Community policing effort has suffered setbacks, study says

blue barricade set up by Chicago police
A Chicago Police Department barricade Photo credit Getty Images

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A new study finds a community policing pilot program in Chicago is not seeing results because the Chicago Police Department has not fully implemented it.

Researchers from Northwestern University find one of the issues is staffing. District coordinating officers are supposed to work on community engagement and address public safety with services instead of enforcement, but researchers found those officers are often pulled to fill in for beat officers in districts with low staffing.

High turnover means community members must start over in building relationships. The Chicago Neighborhood Policing Initiative started four years ago but hasn’t been clearly differentiated from the department’s existing CAPS program, the report finds.

Listen to our new podcast Courier Pigeon
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images