Latino State News
200 New Chicago Police Officers Could Be Hired
Next year, in order to ease a severe shortage in manpower, as many as 200 new police officers will be hired in addition to the current 120-member class that began last month.
Mayor Daley’s final budget was expected to be announced today which will include funding for Chicago’s first police entrance exam in four years.
The two year “hiring hiatus” has resulted in the Chicago Police Department being more than 2,300 officers short a day when vacancies, medical leave, and limited duty is taken in to account.
Last month, the shortage caused tensions to boil over resulting in a police protest in which the officers were even asking for the resignation of the Superintendent of Police Jody Weis.
The department has asked for an increase in its police force for a number of years, while the deficit in manpower will shrink, it will not be eliminated entirely.
