. >> reporter: some of the credit goes to chicago police superintendent gary mccarthy who was broughto years ago by mayor rahm emanuel. mccarthy and emanuel made sweeping changes that now seem to be paying off including some major changes at the police department. >> moving cops from behind the desk out onto the street. officers doing foot patrol. an interdiction strategy on gangs so there's no reprisal shootings. >> reporter: besides policing, the city has invested in more after-school programs and this year doubled the size of its summer jobs program. it's also putting pressure on parents to keep better tabs on their kids. >> yeah, get close to home now. it's starting to get late, boys. >> reporter: there were several heartbreaking stories in 2013 including the killing of 15-year-old hidea pendleton, shot after taking a final exam. president obama talked about her in his state of the union. >> she was shot and killed in a chicago park after school. just a mile away from my house. >> reporter: the biggest problem still facing chicago according to mccarthy is illegal guns and the lack