CPD welcomes 261 recruits to force during graduation amid gun violence spike
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The latest recruits of the Chicago Police Department took to the stage at Navy Pier for their graduation ceremony Monday morning.
The department welcomed 261 new officers to the force. This comes after another violent weekend in Chicago with 46 people shot and 10 killed.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and interim Police Superintendent Fred Waller were shaking hands and congratulating the graduates.
During a speech, the mayor promised to work with the department to create a safer city for all residents.
"I'm confident that we will work together to build a Chicago that will have lasting impact for generations to come," Johnson said.
In addition to the new officers, the ceremony also recognized newly promoted command staff including sergeants, detectives, and field training officers.
CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey was at the ceremony to ask Johnson about his plan to tackle summer violence.
Johnson reiterated that he's only been in office for about three weeks, but again pledged that the city will see, in his words, a "more sophisticated, sharp public safety response."
"I've had the opportunity to work with a variety of stakeholders to continue to administer a plan to engender the kind of confidence we need to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago," Johnson said.
The mayor didn't elaborate on who those additional stakeholders involved in the city's anti-violence summer plan will be, but he said ringing in a new class of officers, with nearly one-third of them being women and 74% being officers of color, will help move CPD toward the goal of not only preventing more shootings, but also solving them.
"Many of you all know that I've been very vocal about making sure that we train and promote more detectives," Johnson said. "People in Chicago want us to solve violence crime in the city and there are strategic plans that are being implemented to get us to a better clearance rate."
Another 84 CPD members were promoted to become detectives. The CBS 2 Investigators have done extensive reporting on the clearance rate issues in the city.
In Chicago, law enforcement is below average, according to the latest available data, in the low 30% range. Johnson hopes more detectives will help send the message that criminals can't get away with murder in our city. He said this new group will also be a big help.
"Days get canceled, but I mean, we've gotta make the city safe, so I'm looking forward to the challenge, absolutely," said newly sworn-in Officer Jalen Loving.
The new 20th District officer was among those celebrating on Monday. He said he joined the force for his wife, Maria, and his infant son, Jalen Loving Jr.