Chicago slashes 2,103 public safety jobs as it adds 184 administrators

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

11/22/2024

Chicago’s 2025 budget has a nearly $1 billion hole. Mayor Brandon Johnson has only proposed tax hikes. But when personnel eats over two-thirds of the budget, the city must be smart about freezes and cuts without making public safety even worse.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department

Vallas: Police overtime shows defunding police doesn’t work

By Paul Vallas

03/15/2024

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s strategy for defunding the police doesn’t save money and makes Chicago less safe. Overtime is up, violent crime is up, arrests are down.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department

Vallas: Fewer cops is how mayor plans to make Chicago safer?

By Paul Vallas

12/01/2023

The Johnson administration is playing a shell game on public safety. They’re likely hiring civilians for administrative positions to free up officers at local police districts, yet they’re eliminating more than double the amount of police positions currently vacant.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department

Vallas: How to boost Chicago Police Department strength, morale

By Paul Vallas

11/01/2023

Mayor Brandon Johnson deserves much credit for approving a new Chicago Police Department contract that is generous and fair. Now comes the big question.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department

Vallas: Chicago has a new police chief, what’s his plan to fix the city’s crime problem? 

By Paul Vallas

08/18/2023

Larry Snelling, formerly the Chicago Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau chief, was selected Aug. 13 to become CPD’s next superintendent. Now, the city needs clarity on his plans to address Chicago’s crime problems.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, crime

Chicago police union wins hearing in fight against forced COVID-19 vaccines

By Francesco Rahe

12/07/2021

Chicago’s mayor wanted police either vaccinated against COVID-19 or regularly tested, but the pushback from their union has received two recent legal advances.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPD: Chicago Police Department, FOP: Fraternal Order of Police, vaccine mandate

Illinois Supreme Court denies Chicago police union request to destroy misconduct records

By Mailee Smith

06/19/2020

While Illinois law explicitly states union contracts trump all other state laws, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled a police contract allowing the destruction of disciplinarily records defies public policy and cannot be enforced.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, Illinois Supreme Court, police misconduct, police union

Fired Chicago Police superintendent receiving nearly $200K pension

02/26/2020

Eddie Johnson was fired before his scheduled retirement after he was found asleep behind the wheel. He blamed medication. Video showed him drinking.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, Eddie Johnson, Laquan McDonald, Lori Lightfoot, police pensions, public safety

2 Chicago police officers accepted $13K in bribes in alleged ‘kickback’ scheme

By Vincent Caruso

09/10/2018

The officers are facing federal charges for their alleged role in a kickback scheme involving an attorney referral service seeking information on traffic crashes.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, corruption, CPD: Chicago Police Department

Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood

By Vincent Caruso

08/09/2018

In what critics have decried as an inappropriate use of scarce public safety resources, Chicago police officials parked a “bait truck” reportedly filled with boxes of Nike sneakers in the city’s Englewood neighborhood.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform