Three Chicago Police Officers Shot on City’s West Side

Three Chicago police officers were wounded in a shootout on the city’s West Side Monday night. A fourth person was killed, police reported.

The altercation began just before 10:00 p.m. on Monday evening in the 3700 block of West Polk Avenue.

A Chicago Police Department (CPD) spokesman said the officers were investigating narcotics activity at an apartment complex, when they saw a man and woman acting suspiciously. When the pair were told to stand fast, they ran and engaged in a running gun battle with the officers.

When officers called to the pair and told them they wanted to ask them questions, the male pulled a gun “and immediately began firing at the officers,” interim police superintendent John Escalante said on Tuesday morning.

The three officers were hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening wounds. One of the suspects was killed in the battle.

Each of the officers are veterans with at least ten years each on the force, the CPD reported.

It has already been a highly dangerous year to be a member of law enforcement. As The Washington Post noted, thirteen officers have been killed on the job already this year. At this time last year, four had been killed.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a public statement, saying:

Every day the dedicated men and women of the Chicago Police Department put themselves in danger so the rest of us can be safe. Tonight we were reminded of the dangers that our police face, and the bravery that they routinely display as three of our officers were shot in line of duty. The thoughts and prayers of our entire city are with the officers and their families during this difficult time.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.