Gee, what could cut overtime costs?
- The Chicago Police Department could pay officers up to $14 million in overtime this summer as part of its plan to curb an increase in violence, a spokeswoman said Monday.
The money already was accounted for in the department's budget and mirrors what the city has spent on similar violence-reduction initiatives in previous years, said Sarah Hamilton, a spokeswoman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Emanuel said this year's strategy is being directed in a more "targeted way" in the face of a nearly 38 percent increase in homicides in the first six months of 2012 compared with 2011. It's unclear what that means, however, because the administration declined to elaborate.
"...declined to elaborate?" We guess that means another new strategy is on the way.
In the meantime, hiring continues to slow and Rahm continues his indirect attacks in a media blitz designed to cripple our negotiating positions. But hey, keep paying that OT.