Alderman after killing of CPD commander: 'We're living in a lawless city'

The killing of a Chicago police commander on Tuesday had an emotional impact on two members of the city council who are themselves former cops.

They connected the killing of commander Paul Bauer, the first Chicago cop to die on duty since 2011, to the murder of other officers across the country -- about a dozen already in this still new year.

“Our crime rates are going up and we're living in a lawless city right now. And I do believe our police are trying everything. I do believe our city has the heart to fix this. It's just who's going to step up and do it?” said Alderman Anthony Napolitano.

“We don't know what happened with this thing. But I do believe there's a war on police. I think police are being vilified right now. There might be one or two bad apples in the bunch. But then you're lumping 'em all together for something bad that happened,” said alderman Nick Sposato.

While Ald. Sposato's a former firefighter, he says he felt the pain today of his brothers in blue. Another alderman, a retired Chicago cop who spent 21 years on the street, said the killing of commander Paul Bauer hit him hard.

“We've had quite a few police officers killed in the line of duty. All across the country. I can't say there's a war on police. But I will say that, you know, these men and women that have lost their lives in protecting the residents they've upheld themselves to do, my heart and my condolences go out to all of their families,” said Alderman Chris Taliaferro.

While taking care of commander Bauer’s grieving family and friends is their top priority, the aldermen said they think his death will focus public outrage on the need for new steps to reduce Chicago’s violence.