North Siders Uneasy As Some Detectives Are Shuffled To Chicago's West Side
(CBS) – A Chicago Police Department move that seemed shrouded in secrecy is just days away from becoming a reality.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov has new information on violent crime detectives moving from the North Side to the West Side.
The relocation has only intensified concerns about police staffing on the North Side.
Some detectives will be relocated to Harrison and Kedzie. First Deputy Supt. John Escalante says it's a satellite office.
"It wasn't done in secret. It was just discussions we were having," he says. "Unfortunately, the rumors started, and they kind of steamrolled from there."
Yet it's being done the same week new Police Supt. Eddie Johnson officially assumed his position – and at the same time North Side residents say crime is exploding in their resource-depleted districts.
In the 19th Police District, for example, burglaries are up 68 percent and robberies 52 percent from the same time last year. That's in an area that had 471 officers patrolling it in 2011, compared to 352 now.
A Chicago Police Department spokesperson says when it comes to police staffing, the new superintendent is assessing current patrol and detective strengths.
Escalante says the detective move won't impact those assigned to property crimes or the special victims unit. The first phase will occur Monday, with another phase expected in June.
