Scope of Community Policing Strategy in Chicago

Under the leadership of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the

City of Chicago has a comprehensive strategy to truly
address crime and protect the public. Weve undertaken a
sea of change in how policing is done, including reformatting
the department to better deliver services.

Shortly after Mayor Emanuel's election in 2011, newly appointed

Police Superintendent, Garry F. McCarthy began a series of
operational changes within the Chicago Police Department
beginning with the introduction of the CompStat process.
Weekly CompStat meetings are used to assist Command personnel
in identifying violent crime conditions, initiate plans to counteract
the violence, measure the effectiveness of the strategies deployed,
and provide accountability for their actions within their areas of
responsibility.

Several new crime-fighting strategies were also

introduced including:
Gang Violence Reduction Strategy
Citywide Gang Audit
Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS)
Custom Notifications
Gang Call-ins
Several technological and social media components e.g., Link
Analysis and Strategic Subjects Listing.

Chicago closed 2014 with historic lows in crime and murders. The
year saw murders decline by -3 percent and overall crime decline
by -15 percent, as the city recorded the fewest murders since 1965,
the lowest murder rate since 1966, and the lowest overall crime rate
since 1972. The progress is a result of the Citys community policing
philosophy, increased investments in prevention programming, and
strong partnerships with community leaders and residents.

These dramatic reductions in crime are not merely by chance. These

successes are directly attributed to the hard work, leadership and
dedication of the members within the Chicago Police Department.
However, in order to sustain these types of results, we need to
continue to develop a strong collaborative partnership between
law enforcement and the public which leads to more effective
crime reduction, prevention, safer communities, and public trust.
Source: Chicago Police Department, News Affairs, 2014 Year end totals

Our role as the Chicago Police Department

In addition to reducing crime, one of the Chicago Police
Department's highest priorities is to improve the community's
relationship with the police.

Emphasize the Mission Statement

This clearly defines our mission as being in line with the end-goal
previously mentioned our Departments mission is not bigger than
the profession and so this is simply our way of saying how we
specifically will achieve the aims of our profession.

The Chicago Police Department, as part of

and empowered by the community, is
committed to protect the lives, property, and
rights of all people, to maintain order, and to
enforce the law impartially. We will provide
quality police service in partnership with other
members of the community. To fulfill our
mission, we will strive to attain the highest
degree of ethical behavior and professional
conduct at all times.

Mission Statement
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Superintendents Dialogue Tour

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The CPD arranged a series of meetings with community stakeholders

to engage in dialogue expected to enhance community/police
relations and thereby, advance the greater good for all residents of
Chicago.
These forums were attended by Superintendent McCarthy and
Department personnel of various ranks, as well as a diverse
representation of residents invested in their respective communities.
The meetings were intentionally kept small and intimate in order to
facilitate communication and ensure that real solutions were
developed from voiced concerns and ideas.
While various issues were raised during the entirety of the dialogue
tour, there were repeated viewpoints which emerged that helped
to capture the majority of the sentiments expressed by many
community members.

That vision is to increase the number of opportunities for positive interactions

between police officers and community members.
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District Commanders also conducted focus group meetings with

members of the community they serve.
The focus groups were patterned after the listening/dialogue tour.
Present at the meetings were district supervisory personnel, beat
officers, and community stakeholders.
Additionally, police officers were randomly selected to participate in
a forum to discuss issues and concerns regarding community
policing.
After listening to input received from the officers and community
members, the Chicago Police Department began to revise its
strategy.

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With this vision in mind, the Chicago Police Department is

introducing a newly revised Community Relations Strategy that
expresses CPD's and the community's visualization, and defines the
desired outcomes as it relates to the City's community policing
efforts.
This strategy provides resources necessary to assist citizens in
addressing emerging and chronic crime and disorder problems
while simultaneously gaining the trust, confidence, and cooperation
of the community.

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Community Relations Strategy

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The Chicago Police Departments revised

Community Relations Strategy.
One parent directive and related Community Policing

addendums.
The updated policy would replace several separate
fragmented policies and capture Community Policing
under one policy umbrella.

A curriculum based on the revised Community

Policing Strategy will be developed, and a
Departmentwide training initiative will be
presented to ALL members.

