Public safety concerns surrounding New Year’s Eve celebrations and broader law enforcement policy dominated a wide-ranging discussion on Chicago’s Morning Answer as guest host Chris Krok spoke with retired Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel. With large crowds expected downtown and heightened attention following recent violent incidents, Weitzel offered blunt advice to residents weighing whether to attend public festivities.
Weitzel said he would personally avoid large New Year’s Eve gatherings in Chicago, citing a pattern of criminal activity associated with major events over the past several years. While acknowledging that the Chicago Police Department is expected to deploy a significant number of officers downtown, he noted that heavy police presence has not always prevented serious incidents, pointing to the Christmas tree lighting shooting in which multiple people were wounded despite hundreds of additional officers being assigned to the area.
The discussion turned to the city’s decision to impose a one-night curfew for minors downtown. Weitzel criticized the move as largely symbolic and ineffective, arguing that curfews tend to be enforced after disturbances begin rather than preventing large groups from forming in the first place. He said such measures do little to deter planned gatherings that often originate on social media.
Krok and Weitzel also addressed warnings from law enforcement officials that New Year’s Eve events can present attractive targets for terrorism due to dense crowds and limited escape routes. Weitzel said it is not only appropriate but essential for authorities to share credible threat information with the public, allowing individuals and families to make informed decisions about their safety. Withholding such information, he argued, prioritizes revenue and optics over public well-being.
The conversation expanded to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ongoing opposition to ShotSpotter technology, even as new reporting highlighted cases in which ShotSpotter alerts brought police to shooting scenes before any 911 calls were made. Weitzel said the technology was never intended to prevent shootings, but rather to speed police and medical response, potentially saving lives. He called the decision to abandon ShotSpotter without a replacement irresponsible, particularly in light of documented cases where it provided the only early warning.
Recent incidents involving large groups of juveniles, including a violent disturbance at the Louis Joliet Mall, were also discussed. Weitzel rejected the term “teen takeover” as a euphemism, describing such events as organized criminal disturbances that overwhelm suburban police departments with limited staffing. He said these behaviors are often learned from similar incidents in Chicago and amplified through social media, and he criticized the limited number of arrests made in Joliet despite dozens of participants.
Weitzel strongly disputed claims that police overtime is a sign of waste or mismanagement, arguing instead that it reflects chronic understaffing. He said Chicago’s shortage of roughly 2,000 officers forces departments to rely on mandatory overtime to meet public safety demands, particularly during large events. Cutting overtime without addressing staffing levels, he warned, would further strain officers and reduce police presence on the streets.
The interview also touched on debates over allowing licensed concealed carry holders on public transit. Weitzel dismissed arguments that buses and trains should be considered “sensitive spaces,” saying public transit is inherently open and exposed. He contrasted criticism of lawful concealed carry with media outlets’ tolerance for publishing real-time information about law enforcement activity, which he said has contributed to attacks on officers.
Weitzel concluded by reiterating his view that Illinois is among the most anti-police states in the country, citing legislation aimed at restricting traffic stops, limiting use-of-force tools, and narrowing police authority despite Supreme Court rulings affirming existing practices. He warned that continued efforts to curtail policing, combined with understaffing and rising public disorder, risk leaving both officers and residents increasingly vulnerable.