Lightfoot to Review CPD Foot Chase Policy After Boy, 13, Killed

CHICAGO, IL— Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced she would push to change Chicago Police Department's foot chase policy after an officer shot and killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Little Village last week.

The mayor said there she has support for the change but did not give any further details.

Foot pursuit poses a "significant safety issue" to communities, officers and those being pursued, Lightfoot said. Oftentimes, police who pursue a suspect on foot will be separated from their partner and run through densely populated areas where the risk of someone getting hurt increases. Lightfoot reiterated her support for former President Barack Obama's call to review foot chase policies in 2018.

“We will not push off the foot pursuit reform for another day,” Lightfoot said. "They create a dangerous environment for all involved."

Toledo was pursued on foot by a Chicago police officer at around 3 a.m. on March 29 near the 2300 block of South Sawyer Avenue before he was shot and killed. There are still many questions surrounding the incident, even after Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown spoke at a news conference about the timeline of the event. Brown said two men, one with a gun, ran away from police. He refused to answer questions about which suspect, the older man or Toledo, had a gun.

Officials are expected to release the video after speaking with Toledo's mother. The mayor has not yet seen the video, but said she would watch it after Toledo's family has the chance to.

"This is a complicated story. It’s not my story to tell, particularly not as our understanding of the facts is evolving,” Lightfoot said. "What I do know and what I will say is Ms. Toledo and her family need our love and support in this moment, not our withering judgment."