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The Goal of the Community Relations Strategy is:

To promote safe communities by reducing violence,
building and fostering a true collaborative partnership
through positive engagements and public trust between
all Department members and the public, and continue to
engage in comprehensive problem solving with the
community.
To achieve these goals, the Department will approach all
interactions with the public as opportunities to enhance
the perception of law enforcement and build upon public
trust.
The CPD will implement strategies at the beat, district, and
area levels to combat emerging and chronic crime issues,
neighborhood disorder, and ensure unified and effective
implementation of the community relations strategy by
relentless follow up.
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Transformational Changes in Organizational Structure

The organizational structure of the agency should

not be overlooked as a key piece to the recent
success of the CPD.
Over the past four years, the Department has been
restructured to promote the delivery of a
community policing model intent on providing the
service Chicago residents deserve.

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Decentralized Implementation

Area deputy chiefs and district commanders have

the autonomy to address the specific concerns of
the communities they serve and to use available
personnel and discretionary resources under their
command to target crime or emerging violence.
District commanders are responsible for
implementing strategies and tailoring techniques
that are unique to their district's crime conditions;
to provide a more localized approach to problem
solving and crime reduction.
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Geographic Responsibility

Centralized units were disbanded and vital resources returned to district law
enforcement with a focus on beat integrity

This concept gives the officers assigned to the beat a stake in their
assignment and a sense of pride in realizing the goals revolving around
crime suppression on their beat.

provides a level of geographic authority and a level of accountability which can be reviewed
at weekly CompStat meetings

It is imperative that the officers assigned to a particular beat assignment

have the freedom to engage with the community.

returned more than 1,200 personnel to district patrol

placed priority on beat officer accountability

can only be done by minimizing unnecessary calls for service and allowing more time for them
to engage the community that they serve

Community engagement improves our image with the public in terms of

how the public views us, trusts us, and promotes an understanding of
different cultures, race, genders, and faiths that will help achieve bias-free
interactions and activities.
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Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS)

The Violence Reduction Strategy is a good example of a
comprehensive strategy that has crime reduction and public trust as
the goal.
Community engagement is a pivotal aspect of the VRS.
The Chicago Police Department's Violence Reduction Strategy
begins with beat integrity.

Beat Integrity revolves around the same beat officers assigned to the same beat
answering calls for service and conducting police enforcement and intelligence
gathering solely on that beat.

This engagement allows us to justifiably share accountability for

social, crime and other problems impacting public safety so that
root-based, sustainable solutions can be implemented.
In short, the community needs well-trained, well-supervised, welldisciplinedmorally unimpeachable police, and the police need a
community that is willing to support and collaborate with them in
accomplishing their mission to society

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Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS) - Contd

Community engagement is dependent on cooperation from other
city agencies including the Office of Emergency Management &
Communication (OEMC)
Active engagement from mid-level supervisors is necessary.

Supervising sergeants have the final authority regarding dispatching of their police
officers and will consistently utilize this authority to counteract beat integrity gaps as
well as direct resources.

Through 2014, this management strategy has yielded a net

reduction of calls for service by -20 percent thus freeing up officers
and allowing them to have more discretionary time to interact with
community members on their beat.

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Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS) - Contd.

Additional VRS Strategies:

Predictive analysis
Proactive policing
Focusing on quality of life issues (Administrative Notice of Ordinance
Violation - ANOVs),
De-centralizing detectives

the placement of detectives in districts, formation of detective area homicide /

shooting teams,

Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)

Gang Call-ins
Custom Notifications
Juvenile intervention programs

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Procedural Justice Strategy

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Through procedural justice, the Chicago Police

Department strives to develop a partnership and
working relationship with the community; to build
public trust and reduce crime for safer
neighborhoods in our city.
Procedural justice is defined as: the procedures
used by police officers where citizens are treated
fairly and with proper respect as human beings.

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Procedural justice affects police legitimacy in that

policing based on the process judgment of
procedural justice, rests on the assumption that
people form assessments of legitimacy based on
how the police exercise their authority.
The procedural justice process of fairness and
respect leads citizens to view the police as
legitimate and trustworthy.
When police officers gain legitimacy from the
public, the public views the police as entitled to
exercise their authority in order to maintain social
order, manage conflicts, and solve problems in the
community.
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The four principles of Procedural Justice and

Legitimacy are:

Give people a Voice (Listen)

Neutrality (Be fair)
Respectful treatment (Be Respectful)
Trustworthiness comes from Fair and transparent
process

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Legitimacy reflects trust and confidence in the

police, acceptance of police authority (less
confrontation), and views police actions as morally
correct and appropriate (fairness).

