CPD reports declines in violence, cites task forces and new transit monitoring center

Chief Angel Novalis, representing Superintendent Larry Snelling, told the Chicago Police Board on Dec. 18 that the city saw substantial year-to-date declines in several violence measures and described new operational tools to help sustain those trends.

"So far this year, the city is seeing the lowest levels of homicide, shooting incidents and shooting victims in more than 10 years," Novalis said, citing figures through Dec. 17: 173 fewer homicides, 789 fewer shooting incidents and 937 fewer shooting victims. He credited strategic deployment, strengthened investigations, specialized task forces and enhanced community engagement for those declines.

Novalis highlighted a new citywide robbery task force and the launch of an expanded strategic decision support center (SDSC) for public transportation that embeds robbery task force detectives to monitor and track transit activity in real time. He said detectives cleared 284 homicide cases this year, representing a 71% clearance rate, which he described as the highest in at least a decade.

On immigration enforcement, Novalis reiterated CPD policy and city directive language that the department does not assist federal immigration enforcement and will respond to 911 calls that involve potential criminal activity. He referenced Department Directive S061403 (Responding to Incidents Involving Citizenship Status) as the policy location for interested members of the public.

Novalis closed by thanking department and community partners and noting that reforms and community engagement remain central to CPD’s efforts.

Context and next steps

The superintendent’s report combined operational statistics and descriptions of new units and data capabilities. Board members did not take formal action on the report but acknowledged the update; several public commenters later raised neighborhood safety concerns and called for improved complaint/reporting pathways (311 and non-emergency lines).