A switch of private-security firms by Lakeview's Northalsted Business Alliance (NHBA) has resulted in increased visibility of police in Boystown.
New England Security has been hired to patrol the area, according to Jen Gordon, a spokesperson for NHBA. Gordon said the security team is composed of off-duty police.
Several area residents and partygoers noticed the officers on the street over the weekend, clad in bright green shirts and bulletproof vests.
NHBA has employed private security, but recently switched firms.
"This is not a new endeavor for Northalsted Business Alliance to employ a private security firm," noted Gordon.
Gordon said the new security team started over the weekend and will patrol the area as needed, depending on the neighborhood's events and anticipated crowds. The officers are intended to stand out, said Gordon, as NHBA wanted to create a visible police presence on the streets.
"We're constantly evaluating the security issues on the street," said Gordon, adding that the NHBA may make further changes to its private security.
A string of highly publicized crimes last summer sparked controversy over crime and racial profiling in the neighborhood. Some residents have called for increased police visibility in the neighborhood since, stating that crowds and crime continue to grow along Halsted street.