, Wednesday, that will see an increase in the number of tasers provided to police officers in the city.
"We will improve communication between officers and individuals to make these encounters less confrontational and more conversational," Emanuel said, adding that "We will double the number of tasers to 1,400 while also providing our officers the training to use them properly."
"With the right policies, the right procedures and the right practices we can change our officers' perspectives to help them ensure their own safety and the safety of others," Emanuel stated.
Chicago has been gripped by protests in recent months following a string of fatal shootings by police officers, the most recent of which took place on December 26 when a Chicago police officer shot and killed 19-year-old student Quintonio LeGrier and 55-year-old Bettie Jones, a mother of five.
On Tuesday, protesters rallied outside Emanuel's home in Chicago's North Side, calling for the mayor's resignation. Earlier in December Emanuel announced the resignations of the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, Gary McCarthy, and the head of the Independent Police Review Authority, Scott Ando, but protesters are demanding that the mayor also steps down from office.
00:32Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a series of police training reforms during a press conference in Chicago, Wednesday, that will see an increase in the number of tasers provided to police officers in the city.
"We will improve communication between officers and individuals to make these encounters less confrontational and more conversational," Emanuel said, adding that "We will double the number of tasers to 1,400 while also providing our officers the training to use them properly."
"With the right policies, the right procedures and the right practices we can change our officers' perspectives to help them ensure their own safety and the safety of others," Emanuel stated.
Chicago has been gripped by protests in recent months following a string of fatal shootings by police officers, the most recent of which took place on December 26 when a Chicago police officer shot and killed 19-year-old student Quintonio LeGrier and 55-year-old Bettie Jones, a mother of five.
On Tuesday, protesters rallied outside Emanuel's home in Chicago's North Side, calling for the mayor's resignation. Earlier in December Emanuel announced the resignations of the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, Gary McCarthy, and the head of the Independent Police Review Authority, Scott Ando, but protesters are demanding that the mayor also steps down from office.