CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Dozens of new Chicago Police officers are hitting the streets for their first assignments.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown announced Monday 81 new probationary police officers (PPO) are being sent to police districts across the city for their first assignment as part of this year's latest deployments.
CPD said the new officers will have access to new tools, technology, and resources to partner with the community and fight violent crime, including CPD’s District-based Strategic Decision Support Centers which include gunshot detection systems, POD crime cameras, and mobile phone technology to support the police in preventing, combating and responding to violent crime across the city.
RELATED: CPD Expand Neighboring Policing Initiative To More Districts | CPD Hires Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance Officer
Supt. Brown said the 81 new PPOs are starting their new job "at a unique time in history" between the pandemic and the summer of unrest touched off by the police officer killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
"You have to go back to 1917 - the last time we had a global pandemic. You have to go back to the late 1960's - the last time we have unprecedented civil unrest," he said.
Supt. Brown had some advice for those who are just starting out.
"Follow their training, and to treat everyone with a measure of respect. Everyone deserves a measure of respect, and they will have a very rewarding career," he said.
During six months of training at the Police Academy, officers learned all applicable laws and protocols for being a Chicago Police Officer. In addition to physical training, CPD said they received instruction in procedural justice, implicit bias, mental health awareness, crisis intervention and de-escalation, use of force, building community trust and critical thinking. This is followed by three months of field training, during which officers are paired with Field Training Officers for hands-on guidance during their initial months in the field.
Supt. Brown made the comments outside the 2nd District police station at 51st and Wentworth on the South Side.