Chicago Police Department to add 970 more to its force

CHICAGO, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The Chicago Police Department announced plans to hire nearly 1,000 more officers to cope with the city's rising violence issues.

The administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel has long insisted additional personnel were not necessary to augment its current staff level of 12,100, a number 400 less than in 2010. He acknowledged Wednesday, though, that the force needs more officers.

Chicago has seen 3,000 shooting victims in 2016 and will likely exceed 600 homicides, the highest number in 13 years.

The planned increase in police comes as the city's percentage of solved murder cases declines. The police department is also under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice in the wake of shootings by police officers. As the personnel rolls currently stand, the city is unable to fill vacancies caused by retirements and other changes.

Hiring will begin in January, with 100 additional recruits per month sent to Chicago's police academy, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said.

Plans call for 516 new patrol officers, 200 more detectives, 112 more sergeants, 92 more field training officers and 50 more lieutenants in the next two years. The total cost is expected to be $134 million, but Wednesday's announcement included no information on funding. Emanuel's administration has pledged not to raise taxes to pay for police hiring.