Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said Monday he plans to hire 450 to 500 officers this year to maintain the department’s current strength.
He has already hired 89 of them, including 46 recruits who graduated in April and 43 recruits who began training Monday at the police academy. The latest crop of recruits includes cops from other jurisdictions and veterans of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
McCarthy said he is trying to maintain a force of 12,500 sworn employees, including 9,600 officers. The 450 to 500 recruits will counterbalance expected retirements this year, he said.
Aha....9,600 officers. More clues.