Chicago’s Black, Latino neighborhoods routines fail to have emergency calls responded to
In Homan Square, Chicago, a distress call goes out, as bullets shatter the tranquility of a family home. Lashonda Tart, a resident gripped by fear, dials 911, pleading for help that never arrives. This harrowing tale of neglect is characteristic of a systemic issue plaguing Chicago’s Black and Latino communities, where emergency calls often fall on deaf ears.
Tart’s ordeal highlights a disturbing trend: the gross disparities in emergency response times across different Chicago neighborhoods, especially those inhabited by marginalized communities. While police leadership attributes these delays to resource shortages, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced reality. Despite an ample number of officers, a significant portion of them are diverted from emergency response duties to engage in activities that do little to address the pressing needs of distressed residents.
A recent analysis of Chicago police data sheds light on this concerning phenomenon. Rapid response officers, tasked with addressing emergencies, are seldom dispatched to 911 calls, opting instead to focus on activities such as traffic stops. In the first half of 2023, a mere fraction of their reported activities pertained to emergency responses, marking a significant decline from previous years.