Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is aiming to cut back on violence over the Labor Day weekend by beefing up patrols across the city.
According to Johnson, more than 1,400 additional officers have been deployed, including those in squad cars and on foot across the city.
Over 40 people were shot over the Labor Day weekend in 2017, and thus far the total number of victims stands at 17 as increased patrols are taking place in high-violence areas and in downtown.
The Chicago Police Department is partnering with several other agencies over the weekend to help curb violence, with state police and federal investigators also joining in the patrols.
The department has launched increased patrols on other holiday weekends this summer, including Memorial Day and Fourth of July, with mixed results.
Violence is on the decline in Chicago however, as crime was down 10 percent in the month of August over the same time period in 2017, according to new statistics released by the department.
