With crowds expected to gather downtown for two planned fireworks displays, the Chicago Police Department plans to deploy about 1,300 additional officers across the city on New Years Eve.
The majority of the extra officers will be in uniform to increase visibility, Fred Waller, CPD’s chief of the bureau of patrol, said Monday at a news conference.
“We will also have plainclothes officers at events mingling within the crowds in a discreet manner to watch for public gatherings,” Waller said.
“Many of these officers have had their days off canceled to work on this important night,” Waller added. “Officers from every district and every division will be pitching in this year.”
Rich Guidice, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said the Riverwalk downtown will be closed at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
“We are anticipating large crowds and significant traffic impacts in the downtown area,” Guidice said.
Several street and bridge closures near the river will also be in place from 11 p.m. Tuesday to about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Upper Wacker Drive between Lake Street and Lake Shore Drive will be closed, as well as all bridges between Franklin Street and Columbus Drive, Guidice said.
The Illinois State Police also will beef up patrols on expressways, said Lt. Col. David Byrd, assistant deputy director of the State Police, to deal with an expected holiday increase of motorists driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
