CHICAGO (WLS) — After a year of preparation and four days of police work, Chicago authorities presented their own report at the Democratic Party Convention on Friday.

Night after night, thousands of Chicago police officers in riot gear were taunted, teased and tested. But CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling, who was with them on the streets, said his department passed the test and “did not fall for the bait.”

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“I guarantee the whole world was watching because everyone was constantly talking about 1968,” Snelling said. “But we showed again that we are not in 1968 anymore. We showed that people, men and women of the police, often criticize someone even though they are justified in doing so. A lot of it is not justified.”

1968 was the infamous year the city hosted the Democratic National Convention, which saw widespread violence known as the “police riot” due to the beatings and harshness of the CPD. This time, that was not the case.

Snelling asked if we could “stop talking about 1968,” which drew laughter from many officials attending the Friday morning press conference.

“Change in the department doesn’t happen overnight. It happens over time,” Snelling said. “And you see what happens when we respect people, because we expect them to respect others. When we take care of these people and make sure they’re OK, we make sure they’re taken care of, because when they feel comforted, they can comfort others. That’s why these officers show great restraint. We treated them like human beings.”

“So that wasn’t the climate of 1968, was it? There’s no war that we’re actively involved in where citizens are coming home in body bags,” said retired CPD Lt. John Garrido. “In 1968, things were a little different.”

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However, at the final briefing following the conclusion of the DNC meeting, the Chicago Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications acknowledged that there had also been points of friction during the week.

Police said four protesters were injured and 74 were arrested since Monday. Authorities said “eight or nine complaints have been filed against officers.”

On the first day, 13 people were arrested in a violation early in the event when intruders tore down part of the perimeter fence.

On the second night, an unauthorized march by Palestinian supporters that began at the Israeli consulate escalated into violence. Nearly 60 people were arrested in a physical confrontation with the CPD.

And then on Thursday night, at the end of the week’s largest West Side march, a clash with police resulted in the arrest of a man who was blocking an intersection while waving a giant flag.

Shortly thereafter, police had to clear the way for the departing delegates because some protesters confronted the delegates with DNC signs as they left the United Center. These protesters chanted, “Shame on you, Kamala supporters!” and “You will forever be remembered as supporters of genocide.”

The clashes between the officials and the thousands of people, most of whom were angry about the ongoing fighting in Gaza, were largely peaceful.

The I-Team asked ABC7 police consultant Bill Kushner if the CPD is good or just lucky.

“I think it’s a combination of both,” Kushner said. “I think they were exceptionally well prepared. I thought it was very telling that the command leadership took the lead and it was right up front, from the superintendent down to all the ranks. I think they were incredibly lucky with the weather that it wasn’t warmer. But you can’t overlook how well prepared they were and the restraint of all the officers involved.”

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An extraordinary contingent of Chicago police officers protected the United Center and McCormick Place from the much smaller protest groups than expected. When asked if Chicago’s neighborhoods were under-visited during the DNC, police pointed to the citywide decline in serious crime compared to the previous year.

On Friday, as the DNC was history, Secret Service security officers saluted the Chicago Police Commissioner.

“I have been in law enforcement for 24 years. I have traveled the world and lived in cities across the country. I have never seen anyone better than you,” said Derek Mayer, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago. “You lead an exceptional police department.”