CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Chicago Police Department participated in a job fair on the city's Southwest Side to help combat a mass exodus of Chicago Police officers.
The police department has a little over 1,600 fewer officers than it had in 2019, with 200 of them planning to retire in 2024.
The sergeant of community policing in the 8th District, Matthew Malloy, attended the job fair at West Lawn Park and said the turnover is concerning, but there's many opportunities within the department.
“We appreciate the veteran officers that have skills and experience, but this is an opportunity for us to re-stack the ranks, and the next generation of policemen come through,” Malloy said.
Sonny Kruger, an actor in Chicago looking for work, is keeping his options open.
“It’s a bit of a dangerous job. It’s definitely one that you got to worry about, but, if I was doing a good job and helping people, then I would be proud of it,” Kruger said.
Over 35 vendors, including the Chicago Police Department, set up tables, hoping to recruit strong candidates looking for work.
13th Ward Alderman Marty Quinn said he wants to be a part of the solution when it comes to increasing CPD staffing numbers.
“Hearing my constituents, they’re really concerned about safety,” Quinn said. “They’re concerned about response time…anything I can do in my capacity as the alderman to try and bring more people to the table to be Chicago police officers, to work on that officer per capita, which is nine per 10,000 in the 8th District, is where my mind is.”
Quinn said he was pleased that CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling accepted his invitation and attended the job fair.
While proposing his $2 billion budget this week, Snelling told City Council members that the mass exodus of officers is slowing.
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