After a year of controversy over a perceived uptick in crime in Lakeview and a tight city budget, the Chicago Police Department is combining Lakeview area police districts in cutbacks.
Districts 19 and 23 have been consolidated into the Town Hall District station, 850 W. Addison St., which previously housed Dist. 23.
Police Superintendant Gary McCarthy announced the closure of four stations at a March 3 press conference at the Town Hall station. Those include Districts 1, 2, 9 and 19 (the Belmont station), all of which will be combined into other districts.
According to a CPD statement, the reorganization is the most significant the district structure has seen in more than three decades, putting 100 additional police offers on patrol duty.
"We have put more officers on the street and we are creating efficiencies to better serve the residents in communities across Chicago," McCarthy said in a statement.
Residents have expressed concerns, however, that the closures will make their communities less safe.
According to the Chicago Tribune, McCarthy said the cutbacks will save the city between $10 to $12 million.
The consolidation means some reorganization of Lakeview CPD officers, some of whom became familiar faces last summer when controversy over a perceived increase in violence sparked a heated community debate.
Kathleen Boehmer, former 23rd Dist. Commander, has been transferred to the Area Central Detective Bureau, according to a CPD news affairs spokesperson. Boehmer is well-known in Boystown as she attended several community meetings in summer 2011 when residents expressed concerns about a perceived increase in crime.
Taking charge of the Town Hall District station is Commander John Kenney.