Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Department (CPD) First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio today announced 198 new probationary police officers (PPO) are being sent to neighborhood police Districts for their first assignment as part of this year's latest deployments. The new officers deploying citywide are part of the City of Chicago’s two-year hiring plan to add 970 additional officers to the Chicago Police Department, which was completed last year.

This month's deployments follows over two years of consecutive declines in violent crimes, including 20-year lows in robberies, burglaries and motor thefts.

“The men and women hitting the streets this month, and every month over the past two years, represent not just a safer Chicago, but a brighter future in every neighborhood," said Mayor Emanuel. "By growing the size of the Chicago Police Department, investing in neighborhoods, and equipping every police officer with the best training, tools and technology, we will continue to drive declines in crime across the city."

As the city celebrates the next generation of leaders in the Chicago Police Department, new officers continue to join the department every year. Since January of 2018, 1,556 new police officers have been deployed to their district assignments.

"I am proud to welcome the next generation of officers that will not only help us make Chicago safer but also build bridges with the communities we serve," Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson. "While more work remains, the gun violence reductions we have seen over the past two years is a direct result of adding over 1,000 of Chicago's best and brightest to protect and serve our neighborhoods."

The deployments reflect the operational needs and public safety strategies of CPD with more than two-thirds of the officers being assigned to districts headquartered in South and West side neighborhoods. The Districts receiving officers include: 1 (Central), 2 (Wentworth), 3 (Grand Crossing), 4 (South Chicago), 6 (Gresham), 7 (Englewood), 8 (Chicago Lawn), 9 (Deering), 10 (Ogden), 11 (Harrison), 12 (Near West), 14 (Shakespeare), 15 (Austin), 17 (Albany Park), 18 (Near North), 19 (Town Hall), 22 (Morgan Park), 24 (Rogers Park), 25 (Grand Central).

These new officers will have access to new tools, technology, and resources to partner with the community and fight violent crime. That includes CPD’s district-based Strategic Decision Support Centers which include gunshot detection systems, POD crime cameras and mobile phone technology to support the police in preventing, combating and responding to violent crime across the city.

During six months of training at Police Academy, officers learned all applicable laws and protocols for being a Chicago Police Officer. In addition to physical training, they received instruction in procedural justice, implicit bias, mental health awareness, crisis intervention and de-escalation, use of force, building community trust and critical thinking. This is followed by three months of field training, during which officers are paired with Field Training Officers for hands-on guidance during their initial months in the field.

Last March, City Council approved the development of a new, state-of-the-art Joint Public Safety Training Academy, which will deepen and strengthen the training capabilities of both new and current police officers, and allow them to train alongside the Chicago Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management Control. 

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