Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Supt. Garry McCarthy announced their plan to reduce crime in the city.
The plan revitalizes the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy - or the CAPS program - which the nearly 20-year-old community policing program that emphasizes strong cooperation between residents and police.
"For too long community policing became a bureaucracy downtown and the headquarters," Emanuel said. "What started off as mindset, a philosophy and an approach to policing became a bureaucracy."
District commanders will also be in charge of their own programs, to fit the needs of their own communities. Emanuel and McCarthy said district commanders are in a much better position to determine what their own programs should look like than someone in the department's headquarters.
Each district will also be assigned a CAPS sergeant and two police officers.
McCarthy said this shift is the latest part of a crime-fighting strategy that's already put more police officers on the beat and tailored various strategies to specific neighborhoods.
"Previously, community policing programs were
managed from headquarters which just doesn't make sense," McCarthy said. "The needs in each
community we serve are unique so we can not apply a cookie cutter approach to
community outreach and services."
He says the head of the department's patrol division will oversee the programs, but the individual commanders will run them.
McCarthy and the mayor say more money will not be thrown into the CAPS budget.
McCarthy said the police department has pulled 180 guns off the street since 2013 began.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:42 PM EDT2013-05-22 01:42:36 GMT
In Englewood, Altgeld Elementary is shutting down, but staying open. Wentworth Elementary is moving there and taking over, making everyone unhappy about something.
In Englewood, Altgeld Elementary is shutting down, but staying open. Wentworth Elementary is moving there and taking over, making everyone unhappy about something.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:35 PM EDT2013-05-22 01:35:35 GMT
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of Moore, Okla. for survivors of a tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of Moore, Okla. for survivors of a tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:32 PM EDT2013-05-22 01:32:27 GMT
Members of the Board of Education will likely vote Wednesday to shut down dozens of schools, but sources tell FOX 32 News that at least a few on a list of 54 proposed closings will likely be spared.
Members of the Board of Education will likely vote Wednesday to shut down dozens of schools, but sources tell FOX 32 News that at least a few on a list of 54 proposed closings will likely be spared.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:08:47 GMT
Jenn Gibbons embarked on a two month trip around the perimeter of Lake Michigan to raise money for the non-profit organization she founded for breast cancer survivors called Recovery on Water, or ROW.
Jenn Gibbons embarked on a two month trip around the perimeter of Lake Michigan to raise money for the non-profit organization she founded for breast cancer survivors called Recovery on Water, or ROW.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:42:17 GMT
A man impersonating a police officer pulled over a northwest suburban student as she was drove to school Monday, searching her car before letting her leave, Pioneer Press is reporting.
A man impersonating a police officer pulled over a northwest suburban student as she was drove to school Monday, searching her car before letting her leave, Pioneer Press is reporting.
