‘A Different Attitude:’ Gang Funerals Will Include Searches, Tight Security

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says Chicago police are making strong moves to confront continuing city violence — which has included violent attacks at funerals.

The mayor expressed anger that people have been shooting and carrying guns at gang-member funerals.

“The police department is going to change the way they deal with gang funerals,” he said. “If you cannot respect a place of worship, at a time of a funeral, we are going to show a different type of attitude.”

The funerals will be treated as “gang events,” with mourners being searched and patted down, among other security measures.

Just last week, 21-year-old gang member Sherman Miller was slain on the steps of St. Columbanus Church, at the funeral of another gang member.

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The new tactics were on display Tuesday at Miller’s funeral, with police out in force, carrying automatic weapons.

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But Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, in an interview on the CBS 2 News at 6 p.m., defended the new tactics, and said police are always careful about any potentially hostile situation.

“We’re always cautious if we’re getting into some sort of a confrontational situation,” he said. “I’m not worried about tension. I’m worried about people getting holes in them.”

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Charles Childs, the funeral director who oversaw the funeral where Miller was killed, said the mayor has little choice.

“You would think funerals were off-limits to additional violence; but as it has become, nothing’s off limits,” he said.

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