CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Police Department is backtracking its decision to keep officers in some Chicago Public Schools, and will now pull cops from schools that voted to remove them.
Twenty-four CPS high schools voted to remove one of the two Chicago police officers in its schools last spring, but the Chicago Police Department initially resisted the decision and was going to keep uniformed officers in those buildings, at least until there was an agreement on a new contract.
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That was until their decision was met with harsh criticism from students, teachers, and school board members throughout the district.
Now, CPD has agreed to pull officers from schools that voted to remove them.
“A week ago, we communicated that CPD had directed that schools requesting one [officer] would have a temporary [officer] added to the school to support the transition back to school,” CPS chief of safety and security Jadine Chou wrote in a letter to principals and Local School Council chairpersons Monday.
“We have a new update: CPS and CPD are working together according to the school votes," she said. “As we have previously stated, we believe that it is critical that we are honoring the process and outcomes worked by the Whole School Safety Committees and Local Councils.”
Those 24 high schools were among a few dozen that voted in the spring and summer on whether to keep one or both of their uniformed police officers or remove both. Another nine chose to remove both and 20 schools voted to keep both officers.
The district allowed schools to create alternative safety programs following student protests on policing last year.
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