Mayor Brandon Johnson seems to believe he’s the only Chicagoan who needs robust police protection.
As the rest of the city struggles through violent crime, Johnson reportedly maintains a security detail of nearly 100 officers in Unit 544 — the group of officers assigned to protect the mayor. He has learned the best way to protect himself is to have well trained, well-staffed police. Unfortunately, he and his administration are working to undermine the police presence for everyone else — including Chicago’s children — in the name of politics.
Chicagoans deserve better — both better police protection and a mayor who better judges reality. The disconnect between Johnson’s personal security priorities and his policy decisions has led to increased costs, reduced public safety and declining police morale in Chicago.
On the campaign trail, Johnson promised he wouldn’t cut CPD budget by “one penny.” However, since taking office, he has pandered to his supporters who want to “defund the police.”
During the past 18 months, Johnson eliminated 456 Police Department vacancies, stunting any potential growth in ranks and canceled police academy training classes, further undermining the department’s future capability. The Board of Education he appointed removed police officers from all Chicago Public Schools — rejecting a compromise to allow individual schools to retain officers if they wanted them.
Now, his 2025 budget proposal calls for cutting even more police positions, training divisions and mental health resources for officers. Staff for training and mental health would both be cut by nearly 30%.
This selective dismantling of Chicago’s police has real consequences: it’s expensive, bad for officers’ health and dangerous. CPD’s biggest problems — fatal misconduct, high costs and rising crime — would only get worse with fewer officer resources.
Since 2019 there are 1,600 fewer police positions to do the same job. As a result, overtime spending has erupted, costing taxpayers $293 million last year. The department faces a mental health crisis from that understaffing and the overworked officers. Two officers died by suicide this year and 27 others since 2018, according to First H.E.L.P.
The city is on edge, carjackings have soared and yet arrests for violent crime are lower than they were five years ago, according to an Illinois Policy Institute analysis.
There’s a better way to save the city money, while still prioritizing public safety.
Polling from the Illinois Policy Institute shows crime is the No. 1 issue facing Chicago residents, and that 73% of Chicago voters want more police officers on the street as opposed to 12% who said they want fewer. It’s no surprise 66% of Chicago voters disapprove of Johnson’s handling of crime. People want a well-trained, well-staffed CPD, not arbitrary cuts making everyone less safe.
Hiring more officers would actually save the department money, while also providing a safer city. Chicago could restaff half of those full-time police positions and still save roughly $83 million annually from those overtime costs, according to estimates from the Illinois Policy Institute.
But cutting training and counseling budgets would compromise officers who are already spread thin. It could also compound the costs of officer misconduct for the city later. From 2019 to 2023 alone, the city spent $384 million resolving misconduct lawsuits. Imagine what less training will do to that number.
Preserving training resources should be a top priority for his progressive administration. It’s one of the best investments to make for quality law enforcement.
The solution isn’t reducing the mayor’s security detail — public officials face genuine threats requiring protection. But Johnson’s neighbors on the West Side and his extended community deserve the same protections Johnson and his family enjoy.
It’s time for Johnson’s team to align their rhetoric with reality. When it comes to public safety, Johnson must give Chicago both quantity and quality.
Dylan Sharkey is the assistant editor for the Illinois Policy Institute.
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