CPD Superintendent Snelling speaks on deadly shooting of Dexter Reed for 1st time since video release
CHICAGO — On Friday, CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling spoke publicly for the first time since the video of Dexter Reed’s death was made public.
Snelling is now pushing back against some of the claims COPA has made public in the wake of the shooting.
“Let’s not litigate this before we even have all of the facts,” Snelling said.
Snelling’s remarks were prompted by questions from reporters at an unrelated news conference, three days after the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released dozens of videos of the deadly traffic stop, in which COPA said Reed shot an officer first.
Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines
The traffic stop stemmed from a seat belt violation, COPA revealed earlier this week.
“The entire purpose of the traffic stop was Mr. Reed not wearing his seat belt. We have no information that any other info about Mr. Reed was known to officers at that time,” COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten said.
“Those who are putting that information out there to the media are doing so irresponsibly,” Snelling said.
According to Snelling, that is because the five tactical, plainclothes officers who made the stop have not yet been interviewed.
Dexter Reed shooting: Policy versus public perception
“So without those officers being interviewed, and having something concrete that is written, where these officers gave a statement as to why they gave a traffic stop occurred, we can’t speculate on that,” Snelling said.
Last week, COPA sent Snelling a memo requesting he relieve four of the officers of their police powers while the investigation continues, raising questions about their basis for the stop and noting “the evidence recovered in the aftermath of this incident indicates all four officers discharged their firearms at Reed after he exited his vehicle and was unarmed.’
“It’s an amazing thing that that information about stripping officers is out there. When we’re talking about a proper investigation, and we have not heard from the officers, I will not make a decision to strip officers until that investigation unfolds,” Snelling said.
One of the officers fired his gun 50 times, including three times while Reed was on the ground, COPA said. That officer is just 23 years old.
LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland
Snelling was asked why CPD has such a young officer in a tactical unit.
“We have a very, very, very, young department, between 2020 and now, civil unrest, we saw a mass exodus of police officers. Our officers are coming on younger and younger,” Snelling said. “This is something that we’re looking into.”
Snelling, urging patience, said he is waiting for the recommendations from COPA’s investigation.
“I will not, I refuse, to interfere with that, or say anything that would interfere with that,” Snelling said.
The officers are on standard 30-day leave, but Snelling said he can extend it if he sees fit.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
