Chicago’s 9th District Police Council announced the results of the Chicago Police Department’s strategic planning efforts to combat neighborhood crime in a presentation at the McKinley Park field house on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
“It’s working,” Community Policing Officer Jim McAndrew said, pointing toward downward year-to-year trends in crime categories targeted by the District Strategic Plan.
This includes the plan’s top priority: aggravated battery with a firearm, with persons shot, which fell to four shootings in the first quarter of 2026 versus nine the previous year.
Robberies and Theft
Robberies were the second problem-solving priority of the strategic plan, which saw six committed in the first quarter of 2026 versus 13 in the first quarter of 2025.
Stopping theft, the third priority of the strategic plan, also showed results, with 67 thefts occurring in the first quarter of 2026 versus 97 over the same period in 2025.
Measured Gains
“We are making measured gains, but we are also realistic in recognizing that there is still more work ahead,” said 9th District Commander Joseph Mark.
“While we have seen an uptick in index crimes at the start of the year, we have also made incremental progress in stabilizing those numbers and addressing key trends,” he said.
Suppressing Shootings
The strategic plan’s first quarter progress report notes both the actions taken to target crime priorities and next steps to keep improving effectiveness.
The report detailed how police are targeting the area between South Ashland Avenue and South Kedzie Avenue, from West 47th Street to west 55th Street, to suppress shootings.
Gang Struggle
“A lot of problems come from two gangs in a struggle,” McAndrew said. “This is spilling over into other districts.”
“Our tactical teams are running missions in these districts,” he said.
Beat Integrity
McAndrew noted the focus on “beat integrity” in order to deter crime for both shootings and robberies: making sure beat officers stay on their beat and are less likely to be pulled away for other enforcement action.
This includes adding police visibility in targeted areas and strategic placement to deter robberies, he said.
Beat Facilitators Needed
Police also highlighted the importance of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) program and a desire to return Beat 912, which covers most of the McKinley Park neighborhood, to well-attended community meetings with dozens of attendees each month.
“We need beat facilitators,” including for Beat 912, McAndrew said.
“We encourage participation in beat meetings and are seeking beat facilitators who can help drive those conversations forward,” Mark said.
OIG Inspection
Any interested individuals can reach out to the 9th District via its contact page to connect on becoming a beat facilitator, Mark said.
Erin Vogel, 9th District Police Council commissioner, provided updates on local district and citywide council activities, including council support for Chicago’s Office of the Inspector General to investigate police compliance with the Welcoming City ordinance.
CARE Program
She also highlighted efforts to bring the Crisis Assistance Response & Engagement program (CARE) to the 9th District, which would supplement police response with mental health professionals to assist cases of mental health crises.
“It would be really important for our community to adopt this,” she said.
Community Conversations
Vogel noted how feedback from the 9th District council helps inform the annual strategic plan.
Two community conversations in 2025 also let the public weigh in on policing priorities, McAndrew said, and beat meetings and officer feedback also help priorities problems.
Priority Problems
“It’s a culmination of all the info we get,” he said.
“Our focus remains on the priority problems identified in our District Strategic Plan,” Mark said.
The next Chicago Police Meeting for Beat 912 is at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the McKinley Park field house, 2210 W. Pershing Road, Chicago.
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