CPD Hopes Federal Help Will Curb Gun Violence

CPD Hopes Federal Help Will Curb Gun Violence

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Chicago police are getting federal help analyzing gun ballistics evidence at crime scenes. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is loaning CPD a mobile unit that can test a gun found at the scene of a crime or analyze shell casings and compare it to a national database within hours. Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson says he hopes the feds will consider extending the van’s stay through the summer when violence in the city typically escalates. Johnson says the unit has already been successful in linking firearms to other crimes, but he couldn’t say if it’s helped put people behind bars, yet.