HUMBOLDT PARK — Citing an uptick in crime, Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th) is calling for more police in Humboldt Park, which he says is short more than 50 officers.
In an email to constituents Friday, Maldonado said he requested a meeting with Police First Deputy Superintendent Kevin Navarro — the second-highest ranking officer on the force — and will "urge" him to assign more officers to the Near West and Shakespeare police districts.
"I want to be proactive and prevent crimes instead of reacting to them," Maldonado wrote.
The alderman said combined the districts are short more than 50 officers.
In April, Inspector General Joseph Ferguson issued a quarterly report that included never-before-released data about the number of officers assigned to each of the city's 22 police districts and more than 77 special units.
According to the data, the Shakespeare district has the fewest number of officers of any district, while the Near West district has an average amount of officers. Neither district has the fewest officers per square mile in the city.
"Police Commanders' Kulbida (12th) and Saldana (14th) need these men and women to restore peace and quite to the 26th Ward. Despite newly added officers, these districts still suffer shortages," Maldonado wrote.
