The number of homicides is on the rise in Chicago. The police department says 177 people were killed in the first five months of this year compared with 157 in the same period last year. And that means that the new police superintendent, Jody Weis, has a challenge on his hands.

Yesterday he announced a plan to quell summer violence by sending more officers out on foot patrols. And Weis says some specialized units will wear quote “battle dress.”

On top of that, Weis has to handle a string of shootings by police officers. Yesterday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, police shot and killed a man they say pointed a gun at them. The newspaper says that was the fifth fatal shooting by police this month. Weis yesterday defended his officers’ judgment and need to protect themselves.

David Heinzmann covers criminal justice issues for the Chicago Tribune. He joins us to talk about Weis’s plans and the challenges he faces.