CHICAGO (CBS) — Last year we set records for the number of overtime hours worked by Chicago police officers – and that trend continues this year as summer has just begun.
There are also additional needs this year, with months of major events planned, including most notably the Democratic National Convention in August.
Between last year 52nd Annual Pride Paradethe NASCAR Cup Series race downtownthe four-day event Lollapalooza music festivaland a year of other commitments for the Chicago Police Department, officers clocked 4,151,294 hours of overtime in 2023, according to an analysis by the CBS News Data Team.
This cost taxpayers almost $300 million.
This figure was a huge leap forward from previous years, with an average of approximately 1.4 million overtime hours per year. (Note in the chart below that data was not available for October, November, and December 2022.)
CBS2
“They’re human beings. They need plenty of rest,” said Eugene Roy, chief of police for the now-retired Chicago Police Department.
Roy knows OR fatigue well, given his history with the department.
“You have to look at the numbers behind this, and that is the manpower of the police,” Roy said.
The Chicago Police Department did not comment specifically on the numbers when we asked, but instead said in a statement:
“The Chicago Police Department takes its budgetary responsibility seriously and regularly monitors internal operations to ensure the overtime budget is used efficiently and effectively.
“Overtime has been used to help maintain public safety during a police officer shortage that has affected not only the CPD, but major city police departments across the country. As we work to fill these vacancies, we must also ensure that there are sufficient resources throughout the city.”
The CPD recently said they have lost approximately 2,000 officers. Experts, including Roy, said the additional needs of the DNC this year will undoubtedly mean more OT.
“The basic function of the Chicago Police Department – to patrol and respond to calls for service from our residents, from our community – must still be fulfilled,” Roy said.
Chicago Police Commissioner. Larry Snelling himself also said that longer hours and canceled days off for police can be expected during the convention.
“We are looking at extending work days and canceling days off during that week to ensure we have the manpower we need,” he said.
Snelling noted that the department will be “judicious” in how it uses overtime — and will give officers advance notice. This is already happening, as evidenced by an internal email from CBS 2 informing officers that their days off will be canceled and may work 12-hour shifts around the Fourth of July.
“If the community or others are concerned about the amount of money being spent, I think it’s much more important to be proactive rather than reactive,” said retired Los Angeles police sergeant and police expert Cheryl Dorsey.
Dorsey said there are plenty of officers who welcome the extra money for overtime. But she said getting staffing levels to the levels they should be is the only way to make officers feel valued.
“When there are shortages and you overload the people you have, you can recruit better,” Dorsey said.
The City Council has set aside just $100 million in the 2024 budget to cover the Chicago Police Department’s overtime bill.
Megan Hickey
