CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Police Department’s new acting superintendent says he sent a reminder to officers to check audio recording equipment each time they get into a squad car.
John Escalante told The Chicago Sun-Times in a Friday interview that he’s reinforcing department policy. His comments come after scrutiny of video showing a police officer fatally shooting teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014. The squad car footage doesn’t have audio, but CPD equipment has the capability to record it.
Escalante says he’s concerned by the lack of audio and wants to ensure it’s not a department-wide problem.
The release of the graphic 2014 video triggered protests and calls for several elected officials to step down.
Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy was fired and Escalante has taken over in the interim.