Chicago Police Department

The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the U.S. Midwest and the second largest in the nation (with 13,619 sworn officers and 2,625 other employees as of 2003), and one of the oldest organized police forces in the world. Currently, the Chicago Police Department is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Related Topics:
Chicago, Illinois - Mayor of Chicago - U.S. - Midwest - Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies

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There are twenty-five police districts, each led by a commander. Each commander oversees a network of administrative and operational departments that include patrol officers, detective forces, and other investigative units. Commanders report to the Superintendent of Police who in turn is subject to the authority of the Mayor of Chicago.

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The Department is led by the Superintendent. The Superintendent has a First Deputy Superintendent and five Deputy Superintendents. As of Fall of 2005, the Deputy Superintendents lead the five Bureaus of the Department: Bureau of Patrol, Bureau of Investigative Services, Bureau of Crime Strategies and Accountability, Bureau of Administrative Services, and the Bureau of Strategic Deployment. Under the leadership of Superintendent Cline, the Department has undergone many structural changes.

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