August 2018

COLLABORATING TO OPTIMIZE OVERTIME USAGE AT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

In 2017, the  Chicago Police Department  spent more than $157 million on overtime, significantly greater than the budgeted amount of $78 million. To reduce this spending and at the same time decrease the potential for officer burnout, CPD, Civic Consulting Alliance and pro bono partner  CIBC analyzed overtime spending and identified opportunities to reduce spending without putting at risk public safety. While only the first of several recommendations have been implemented to date, CPD has already seen a promising reduction in overtime spending. From January to May 2018 (the latest month for which final numbers are available), overtime costs were 31% less than in the first five months of 2017.

" From January to May 2018, overtime costs were 31% less than in the first five months of 2017."

Importantly, the reduction in overtime spending took place over a period when violent crime rates were trending downwards. The first six months of 2018 saw a 24% reduction in the number of shootings as compared to 2017.   Overtime spending by CPD comes from several primary sources, including special events, the Violence Reduction Initiative (extra police presence in high-crime areas), extensions of tour (to complete an arrest, for example), and mandatory court appearances. By digging into Departmental data and working with unit and Bureau commanding officers, Civic Consulting Alliance and CIBC identified the drivers of spending in each of these categories and worked with CPD to develop reforms to make Departmental operations more efficient.

“We have now made it policy for district commanders to have to monitor their overtime usage within the districts," said Superintendent Eddie Johnson. "And the sergeants and lieutenants are being held more accountable for the overtime that they approve."

Recently, CPD has launched several additional initiatives designed to bring down overtime spending, including: Improving transparency and accountability in the planning for high-cost special events and adopting special event deployment best practices from other major cities Re-imagining the Violence Reduction Initiative to give District commanders greater decision-making authority Increasing the number of officers in understaffed units Running overtime management workshops for unit commanders, facilitating peer-to-peer learning from the commanders whose units perform best in terms of spending efficiency   When the  Chicago Sun-Times   reported on CPD’s overtime reductions  in the first quarter of 2017, Superintendent Johnson credited the command staff with leading the first step of a successful cultural shift in the Department: “We have now made it policy for district commanders to monitor their overtime usage within the districts. And the sergeants and lieutenants are being held more accountable for the overtime that they approve,” Johnson said.

FELLOW SPOTLIGHTS: DEREK BREESE AND MYLES GAGE

What project work were you involved in during your time at the Civic Consulting Alliance? Myles Gage:  I spent my time working on our Civic Leadership platform, where I built a database identifying nearly 750 unique individuals who were identified as influential in helping people think about equity in our region. We started by asking CCA’s network who were most influential on each person’s thinking about equity in the region, and then asked those who were identified the same question, engaging more and more people. From that database, I also developed a map that highlighted connections between all of the influencers, including 20 “key influencers” who served as connection points between different groups.   Derek Breese:  While at CCA, I helped optimize the management of overtime spending at the Chicago Police Department. During this project, we worked to help CPD save money without compromising public safety. We were able to make recommendations to increase the efficiency of various police units and implement reporting and oversight standards to improve accountability.   What will you take away from your time at Civic Consulting? DB:  The opportunity that I had to interact with so many people from different backgrounds, with different approaches to problem-solving and city issues. My project team consisted of two members of CCA with experience in consulting and public policy, and on a day-to-day basis I was interacting with both civilian and sworn members of CPD. This increased exposure to people working in a variety of occupations and from a range of backgrounds exposed me to new ideas, ways of thinking and problem-solving methods.

Derek Breese, Credit Analyst CIBC Myles Gage, Credit Analyst CIBC

MG:  My experience at Civic Consulting reminded me that despite how busy our lives might be, we should always be thinking about ways we can improve the quality of life for residents of all communities.    What was your most memorable experience during your time at Civic Consulting?   MG:  Listening to David Ansell, Senior VP for Community Health Equity at Rush University’s Medical Center, speak at CCA’s June Civic Cocktails event about  West Side United . His remarks were truly special – I was not aware of all of the initiatives that he, CCA, and West Side United have spearheaded on the city’s West Side.     DB:  My most memorable experience was participating on a ride-along with members of CPD in the South Shore neighborhood. This was an incredibly beneficial experience for two distinct reasons. First, it gave me an opportunity to talk to rank-and-file police officers and better understand their concerns and best practices while on the job. Second, it allowed me to get a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic divides between the North, South and West sides of the city. This was an eye-opening experience that I ultimately believe helped me think more critically when approaching my overtime management project with CPD.

"By working on slide decks and other deliverables, I was able to practice writing concisely while still transmitting information. This skill has already been valuable to me since returning to CIBC, and will continue to be valuable long-term."

How has your time at Civic Consulting helped you develop professionally?   DB:  The ability to better communicate my ideas through writing. At CCA, there is a constant need to communicate one’s ideas through a slide deck or other deliverables. By working on those types of work, I was able to practice writing concisely while still transmitting information. This skill has already been valuable to me since returning to CIBC and will continue to be valuable long-term.   MG:  The nature of my project allowed me to interact with many civic leaders in Chicago across several sectors. These interactions helped me hone on how I can use my personal strengths to make an impact.

IN OTHER NEWS... In their July update, the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities highlighted several programs that are having a positive impact on peace and safety in Chicago communities. West Side United released an RFP for grants to support co-located or integrated healthcare programs that expand access to mental and behavioral services on the West Side. Tommy Doles, former CCA Undergraduate Fellow and current Northwestern University football player has been named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. The Wuerffel Trophy recognizes players for exemplary community service work. Congratulations, Tommy!

Questions? Comments? Contact Shoham Geva Civic Consulting Alliance is an affiliate of the Civic Committee of  the Commercial Club of Chicago

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