Chicago’s 24th police district council is home to part of West Ridge (40th ward) and Edgewater (48th ward), along with all of Rogers Park (49th ward) & West Rogers Park (50th ward).
There are (currently as of October 2022) 22 Police District Councils throughout Chicago (there is no 13th, 21st, or 23rd district). Each Police District Council is made up of three elected individuals in the regular municipal election every 4 years. They can serve a total of 3 terms (no more than 12 years in office.) A District Council member’s main function is to work on improving policing and public safety within their districts.
The following are other functions that the Police District Councils serve:
- Building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer. They can work with the police to solve problems and set priorities.
- Collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives.
- Holding monthly public meetings, where residents can work with the police on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities. They can also raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district and increase accountability.
- Working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices.
- Working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district.
- Ensuring that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability gets input from the community so that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.
- Nominating members of the Community Commission. Anyone who serves on the Community Commission must first have the support of elected District Council members.
Sources:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/ccpsa/supp_info/district-councils.html