Mayor Brandon Johnson refuses to answer on Morning Joe FIVE TIMES if more police makes Chicago safer

Johnson was on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," when Joe Scarborough pressed him on the issue several times. This comes as crime has dropped significantly in Washington, DC as the Trump administration has deployed the National Guard and federalized law enforcement in the nation's capital.

Scarborough asked, "Would you also like to get federal funding to help put 5000 more cops on the street in Chicago? Would that help drive down crime?"

Johnson said, "Policing by itself is not the full strategy," dodging the question. Scarborough then pressed again.

"I understand that. You've talked about the other things you want, and I said those are good and important programs. But I'm asking also, would 5000 more police officers on the street in Chicago be helpful to go along with all of those social programs that a lot of cities are engaging in and having success with?" the host asked.

Johnson, dodging once again, referred to the time when he was in high school and there were "3,000 more police officers" in the city, but there were "900 people being murdered every single year," and then turned back to the talking point that it is "just not policing alone."

Scarborough asked again, "You've told me everything else you want. I'm curious, and this, this does come down to an ideological difference between people. Do you believe that the streets of Chicago would be safer if there were more uniformed police officers on the streets of Chicago?"

Johnson again did not give a straight answer, but said that "affordable housing" will bring down crime.

Scarborough, being visibly frustrated, asked again, "That's not the question I asked. My question, and I just need you to answer yes or no. Do you believe the streets of Chicago would be safer if you got all of those other extraordinary programs put back into place—which do have a history of being successful—if that's complemented by having 5,000 more cops on the streets of Chicago?"

Johnson, again, dodging the yes-or-no question, said, "I don't believe we should narrow it down to just police officers," and that having more police is an "antiquated approach."

"I'm agreeing with you that all of these other social programs are extraordinarily important," Scarborough added. "I just need a yes or a no, and then this will be the last time I ask if you get all of those other social programs that 800 million—that New York City does, Los Angeles does, other people do, with great success. Would an additional 5,000 cops on the streets in Chicago help complement those programs to make Chicago safer?"

Johnson, again, did not answer, and then said that Chicago needs a "full package" policy outlook, with police and other social programs, and then touted investment in the "detectives bureau." Johnson then placed blame on the federal government for not working with Chicago more in law enforcement efforts.