Security Detail Cuts for Alderman Burke (and Others)

By Soyoung Kwak in News on Jul 9, 2011 6:00PM

Regarding the issue of whether or not public officials should keep security detail, we last heard Ald. Ed Burke defending the court order which allowed him to keep a six-person security detail in the throes of the "Council Wars" in the 1980s. Despite Ald. Burke's defense and justification of his own security detail, the Chicago Police Department has decided to cut down (or simply cut) security details for several public officials in the city. The CPD announced its plans to do so yesterday.

So which officials are affected by the CPD's decision? Ald. Burke and City Treasurer Stephanie Neely will have a "reduced" cohort (the exact number of officers assigned to them will remain under wraps for security reasons). But the list of city officials who will see a change in their security detail doesn't stop there:

McCarthy's office said Emanuel's security detail has already been reduced. McCarthy's own detail will also be reduced. Security for Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and the Chicago Housing Authority CEO have been eliminated, according to the statement.

The reduction is beneficial for taxpayers, as CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy noted that taxpayers will save about $650,000 from the proposed reductions and eliminations. We'll be waiting patiently for Ald. Burke's response.