Hundreds Of Chicago Police Officers Deployed To Violent Areas

CHICAGO, IL — Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson announced Tuesday that 430 more officers will be deployed to the city's most violent neighborhoods on weekdays. That number will increase to 600 officers on the weekends, most of whom will patrol the South and West Sides. The announcement was made after the city's most violent weekend of the year so far.

“We are deploying hundreds more officers to communities to work with residents in a partnership against crime and violence,” said Emanuel in a media release. “None of us can accept gun violence in any community in Chicago, and all of us will work together towards peace on our streets.”

The additional deployments will include extended afternoon and overnight shifts for officers, as well as an increased presence of tactical and saturation teams.

The CPD Organized Crime Unit will expand deployments of Narcotics, Vice and Gang officers to increase efforts in targeting gang conflicts that fuel gun violence on the South and West Sides, Emanuel and Johnson said.

"The Chicago Police Department will continue to use every tool at our disposal to combat violence and hold repeat offenders accountable for their actions," Johnson said.

Since the start of 2017, CPD has grown by 1,176 sworn officers, Johnson said. This year alone, 654 new officers were deployed.

Image credit: Scott Olsen/Getty Images