Chicago mayor snaps back at MSNBC's Joe Scarborough in tense argument over more cops
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was not having it on MSNBC on Tuesday morning, when host Joe Scarborough insisted he agree with him that more police on the streets of his city would solve what Johnson maintained was a much more complex problem.
In an interview that grew increasingly combative, with the ”Morning Joe” host continually talking over his guest, Scarborough hectored Johnson to give him a simple yes or no answer if thousands more police would help — a prescription Scarborough believes would keep President Donald Trump from sending in troops like he has threatened.
The MSNBC host lectured his guest, “I’m asking would 5,000 more police officers on the street in Chicago be helpful to go along with all of those social programs that a lot of cities are engaging in and having success with?”
“Here's the best way I can put it, Joe, is that in the '90s, when I was in high school, we had 3,000 more police officers, and we had 900 people being murdered every single year in Chicago. It's just not policing alone. Of course, we want more detectives," Johnson explained.
“Of course, I know policing alone, but of course it's not policing alone,” Scarborough interrupted. “You've told me everything else you want. I'm curious, and this does come down to an ideological difference between people. Do you believe that the streets of Chicago would be safer if there were more uniformed police officers on the streets of Chicago?”
“I believe the city of Chicago and cities across America would be safer if we actually had, you know, affordable housing. Look, I'm not saying–” Johnson attempted, as the MSNBC host cut him off again.
“That's not the question I asked!" Scarborough insisted. “My question is, and I just need a yes or no, do you believe the streets of Chicago would be safer if you got all of those other extraordinary programs put back into place, which do have a history of being successful, if that's if that's complemented by having 5,000 more cops on the streets of Chicago?”
“I don't believe that we should narrow it down to just police officers,” the mayor parried. “What I'm saying, that is an antiquated approach. I'm saying we've invested in detectives —”
“Are you hearing what I'm saying?” Scarborough once again interrupted. “I'm agreeing with you that all of these other social programs are extraordinarily important. I just need a yes or a no and then this will be the last time I ask if you get all of those other social programs that that $800 million that, that New York City does, Los Angeles, other people do with great success? Would an additional 5,000 cops on the streets in Chicago help complement those programs to make Chicago safer?”
“Look, we are working hard to make sure that our police department is fully supported,” the mayor shot back. “I don't believe that just simply putting out an arbitrary number around police officers is the answer. What I'm saying is policing and affordable housing. It's policing and mental and behavioral health care services. It's policing and youth employment. It's a full package. Of course, we want to make sure that our police department is fully supported. That's why I've invested in our detectives bureau, because what we have seen in the city of Chicago, when we solve crime, it acts and serves as a deterrent. It's policing and all of the other efforts that we're doing.”
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