Chicago police refute Trump's claim he talked to commanders

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago police are debunking Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's claim that department officials told him they can reduce crime by being tougher.

During a Monday interview on Fox News' "O'Reilly Factor," Trump said Chicago's police force doesn't have "the right people in charge." He added he met "very top police" who told him if a specific person were put in charge, violence could be stopped "in one week."

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says no one in the department's senior command structure has ever met with Trump or his campaign staff.

Guglielmi said crime is best addressed by community policing and keeping illegal guns and repeat violent offenders off the street.

As of Monday, homicides in Chicago totaled 441. That's up from 296 at the same time last year.