Transcript:
Newsmax 1: Welcome back. Lawyer and GOP strategist, Bart O’Connell, along with Betsy Brandner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, a retired Chicago area police officer. And, Betsy, I loved last week when we talked, and I asked you what one thing could be done in Chicago, to really change and you you said, as I recall, you know, prosecute these people. Bring them in. Make them come up with bail and prosecute them for the crimes they’re committing.
So I think that, talk a little about that and a little about how you think things could be affected in a positive way on the streets, whether it’s National Guard or military that may or may not be trained for this. Okay? But give me your thought to somebody who’s literally worked the streets as a police officer.
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret): Here’s the thing. When we talk about, how to stop crime, and you keep hearing people say, we can’t arrest our way out of our crime crisis. We actually can arrest our way out of our crime crisis if we also prosecute our way out of that crisis. That is what is happening right now in Washington DC. People aren’t just being arrested.
They’re also being prosecuted properly in the system. You’re also seeing great visibility of not just patrol officers, but yes, the National Guard. And remember, if you look closely at a lot of those National Guard uniforms, you’ll see that they are military police officers. Could that work in other cities? It absolutely could.
What’s happening in Chicago right now? Two hundred and thirty five people shot and killed. Shot and wounded, almost 1,100 people. 282 homicides this year by not just gunfire. It would be great if governor Pritzker would call up president Trump and say, hey, how about if we work together, bring more federal agents to Chicago?
There’s already a lot there. Let them help the Chicago Police Department then bring in the National Guard and let people be and feel safe.
Newsmax 2: Ford, I wanna talk about the politics on this issue. There was an AP poll that came out this week that said 81% of Americans believe that major crime in big cities is a big deal and that our politicians should be focused on it. I think you saw with, governor Newsom there that he was yes. He was taking jabs out at the president of The United States, but he recognizes that, you know, Californians value safety, and that’s why he was addressing it with his crime suppression what is it? Subpression squad.
I can’t get it out of my mouth, but he’s he’s trying to do it not with the National Guard, but with his own, kind of law and order crackdown.
Ford O’Connell: Yeah. Well, whether it’s Pritzker or it’s Newsome, neither of them want to admit that essentially their policies are failing their own constituents for the basic reason of their in those localities because I’ve worked with two prosecutors’ offices, they’re essentially treating the criminal like the victim and the victim like the criminal. But because of obscene Trump derangement syndrome, because Trump wants to stop crime, all of a sudden Pritzker and Newsome are for crime. They don’t seem to understand how ridiculous that argument is and the perception of it. People don’t feel safe, and Donald Trump has run a great pilot program in Washington DC.
And the question is, if you can do it in DC, why can’t you do it everywhere else? And the answer is you can. They just don’t have the political will to do it.
Newsmax 1: They’ve I’m sure they might be challenged legally also, which could be another conversation we have. But, Betsy, as far as Chicago, let me tell you the experience I had there one time. I had a speaking engagement there. Right? Went and stayed one of the hotels down there, went out and walked in it.
And and and it is so delightful. I saw the Trump hotel there. And so I said, oh, I’m gonna take a walk. And so I go walking for a few blocks, and then I looked around and I said, I’m not in Kansas anymore. It happens pretty fast, doesn’t it?
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret): It does. It’s just like Washington DC. You can walk by the White House and then two blocks in either direction prior to the takeover, you don’t feel safe. Chicago is a beautiful city with the best pizza in the world, by the way. But the problem is is the Chicago Police Department is woefully short staffed.
You have a mayor who is incompetent and totally in over his head. And don’t forget, the police department has been vilified for decades. They can’t do an enough to stop crime. 911 calls are not getting answered. They would love the help of the federal government and of the National Guard.
But you’re right, they can’t do it without permission of the governor and or the mayor. And if Pritzker want to be a real leader, he would step up and do everything he can to protect Chicago, but he won’t. He cares more about himself and his own career than he does the citizens of Chicago.
Newsmax 2: It’s really unbelievable. But Betsy Bratner Smith
Newsmax 1: By way, Ford O’Connell. Were you and Ford in the same class?
Newsmax 2: Yeah. We were in Northwestern together.
Newsmax 1: So we Chicago. Were There you go. All you all are Chicago people. I’m not me.
Newsmax 2: I got robbed in Chicago.
Newsmax 1: Did you? I’m not surprised. Like I said, I went out for a walk and everything fine, and then all of a sudden, everything’s boarded up here. I think I better turn around. Mhmm.
What happened? Do you wanna share that?
Newsmax 2: Oh, my apartment got broken into, and they stole every all my jewelry.
Newsmax 1: Well, okay.
Newsmax 2: So, hey. Oh. Happens. Alright. Ford O’Connell, Betsy Bretner Smith.
Thank you.
Newsmax 1: And then you transferred. Nice guys.