DOWNTOWN — More police will be working overtime this weekend to deter "chronic" issues Downtown, including Loop street robberies and drag races on Lower Wacker Drive, a top officer says.
Robert Klich, commander of the Chicago Police Department's Central District, relayed a memo to neighbors Thursday night detailing the extra overnight patrols being deployed through Saturday. The memo was shared during a community policing meeting near Maggie Daley Park.
"This is the perfect opportunity to call 911, because we will have extra officers," police said.
The memo said police will step up their traffic patrols on Wacker Drive, a Jewel-Osco parking lot at Canal Street and Roosevelt Road and a South Loop Whole Foods store near the Chicago River to discourage the drag racers who congregate at all three spots.
More foot patrols will monitor South Michigan Avenue and State Street to suppress street robberies and other crime, police said. The extra patrols will be out from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday as a result of the district securing more funding for overtime pay, police said.
The number of extra police officers or the amount of money their overtime will cost this weekend was not disclosed.
The announcement comes after recent efforts by police and politicians to curb street races and robberies throughout the district, which stretches from Wacker Drive to 31st Street. Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) and Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) have moved to build speed bumps in areas popular with street racers, and a spate of recent thefts and robberies has spurred community alerts from police.
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