Plan includes creating more law enforcement jobs in Chicago

Posted on October 2, 2016

A city safety plan includes adding more law enforcement jobs in Chicago.

Just a few years ago, Chicago’s homicide rate reached its lowest level in 50 years. Today, that hopeful trend has reversed, and the critical relationships between communities and police need to be rebuilt. The Mayor’s multi-faceted plan – including an increase to the overall police department by 970 officers over two years, and providing every 8th – 10th grade CPS boy in the 20 most violent community areas with a mentor – focuses on enforcement, prevention and continued investment in creating jobs in Chicago neighborhoods.

Strengthening Law Enforcement.  Mayor Emanuel’s plan includes new resources to strengthen law enforcement tools, including additional police offices, detectives and sergeants.  Working with Superintendent Eddie Johnson, the City will increase the size of the Chicago Police Department by 970 positions by the end of 2018.  This two-year plan includes the following hires, in addition to filling any existing vacancies and keeping pace with attrition:

• 516 more police officers:  These officers will be assigned directly to the streets of our communities, working with residents in a partnership to address violence.
• 92 new field training officers: The department will expand the number of field training officers to ensure that all new recruits receive high quality, individualized in-the-field guidance from a trained and experienced officer.
• 112 new sergeants and 50 lieutenants: Superintendent Johnson will promote these sergeants and lieutenants from among his current officers, whose leadership and deep knowledge of the city will help guide officers on the beat.
• 200 new detectives: To restore trust, communities must believe that violent offenders will be brought to justice. Superintendent Johnson is adding 200 detectives and putting more resources into investigating and clearing cases.
• Civilian professional staff: In addition to the above 970 hires, the Chicago Police Department will continue to hire civilian professional staff to serve in roles that do not require a gun, badge or arrest powers.  By the end of 2016, the Department will have hired 319 civilian professional staff, and in 2017 and 2018, the Department will add an estimated 200 more.

Additionally, the City will invest in training and technology to provide police with tools they need to fight crime and improve trust with the communities they serve.

• Ensuring every officer has a body-worn camera: Building on a successful pilot in 6 police districts, the Department is equipping every officer with a body-worn camera.
• Strengthening the training academy: Superintendent Johnson has set a new standard for how officers police our communities, and the Department is now on the cutting edge of developing training curriculum to reflect that strategy; including new scenario-based, in-service training for experienced officers and resources to enhance recruit training.
• Investing in gunshot detection technology and cameras: The city is funding placement of gunshot-detection technology and cameras in six of our most violent police districts, to help officers respond more quickly and more accurately to the location of shootings, and to provide additional evidence that can help identify and convict violent criminals.