Chicago is set to spend a record $2 billion on its defunded police department in 2024, more than three years after George Floyd’s murder sparked a movement to defund the police.
Defunded Police Departments (Photo: WREX)
Chicago to Allocate $2 Billion to Police Department in 2024 Despite Calls for Reform: Mayor Proposes Increased Funding and Maintaining Staffing Levels
The Center Square reports that In response to the nationwide protests and calls for police reform following the death of George Floyd in 2020, the city of Chicago has made a decision to allocate $2 billion to its police department in 2024.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed a 5% increase in the police department’s budget to almost $2 billion, but he suggests that the number of police officers should remain the same at around 14,000. This is the first time he has spoken on the issue of police staffing since taking office.
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Changes in Police Department’s Budget and Staffing Following George Floyd’s Murder
According to WESA, when George Floyd’s murder occurred in 2020, it triggered a nationwide movement to defund the police departments in Chicago, New York, and Seattle.
The Chicago Police Department operated with a budget of $1.76 billion, supporting a staff of 14,709 full-time officers. Following the tragic death of George Floyd, the city opted to reduce the department’s budget by 2.7% and trim its workforce by 614.
