200 Million Dollars
Posted on September 14, 2017
A million here and a million there and soon we’re talking someone else’s real money.
The Chicago Police Department is on pace to spend nearly $200 million on overtime in 2017 — 40 percent more than last year’s record — despite a two-year hiring surge intended to allow for attrition and bolster the force by 970 officers.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported in July that officers racked up $30.9 million in overtime during January, February and March alone — cold-weather months when crime typically is lower.
That was 26.6 percent more than the $24.4 million spent on overtime during the same period last year, when City Hall set a record by spending $143 million on police overtime.
Records released Monday in response to a Freedom of Information Request show the pace of overtime spending has quickened considerably.
First off, the 970 officers thing is a joke as has been throughly documented by CWBChicago – 10 Months After Rahm Promised 1000 More Cops, Chicago Had Gained 37—Most Districts Have LOST Officers
Secondly, there’s no need for a FOIA request. It’s all available for anyone to see on the city’s data portal. 10 minutes or so of digging shows lots and lots of overtime.
- 2017: $95,018,775*
- 2016: $143,032,724
- 2015: $116,144,553
- 2014: $101,460,132
- 2013: $103,532,931
- 2012: $51,732,169
Even with a negligible drop in violent crime, one would be hard pressed to illustrate exactly how an additional $50-$60MM lead to the dip and not poor shot placement and/or superior medical services.
* Jan thru July.