McCarthy To Reorganize Police Department For $1M Savings
Updated 08/08/11 - 6:19 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police Supt. Garry McCarthy is eliminating several command positions, for what is expected to be a savings of $1 million.
McCarthy announced at a news conference at Police Headquarters, 3510 S. Michigan Ave., that the reorganization includes the elimination of both assistant superintendent positions and all four deputy superintendent positions, leaving six bureaus -- all headed by chiefs -- to report directly to First Deputy Supt. Al Wysinger.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's John Cody reports
Podcast
Bureau deputy superintendents will also cease to exist, with those responsibilities to be assumed by the rank of chief.
The new structure will consist of six bureaus, each headed by a single bureau chief — Patrol, Detectives, Organized Crime, Internal Affairs, Administrative Services and Organizational Development.
McCarthy said the move will save at least $1 million in salary alone.
"That's not fully loaded with benefits and so on. So it's significant cost savings, but the point here is about the management of the agency," McCarthy said.
The superintendent implied that this was just the first round of cuts and that he'd soon start scrubbing lower levels of administration -- which Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his opponents had contended was too top-heavy during the campaign for mayor.
The move came just three days after the Emanuel administration announced plans for property tax hike at the Chicago Public Schools to help close a $712 million budget gap -- seemingly breaking Emanuel's pledge exactly one week before not to raise taxes.