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When utilizing procedural justice and gaining legitimacy from

the public, police officers benefit through:
Safety increases through compliance by respectful treatment.
Stress levels lower when interactions are conducted in a decent
manner.
Fewer complaints are initiated by acting in a professional
manner.
Greater cooperation and voluntary compliance from citizens
which leads to an increase of information gathering when trust
and rapport is built with members of the community.
Voluntary compliance is gained with the expectation that
citizens voluntarily follow the law when they view legal authority
as legitimate.
Crime is reduced through the partnership and working
relationship formed with the community.

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The Chicago Police Department Core Values (i.e., How we will

go about achieving our mission)

Professionalism: Our on and off duty conduct reflects both the highest
standards of police service and personal responsibility.

Obligation: We serve all citizens equally with fairness, dignity and

respect.

Leadership: Our leadership examples inspire respect for ourselves and

admiration for our department.

Integrity: We are committed to the highest standards of honesty and

ethical conduct.

Courage: We uphold and follow the law in the face of fear, danger
and temptation.

Excellence: We proudly wear the Chicago Police Department star with

excellence as our standard.

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19th District Homeless Outreach Pilot Program

Any procedural justice initiative would be incomplete if it did

not afford every member of the community a voice. This
includes even those voices that are considered trifling by
many: those of the homeless.
Instead of criminalizing homelessness, the City of Chicago, its
business partners, and the Chicago Police Department,
together work with homeless individuals, resource providers
and advocates, to reach for solutions to prevent and end
homelessness.
This pilot program recognizes that all persons including
homeless individuals are entitled to all of the rights and
privileges as any other citizen of this state, and have the right
to feel secure and peaceable in any public place within the
City of Chicago as long as their activities are lawful.
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19th District Homeless Outreach Pilot Program - Contd.

To accomplish this mission, a team of Crisis Intervention

Team (CIT) officers who are trained to recognize the signs
and indicators of a homeless individual at risk, are
dedicated to patrolling areas associated with the
dispossessed.
Individuals and families are interviewed and triaged to
determine their immediate needs.
Officers offer advice about shelters, medical services, and discuss other
resources as needed.
Individual is under no obligation to accept the services offered and may
choose not to participate.
At the very least, every encounter is documented, and a resource card which
details available services, their address and telephone number, is provided to
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each person met.

19th District Homeless Outreach Pilot Program - Contd.

The Homeless Outreach Team also distributes public

awareness and educational materials, conducts followup visits with homeless crime victims, and participates in
the District Advisory Committee on Homelessness.
The program is committed to serving the homeless
population, to provide direct and indirect services, and
ensure that the homeless maintain their dignity, respect,
independence and personal safety.

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The Chicago Police Department needs the trust and

cooperation of the public in order to be effective.
A customer service orientation is essential for all Department
members in order to improve the relationship between the
community and the police.
Every interaction a Department member has with the public
is an opportunity to enhance the perception of law
enforcement and build public trust.
Procedural justice is also practiced internally within our
organization. It is important to model the actions within our
own walls, and treat members in the same manner that they
are expected to demonstrate in the community.
Policing must position itself as the unshakably trustworthy
source of community peace and security. Peace and
security are public rights, and are the most basic requirement
of public life without which nothing else is possible -commerce, education, family life, culture, etc.

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The Procedural Justice instructional staff at the police

academy has presented its program to a very limited number
of public schools. Working to expand this program to
additional schools and the public in general could be
beneficial to all stakeholders.
It could also benefit the City's youth and the public in
general, to better understand how to interact with a police
officer during a traffic stop or contact.
This outreach could be done by academy instructors, the
school unit, or through the Community Policing Office
(Essentially, expand training regarding positive interactions
with the police to juveniles).

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The Chicago Police Department will

continue to train ALL Department members:
Personnel understand the core concepts of

police legitimacy & procedural justice in order to

build better relationships within the community
that they serve.
Procedural Justice/Legitimacy Training Part II will
commence in the near future.
This coursework will continue to reinforce the principles of Procedural Justice and
Police Legitimacy through the use of visual and scenario based training.

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Enhanced Communications
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Media Outreach
As communication is a crucial part of the Department's Community
Policing Strategy, a robust media strategy is essential in the
implementation and execution of this strategy, publicizing agency
objectives, community problems, and successes.
Both traditional media and social media will be key components of
the overall media strategy.

Social media will be strategically utilized to get info out - to and from the different
members of the community, to enhance public safety and help solve crimes,
victimization, and deal with other issues as they arise.

The Office of News Affairs (ONA) will continue its role as the
Department's conduit to traditional (print and broadcast) media
outlets.

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Media Outreach - Contd.

