Vallas: Chicago has too few police, pays too much in police overtime

By Paul Vallas

07/03/2024

Chicago's violent crime is up. A record $300 million was spent on police overtime last year. It's simple: too few cops leads to too much crime and requires a very wasteful, inefficient fix. Chicago needs more officers on patrol.

Vallas: Mayor, supporters see unlimited migration as fix to population loss

By Paul Vallas

06/06/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sees unlimited migration as a solution to population loss. What he should be doing is recognizing crime and a lack of quality school choice is driving out families.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Black Chicagoans 20X likelier to be homicide victims; arrest rate hits record low

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

05/30/2024

Black Chicagoans were over 20 times more likely to become homicide victims during the past 12 months than their white peers, with 9-in-10 homicides on the South Side and West Side. Hopes of catching killers hit a new low.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Chicago crime: Assaults up 6.7% past 12 months, more violent

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

05/24/2024

Assaults were up 6.7% for the 12 months ending in April as confrontations became more violent. Black Chicagoans were more than 5 times more likely to be assault victims than their white counterparts.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Chicago police officer’s murder underscores carjacking, car theft surge

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

05/23/2024

Chicagoans reported 2,619 fewer vehicle thefts during the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, but cases remain more than double what they were just a few years ago as arrests remain low. One carjacking took a police officer’s life.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Recap: 1 year of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, watch out in Year 2

By Dylan Sharkey

05/15/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson took office on May 15, 2023. One year later, none of the $800 million in new taxes have passed. But expect a big taxpayer impact during his second year: he’s negotiating a contract with his former employer, the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Violent crime surges 26% at Chicago Public Schools, arrests hit record low

By Patrick Andriesen

05/03/2024

Chicago Public Schools saw violent crime increase 26% in 2023 and arrests hit a record low of 8%. Now thanks to pressure from the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Brandon Johnson, police are being removed from schools.

Vallas: Chicago domestic shootings up 19% in 2023. Fix needed now.

By Paul Vallas

04/23/2024

In Chicago and Cook County, law enforcement leadership and the court systems are failing women, especially domestic violence victims. Black women are disproportionately impacted. Leadership is desperately needed where incompetence now rules.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Editorial: Data can build understanding, help solve Chicago’s crime problem

By Hilary Gowins

03/27/2024

Violent crime in Chicago increased by 11.5% in 2023, but the city’s arrest rate dropped compared with 2022.

Vallas: Police overtime shows defunding police doesn’t work

By Paul Vallas

03/15/2024

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s strategy for defunding the police doesn’t save money and makes Chicago less safe. Overtime is up, violent crime is up, arrests are down.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department

Chicago Police Department

Vallas: Chicago has too few police, pays too much in police overtime

Vallas: Mayor, supporters see unlimited migration as fix to population loss

Black Chicagoans 20X likelier to be homicide victims; arrest rate hits record low

Chicago crime: Assaults up 6.7% past 12 months, more violent

Chicago police officer’s murder underscores carjacking, car theft surge

Recap: 1 year of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, watch out in Year 2

Violent crime surges 26% at Chicago Public Schools, arrests hit record low

Vallas: Chicago domestic shootings up 19% in 2023. Fix needed now.

Editorial: Data can build understanding, help solve Chicago’s crime problem

Vallas: Police overtime shows defunding police doesn’t work

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students