In correspondence with constituents released July 13, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th Ward) urged constituents to contact the Mayor’s Office or the office of Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson over what he said were frustrating levels of police staffing in the Town Hall 19th Police District.
“I am deeply disappointed and frustrated with these numbers and will be speaking with Mayor Emanuel about this failing commitment,” Tunney said.
According to numbers Tunney cited, provided to him by District Commander Marc Buslick, there were 13 fewer officers on staff in the district in June 2018 than there was the month before. That month, there were a total of 372 officers on staff, a drop from 385 officers in May.
Staffing levels in the 19th District have long been a concern of Tunney’s constituents, especially for the month of June, when the area hosts the Pride Parade and a number of other Pride-related activities. Overcrowding and a number of incidents following this year’s parade reportedly led to bars either voluntarily closing early, or being ordered to do so by CPD.
Tunney had earlier been assured by City officials that there’d be a minimum of 375 police officers on staff in the district; that came following a 30 percent cut in the number of officers.
“Yesterday, the Superintendent expressed his disappointment in current staffing and remains committed to getting and keeping police officers in the 19th District,” Tunney added July 13.
The alderman urged his constituents to contact officials regarding the matter: Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office at 312-744-3300 or arahm.emanuel@cityofchicago.org; and Johnson’s office at 312-745-6100 or eddie.johnson@chicagopolice.org.