October 16, 2017

Mayor Emanuel Announces 82 Officers Deployed to the Districts

City makes progress on CPD hiring plan

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Department (CPD) CPD First Deputy Superintendent Kevin Navarro today announced that 82 officers have been deployed to their district assignments, as part of the plan to add 970 more sworn members by the end of next year.

“These officers have started the road of an incredible journey of service by becoming members of the finest police department in the world,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Officers being assigned to districts today will support operational needs and public safety strategies as they serve and protect Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities.”

After successfully completing their training at the Academy and initial field training, these officers are now being sent to their first detail. The new officers will benefit from the recently announced new in-service training requirement, which begins with 16-hours of mandatory training and will necessitate that all Department members to take 40 hours of continuing education annually by 2021. As part of the implementation of the hiring plan, nearly 100 officers will be deployed to districts each month into 2019.

"It is an honor to watch the 82 new police officers hit the streets with the latest training and tools to reduce violence and build trust in the Department," said First Deputy Superintendent Kevin Navarro. "For the public we serve, that means police officers who are a trusted part of the community and work every day with residents to make our streets safer. For officers, it means greater support from the City and Department leadership to give them better training, more resources, and clearer guidance to help them do their jobs even more effectively and to keep them safe."

Since the start of the year, more than 800 recruits have entered Police Academy to train to become police officers. During the six-month police academy, recruits learn all applicable laws and protocols for being a Chicago Police Officer. In addition to physical training, they receive instruction in procedural justice, crisis intervention and de-escalation, use of force, community building and critical thinking. This was followed by three months of field training, during which officers are paired with Field Training Officers for hands-on guidance during their first in-the-field months.

Also part of the hiring plan, today is the last day for candidates who want the opportunity to take entry exam to become a Chicago police officer. The theme of police recruitment is, “Be the Change,” which reflects the belief that this new generation of police officers will lay the groundwork for a more diverse department and be future leaders who define how police support, protect and work together with Chicago's communities. By joining the police department, candidates will find an opportunity to serve the City while gaining valuable skills and making a lasting impact on an organization in the midst of significant reform. The next Police Entry Exam will take place the weekend of December 16. Learn more at: www.BeTheChangeCPD.com.

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