CPD out in full force on 4th of July

Chicago police were out in full force on this Fourth of July holiday.

"I feel confident that we put everything in place that we possibly can,” said CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson.

Superintendent Johnson says securing the city on a hot and steamy holiday is a numbers game. Fifteen-hundred extra officers were on the streets compared to a normal Wednesday, and it's paying off with 35 guns seized in the past 24 hours.

"35 guns in one night. That's ridiculous. And it just shows you the amount of illegal guns out here on the streets of Chicago,” Johnson said.

Johnson says 100 detectives were walking the busiest streets downtown, including Michigan Avenue, State Street and Wacker Drive.

Another 112 detectives were assigned to the lakefront unit, patrolling parks and beaches. And the organized crime unit is focused on gang suppression in neighborhood hot spots.

There were also more cops on the water. Marine units were doing safety checks and ticketing boaters who don't have life preservers for kids 13 and under.

"We have extra boats on the river and on the lake today to insure that everybody has a safe Independence Day,” said Lt. Mack.

At North Avenue Beach, police were doing bag checks and confiscating booze. A lot of people were unaware it’s not permitted on park district property.

"We didn't know. Past years we've come to the beach and we've brought liquor and food, it's never been an issue. But I guess with things escalating, it's gotten worse. More security going on,” said Naomi Tapia.