West Cook News

On Jan. 9, state Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) honored police officers and their efforts for National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

"They work days, nights, weekends, and holidays, keeping us safe," Curran wrote in a Jan. 9 Facebook post. "Today we honor true heroes; our dedicated members of law enforcement. Join me in thanking these brave men and women for all they do in our communities."

According to National Today, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is observed on Jan. 9 and was established in 2015 by multiple organizations to express their gratitude for officers in the United States. 

However, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day for 2022 comes at a time when many police departments across the country are having trouble filling their ranks. News Nation reports that Chicago’s crime problem has gotten so bad that the Bucktown Neighbors Association has hired a private security firm to patrol their neighborhood. Alderman Brian Hopkins acknowledged that Bucktown residents have been “targeted and preyed upon on a nightly basis.”

Newsweek reports that the National Police Foundation (NPF) indicates that several cities that experienced record-high crime in 2021 are also dealing with police staffing shortages. 

Jim Burch, president of the nonpartisan and nonprofit National Police Foundation (NPF), told Newsweek that recruitment has been a problem "for many years" and said that "I think what is a little bit different about it today is, we have a continuing recruitment—I'll call it a crisis. But at the same time, we have an attrition problem."

The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2021 Retail Security Survey ranked Chicago third on its list of cities that were impacted the most by organized retail theft. CPD reported that they were unable to promptly respond to some 911 calls due to a lack of manpower.

FOX 17 News reports that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has promised to cut $80 million in funding from the police budget in the midst of the violent anti-police riots and looting that occurred in 2020. 

In contrast to her pledge to cut funding, in December Lightfoot asked U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to send federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to help with Chicago’s illegal gun crisis. She also stated that there are “thousands” of dangerous, wanted individuals roaming the streets and requested federal agents to help apprehend them.

"We need these additional resources well in advance of next summer," Lightfoot said during a news briefing on public safety, according to FOX 17 News. "Right now, today, there are simply too many violent people walking our streets and wreaking havoc in our neighborhoods."

According to Crimegrade, DuPage County is safer than 95% of counties in the US.

Nine Illinois law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2021, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.