The head of the Chicago Police Department says 600 extra officers will work to keep the city secure and safe during Fourth of July festivities.
Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said the hundreds of additional officers will patrol during the Taste of Chicago and at sites of three Lake Michigan fireworks shows on Sunday's Independence Day holiday.
Department administrators have "canceled everybody's day off," Weis said.
Weis said the effort does stretch the police department's resources a bit, but the force has to be flexible, calling the extra officers a "reserve force" to deal with any trouble.
Chicago's lakefront fireworks have been scheduled for July 3 for the last 35 years. But this year, smaller fireworks shows were planned for July 4 in an effort to save the city money.
