By Darlene Hill, FOX 32 News reporter - bio | email
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
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.
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, February 5 2013 3:09 PM EST2013-02-05 20:09:54 GMT
Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl, and including our friends serving overseas. Thousands of Chicago-style pizzas were sent overseas Tuesday.
Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch the Super Bowl, and including our friends serving overseas. Thousands of Chicago-style pizzas were sent overseas Tuesday.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:00:57 GMT
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:16 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:16:28 GMT
A Lake County jury has convicted James Ealy of strangling his former boss during a 2006 robbery at the north suburban Burger King restaurant where he once worked.
A Lake County jury has convicted James Ealy of strangling his former boss during a 2006 robbery at the north suburban Burger King restaurant where he once worked.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:40:48 GMT
Several military families were honored in Orland Park on Friday, and got to meet country music superstar Tim McGraw. Five of those families are from the Chicago area, and they were excited to meet him.
Several military families were honored in Orland Park on Friday, and got to meet country music superstar Tim McGraw. Five of those families are from the Chicago area, and they were excited to meet him.