We will continue to market ourselves as a public safety service

provider who understands and cares for our customers, and who
needs them in order to be effective.

Field personnel should be encouraged to share any such information with ONA.
ONA will continue to disseminate positive stories via press release, media
advisory/press conference and social media.

Another crucial role fulfilled by ONA is the Department's response to

police-involved shooting incidents. While accuracy is imperative
when crafting the Department's official statements on these
incidents, timeliness is also a crucial consideration.
Too often the Department's statement is delayed until hours after
the incident. In the interim, the media fills the silence with often
inaccurate statements from unofficial sources (bargaining-unit
representatives, e.g.) or outright falsehoods from "man on the street"
interviews.

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Media Outreach - Contd.

In these highly-charged incidents the Department's communication
with the public, via the media, must strike the delicate balance
between protecting on-going police operations and keeping the
public well-informed.
In addition to traditional media outlets, the Department will increase
its social media presence. Through these platforms, such as the
District-level Twitter accounts and Private Social Networks e.g.,
Nextdoor Program, the Department is able to engage in direct
communication with the community.
The key is to utilize these platforms as communicative avenues, and
not a one-way dissemination of information as has traditionally been
the case.
Social media will be used to make tangible one of the cornerstones
of Procedural Justice giving others a voice (listening).

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The Department is committed to reducing violence in all

communities by utilizing a problem-solving approach to
policing.

community issues and crime incidents are examined in order to identify

their roots
develop new preventative methods for addressing the issues, and encourage a
proactive and comprehensive approach to community policing

Two key mechanisms for building partnerships with the

community on the district level are Beat Community Meetings
and the District Advisory Committee (DAC).

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This strategy also includes enhanced opportunities and avenues for

community members to reconnect with the police

Police/Citizens Academy
Senior Safety Ambassador Training
Custom Notifications
Parent Patrols, prayer vigils,
neighborhood youth corps,
positive loitering
cook-outs
Clean and Green events
Block Club Training
Code of Silence Youth Training
D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. Programs

crime free business seminars

campus safety seminars
youth forums
teen sessions
peace circles
peer jury
sports leagues
child safety seat courses
domestic violence awareness
programs.

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Recently, the 7th District Commander, and a group of officers both

current and retired, along with the Chicago Police Athletic League
(PAL), partnered up with "Get In Chicago" - a program that works to
eliminate juvenile violence and the community welfare organization "Teamwork Englewood" to form the Englewood Police Youth Baseball
League.
The core goal of this program is to create a better understanding
between youth and police officers working within the community,
foster leadership and learning opportunities for young people and
their parents.
A "sports" themed program similar to the 7th District's will be adopted by
each police district and will provide a safe, nurturing environment for
young individuals through recreational, educational, cultural, and
social programs while building positive relationships between police
officers and the community that they serve.

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Transparency
Enhanced transparency in all facets of Department function can
only work to strengthen relationships with the community we serve,
and thus is a vital aspect of the Community Policing Strategy.
While there are many important and legitimate law enforcement
reasons to be circumspect with regard to the release of information
e.g., integrity of investigations, privacy rights, pending prosecution or
litigation, etc., open communication and transparency must be
maintained.
Lesson learned - Ferguson, MO., a lack of information and
transparency on the part of law enforcement agencies breeds
distrust and allows misinformation to fill the vacuum.

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Transparency & Voice - Contd.

Within each district the District Commander will participate in

focus group meetings with members of the community they
serve.

Meetings will be patterned after the Superintendents

Listening/Dialogue Tour, and include district supervisory personnel, beat
officers and members of the community within each district.

Phone trees will be utilized between prominent community

members and command staff members after any type of
incident that requires immediate community notification or
circulation.

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Transparency & Voice - Contd.

One measure that has been undertaken to enhance transparency is
a change in policy with regard to the release of records concerning
police misconduct and disciplinary procedures.
It is important that the public have confidence that allegations of
misconduct are taken seriously by the Chicago Police Department
and that those allegations are given a full and competent
investigation, and that disciplinary actions are taken when
warranted.
While the Department fulfills its investigatory function, the
information they may be able to share or the time they can devote
to victim's families may be diminished due to the pressing needs of
the criminal investigation.

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Transparency & Voice - Contd.

A pilot program being undertaken in the 5th District is putting
homicide victim's families in touch with a 3rd party service provider to
assist them in the aftermath of violent crimes.
The Chicago Department of Public Health's Crisis Response and
Recovery Program has partnered with Chicago's Citizens for
Change (CCC).

