For the first time in three years, a new class of Cook County sheriff's police recruits will start training for open slots in a move that top officials hope will fill the department's depleted ranks.
The new class of 25 officers, which includes existing courtroom deputies and jail guards, is part of a plan by Sheriff Tom Dart to fill a hole of about 50 police officers. They begin their training today on the campus of Triton College in River Grove, sheriff's officials announced.
Dart's plan to allow his deputies and jail guards the chance to shift jobs arose from his inability to secure funding to hire.
So Dart is pulling a Rahm here - he's calling them "recruits" when in fact, they are existing courtroom deputies and jail guards being retreaded as street officers.
In other news, Rahm is counting these as "50 more officers on the street," bringing him within striking distance of his campaign promise of 1,000.
In other news, Rahm is counting these as "50 more officers on the street," bringing him within striking distance of his campaign promise of 1,000.