EPISODE · Jun 2, 2026 · 56 MIN
When the mob becomes the norm
from A Four Star Podcast (Chicago, but Better) · host Fox 32 Chicago
Former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says Chicago needs to stop calling them “teen takeovers.” To him, that language softens what is actually happening: mob actions. Criminal behavior. Disorder that can include shootings, assaults, weapons arrests, property damage, attacks on police, and large crowds taking over public spaces. In this episode of A Four Star Podcast, McCarthy joins FOX Chicago's Grant Horne for a blunt conversation about summer policing in Chicago, downtown chaos, the fear of crime, and why he believes city leaders, the justice system, parents, and police all have a role in restoring accountability. The conversation begins with Memorial Day weekend and the familiar start of Chicago’s summer crime concerns, then expands into a deeper debate over public safety, quality-of-life enforcement, curfews, social media-fueled gatherings, police deployment, officer morale, and whether the city is giving police the tools and support they need. McCarthy also explains why he believes fear of crime is about more than crime stats. It is what people feel walking to the train, visiting downtown, going to the lakefront, or seeing disorder go unchecked. He draws on his experience in New York, Newark, and Chicago to argue that the small things matter because unchecked disorder can send a message that the big things will be tolerated too. This is a conversation about language, leadership, policing, accountability, and whether Chicago can keep its summers from becoming an annual stress test for the city. A Four Star Podcast is new every Tuesday morning at 6AM. 00:00 - Summer policing begins01:17 - “Teen takeover” or mob action?02:54 - Fear of crime04:49 - Quality-of-life policing07:59 - Accountability and excuses09:17 - History and hard conversations11:40 - Policing across racial lines14:47 - Naming the problem16:29 - Police under pressure18:14 - Victims and public safety19:19 - Judges and accountability21:12 - What officers face22:40 - The Adam Toledo case25:10 - When police stop engaging27:35 - Moving cops downtown28:35 - Task forces vs. districts30:52 - Policing the beaches32:04 - Social media and flash mobs34:15 - Should parents be cited?36:39 - Teaching no accountability39:04 - Defining fear of crime41:23 - The squeegee men43:32 - D.C.’s curfew response45:43 - Could Chicago pass new laws?46:22 - Guns, politics, and moderation49:43 - Beyond the police50:37 - What McCarthy would change52:04 - Politics inside policing54:00 - McCarthy’s CPD record55:04 - Closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What this episode covers
Former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says Chicago needs to stop calling them “teen takeovers.” To him, that language softens what is actually happening: mob actions. Criminal behavior. Disorder that can include shootings, assaults, weapons arrests, property damage, attacks on police, and large crowds taking over public spaces. In this episode of A Four Star Podcast, McCarthy joins FOX Chicago's Grant Horne for a blunt conversation about summer policing in Chicago, downtown chaos, the fear of crime, and why he believes city leaders, the justice system, parents, and police all have a role in restoring accountability. The conversation begins with Memorial Day weekend and the familiar start of Chicago’s summer crime concerns, then expands into a deeper debate over public safety, quality-of-life enforcement, curfews, social media-fueled gatherings, police deployment, officer morale, and whether the city is giving police the tools and support they need. McCarthy also explains why he believes fear of crime is about more than crime stats. It is what people feel walking to the train, visiting downtown, going to the lakefront, or seeing disorder go unchecked. He draws on his experience in New York, Newark, and Chicago to argue that the small things matter because unchecked disorder can send a message that the big things will be tolerated too. This is a conversation about language, leadership, policing, accountability, and whether Chicago can keep its summers from becoming an annual stress test for the city. A Four Star Podcast is new every Tuesday morning at 6AM. 00:00 - Summer policing begins01:17 - “Teen takeover” or mob action?02:54 - Fear of crime04:49 - Quality-of-life policing07:59 - Accountability and excuses09:17 - History and hard conversations11:40 - Policing across racial lines14:47 - Naming the problem16:29 - Police under pressure18:14 - Victims and public safety19:19 - Judges and accountability21:12 - What officers face22:40 - The Adam Toledo case25:10 - When police stop engaging27:35 - Moving cops downtown28:35 - Task forces vs. districts30:52 - Policing the beaches32:04 - Social media and flash mobs34:15 - Should parents be cited?36:39 - Teaching no accountability39:04 - Defining fear of crime41:23 - The squeegee men43:32 - D.C.’s curfew response45:43 - Could Chicago pass new laws?46:22 - Guns, politics, and moderation49:43 - Beyond the police50:37 - What McCarthy would change52:04 - Politics inside policing54:00 - McCarthy’s CPD record55:04 - Closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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When the mob becomes the norm
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