LAKEVIEW — Police staffing numbers in the Town Hall District have grown to levels not seen since 2013 in the weeks leading up to the Chicago Pride Parade in Boystown.
The police district now has 378 sworn officers in its ranks, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) said Wednesday.
Since Tunney's October pledge to get more police in Lakeview, the district has added 52 officers, including 45 in the first five months of 2016.
Tunney said he met with Supt. Eddie Johnson Tuesday, during which Johnson "reaffirmed his commitment to increasing 19th District resources and to addressing the criminal activity occurring in the area."
The June 9 numbers align with preparations for the June 26 Pride Parade, which has come under more scrutiny since a devastating shooting at a gay night club in Orlando, Fla. — the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
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During a vigil Monday at the Center on Halsted, community leaders called for unity against hatred. Officials want the parade to take place as planned, but are looking to nearly double the number of off-duty police officers on hand.
Since May 10, the district added two tactical teams and expanded the entertainment detail, Tunney said. On weekends, the entertainment detail surveils Lakeview hot spots near Wrigley Field and Boystown.
Tunney also said there are more transit teams "to tackle Red, Purple and Brown line crime" and more bicycle officers along the lake front.
Of the 45 sworn officers added this year, 30 are police officers and five are field training officers. The district, which covers Lakeview and parts of Uptown, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square and North Center, also added six sergeants, one captain and three lieutenants.
The latest additions fulfill promises from Tunney, Ald. James Cappleman (46th) and Mayor Rahm Emanuel for a net increase of 43 officers by the end of 2016. Tunney and Cappleman traded votes for the property tax bump partially for the boost in police manpower.
Cook County officials released tax rates Monday that show an average Chicago home, worth $225,000, will see a $413 increase over last year's property taxes. The 12.8 percent increase stems in part from the record $589 million increase approved last year.
With the 378 officers, the Town Hall District now has staffing levels equal to those in late 2013. However, the numbers still fall short of manpower before the merger of the Belmont and Town Hall districts in March 2012.
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