CPD’s top cop defends overtime spending at City Council hearing

CHICAGO (WGN) — With Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget proposal calling for new limits on his police department’s overtime spending, its top cop on Wednesday weighed in.

“We have to be careful about pulling resources from districts where we know we have people in areas where we have a high crime, violent crime and we don’t want to pull those people right away,” said Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling.

Before a City Council Committee, Snelling attempted to explain why police overtime pay has exceeded the budget. He told alders that spending is necessary to deal with permitted and spontaneous protests across the city.

“During those times here in the city, we want to make sure that we secure the safety of everyone in the city. We want to make sure that people can move to and from to get to work even though there’s protests going on,” Snelling said.

According to the Civic Federation, in 2023, CPD budgeted $100 million for police overtime but spent $282.8 million. In 2024, another $100 million was set aside, but the department spent $238 million.

Mayor Johnson’s budget proposal increases the CPD budget to $2.1 billion, which includes salary increases required by union contracts and legal reforms.

In other topics, alders pressed top CPD brass about money for staffing. Some have been worried that the Johnson administration might eliminate officer positions.

“Does your fiscal year 2026 budget reflect any reductions in sworn and/or civilian workers?” asked Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward).

“Right off the bat, this budget does not reflect any reductions in sworn staffing whatsoever. You will see in the budget a reduction of 14 headcounts, but essentially what we did with that is we traded certain positions for other sorts of positions,” answered Ryan Fitzsimon with CPD.

For Superintendent Snelling, the hearing offered the top cop a chance to highlight the department’s gains.

“We’ve seen 152 fewer murders than last year at this same time, 728 fewer shootings,” Snelling said.

WTTW reports CPD spent more than its approved budget five of the last six years, but the department argues it’s money well spent. City Council, though, must now balance tension between spending to keep residents safe and the need to make difficult cuts.