Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent Eddie Johnson today announced a new partnership between the Chicago Police Department, the City Colleges of Chicago and DeVry University that will help ensure the implementation of the plan to add 970 sworn officers over the next two years by expanding CPD's training capacity while also providing the highest quality instruction for new recruits and existing members of the Department.

“Last month, I outlined a comprehensive public safety strategy which includes the hiring of an additional 970 sworn personnel to the Police Department over the next two years," said Mayor Emanuel. "Quality training for new recruits, detectives, supervisors and command staff alike, is critical to the success of that plan."

By leveraging existing resources at City Colleges’ seven campuses as well as DeVry University locations in Chicago, CPD will be able to cost-effectively move training for experienced officers and allow for expanded facilities within the Academy to train new recruits. The temporary facilities will support ongoing training for officers already on the job, and promotional education for future field training officers, detectives, sergeants, lieutenants and captains. The Police Education and Training Academy will be dedicated entirely to training the surge of new recruit hires during this period.

"Professional development and advanced training for our police officers are critical to providing the highest level of public safety service," said Superintendent Eddie Johnson. "This partnership will allow CPD to continue to improve the quality and delivery of instruction for in-service training while creating bandwidth for CPD to train the next generation of officers that will join the Department in the coming year."

This partnership is in line with Superintendent Johnson’s continuing focus on high quality in-service training. As part of its commitment to restore accountability and public trust, last month the Chicago Police Department launched a newly developed 16-hour course focused on force mitigation skills and de-escalation tactics. Designed to incorporate national best practices, the training better equips officers with the skills and abilities to recognize when a people dealing with a mental health crisis and regularly resolve confrontations without resorting to deadly force. The Department has also committed to certifying 30% of the department in crisis intervention by the end of 2017.

The additional space at City Colleges of Chicago and DeVry University will help meet the Police Academy’s additional capacity needs as part of Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent Johnson’s commitment to increase the size of CPD by 970 positions by the end of 2018. The two-year plan includes the hiring of new police officers and filling existing vacancies due to promotions and retirements, while keeping pace with anticipated attrition. Starting in January, CPD will begin training 100 new recruits almost every month of 2017 to meet the goals outlined in the surge plan.

The City has begun identifying potential locations for a new state-of-the-art training facility to be completed in 2018, continuing the focus on ensuring that Chicago’s first responders receive the highest quality and most effective training possible. The temporary facilities will be used pending approved by City Council, with the specific locations schedule to be determined.

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