Amid a table heaped with cookies, hot coffee and spirited discussion, the 9th District Police Council celebrated its accomplishments in 2025 and looked forward to more progress in 2026.
On December 17, 2025, at Dolce Arte in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, a party atmosphere replaced the business of a formal meeting. In between bites of cookies and brownies, council members and attendees shared their thoughts on 2025.
“We built better communication between residents and the police,” said 9th District Council Chair Carlos Sanchez. “We want this to happen everywhere across the district, and we should be even better in 2026.”
Bigger Than Usual
Commander Joseph Mark of the Chicago Police Department's 9th District wholeheartedly agreed. “Working with the council, we are getting more people involved in solving crime problems and in setting strategic priorities.”
Bridgeport neighborhood resident Anne Jacob enjoys the 9th District Police Council's holiday party.Mark noted how the council had to set up more tables and chairs to accommodate a bigger-than-usual crowd at the strategic planning meeting in October 2025.
Engaging All Ethnicities
Sanchez said there is still more work to be done. “We live in a community with many ethnicities: Asian, Latinos, black and whites. We must work harder to involve everyone in our mission to keep the 9th District safe.”
“We won’t stand still,” he said. “We will continue to move forward.”
Crime Is Down
Mark reported that incidents of crime in 2025 in the 9th District have decreased across the board. “I’m proud of that,” he said.
Mark said he also is proud of park patrols started this year. “We got community complaints about park safety, so this year we started dedicated park bike patrol teams to be more visible.”
“The community sees them, and they are happy about the patrols,” he said.
Well-Organized
Attending community members said they are pleased with how 2025 council meetings have been conducted.
“The meetings this year were well-organized, with pertinent agenda items and discussions, such as domestic violence and keeping safe during ICE raids,” said Anne Jacob, a Bridgeport neighborhood resident who has attended many meetings.
“They made me feel more informed,” she said.
Immigration Raids
Discussion of timely topics at meetings serve the community, said 9th District Council Community Engagement Coordinator Erin Vogel.
“For instance, our work to provide information on immigration raids was very important,” Vogel said. “And Commander Mark has been very responsive to this work on immigration.”
January 28 Meeting
All 9th District Council meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month.
The first meeting of 2026 will take place on Wednesday, January 28, at Taylor-Lauridsen Park in the Canaryville neighborhood at 704 W. 42nd St., Chicago.
The 9th District Council meeting calendar shares the schedule for all of its upcoming meetings, including the 9th District Police Council Meeting at the McKinley Park field house at 6:30 p.m. on April 29 and October 28, 2026.
Photography by Kevin O'Neil
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