CCC is an organization created to reduce violence through programs and

partnerships that strengthen communities and promote restorative peace-making
by supporting families and youth who have experienced loss due to violence.
CCC's network reduces violence through compassionate response to families and
youth who have experienced loss due to violence.

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Transparency & Voice - Contd.

The Department is also implementing an enhanced
communications schedule between investigators and victims of
crimes, as well as Internal Affairs investigators and those who make
allegations of misconduct.
While existing directives require that victims and/or complainants be
kept updated and abreast of developments of an investigation, this
communication will be emphasized even greater than before.

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Transparency & Voice - Contd.

Body Worn Cameras - If the community can see what the police see,
transparency and trust can be developed.
Body Worn Cameras (BWC) are an effective law enforcement tool
that reinforces the publics perception of police professionalism and
transparency, and preserves factual representations of officercitizen interactions.
The Chicago Police Department is committed to protecting the
safety and welfare of the public as well as its members.
BWC have the potential to:

improve community relations

strengthen public trust in law enforcement
lower the number of citizen complaints
defend officers against false accusations
increase agency accountability
improve officer training and evaluation.
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Moral Message / Social Service Providers

Service providers present alternatives to violence by offering

jobs, educational and social services to those who want
them.
Community members demand an end to the violence,
articulating the damage it produces and invalidating any
excuses for the violence.
The general message to be conveyed is, "we will help you if you let us,
but we will stop you if you make us."
These messages are designed so that group members realize that they
have an alternative to the violent lifestyle if they so choose to accept the
assistance.

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CompStat Component
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CompStat

District Commanders and Area Deputy Chiefs were given

new authority and discretionary resources to target crime in
the police districts under their command.
Each is accountable for their command's crime prevention
efforts and quality of life concerns.
A review of the community relations endeavors through the
CompStat process will provide a forum for analyzing the
effectiveness of the implemented strategies and the
Department's support of field operations.

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CompStat Contd.

This review will provide the Department's executive

management members a level of oversight to:
monitor the districts' response to the publics concerns as it
relates to that district's chronic crime conditions.
coordinate with the mobilization efforts of the Community
Relations Division and other governmental and nongovernmental agencies.
sustain participation in the Department's community programs
and attendance at community events (e.g., Beat Community
Meetings).
the community relations strategy's relationship to complaints
against Department members made by members of community.

NOTE: The Inspections Division may also be utilized to review

the community relations aspects of Departments operations.
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CompStat Contd.

The Chief, Bureau of Internal Affairs, in consultation with the

Chief Administrator, Independent Police Review Authority
(IPRA), will ensure a review is conducted to evaluate the
effectiveness of the Department's community relations
strategy and its relationship to the number of community
member's complaints against Department members and the
reported allegations.
This review will also include recommended strategies to
positively impact complaints made against Department
members by members of the community.
This evaluation will be submitted to the CompStat Section
and will be included in the review of the implementation of
the Department's community relations strategy through the
CompStat process.
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CALEA Accreditation

The Chicago Police Department is currently in the process of

becoming an accredited law enforcement agency by the
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
(CALEA). The CALEA accreditation status strengthens an
agencys accountability, both within the agency and the
community, through a continuum of standards that clearly
define authority, performance, and responsibilities.

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CALEA Accreditation Contd.

Because the Chicago Police Department is currently in the process

of becoming an accredited law enforcement agency by the
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
(CALEA), this new Community Policing Strategy will adhere to all
CALEA standards including:
the creation and maintenance of a quarterly report submitted to
the Superintendent, that includes:
a description of current concerns as voiced by the community
a listing of potential problems that have a bearing on law
enforcement activities
any recommendations that address previously identified concerns
and problems
a statement of progress made toward addressing previously identified
concerns and problems
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CALEA Accreditation Contd.

A survey of citizens' attitudes and opinions must be conducted at

least once every three years. These survey(s) look to gauge the
community's perception in the following areas:

overall Departmental performance

the competence of Department employees
citizens' perception of Officers' attitudes and behavior
community concerns over safety and security within the Department's
service area
citizens' recommendations and suggestions for improvements

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The Community Relations Strategy teaches / promotes a professional, unbiased,

empathetic customer service approach and why its a must in policing and to achieving
public safety objectives.
This strategy provides improved engagement with community members, increased
professionalism, and a public trust in the Department.
The Community Policing Strategy is infused into all functions of the Department and
includes members of every rank & unit contained within. The Department is committed
to creating and continuing partnerships within the community and to seek
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input for a more customer service oriented culture.