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As thousands of people pour into downtown Chicago late Tuesday to celebrate New Year’s Eve, more than 1,000 additional officers will spread throughout the city to keep revelers safe during the vacation.
The Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Office-Emergency Management exposed Monday that extra officers on foot, bikes and installed patrols will sign up with members of law enforcement keeping track of mass transit, according to patrol bureau chief Fred Waller.
” Roughly 1,300 extra policemans will be released to keep everyone safe,” Waller said Monday.
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Crowds are anticipated to collect downtown for festivities, that include fireworks. While the bulk of extra officers will remain in uniform to increase presence, plainclothes officers also will socialize with crowds.
A group of 300 officers will be deployed specifically for one fireworks display along the Chicago River, while a junior varsity of officers will keep an eye on a fireworks reveal at Navy Pier.
” A number of these officers have had their day of rests canceled to work on this essential night,” Waller stated. “Officers from every district and every division will be pitching in this year.”
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State cops patrols on Chicago highways also will increase.
The city’s downtown Riverwalk will close at 10 p.m. Tuesday, in addition to some streets and bridges near the river, according to FOX32
” We are anticipating big crowds and substantial traffic effects in the downtown location,” stated Rich Guidice, executive director of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
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The increase in New Year’s Eve security comes as the city is on the verge of liquidating 2019 with large drops in shootings and murders for the 3rd straight year. Through roughly mid-December, about 475 people were killed, compared to 549 in 2018, which is a 14 percent drop. In 2016, the variety of homicides was approximately 750, according to Chicago cops data.
The decreases occurred citywide, consisting of in traditionally high-crime areas. Still, Chicago has more violent criminal activity than New York and Los Angeles.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
