Chicago police authorize overtime to help curb rising violence?

With homicides soaring so far this year and another bloody weekend in the books,
Chicago police intend to announce at roll calls that overtime will be paid to
officers working their days off beginning this weekend, according to a
department-issued memo obtained by the Tribune.

The communication from
First Deputy Superintendent Alfonza Wysinger makes clear that the initiative is
targeted at curbing the growing violence. It comes at a time when the city is
struggling with budget woes.

It was unclear if the overtime would be paid throughout the summer or how many
officers would be tapped for the program, but the officers could be assigned
anywhere in the city, the internal memo said.

"Officers will be expected
to implement aggressive, proactive violence reduction policing methods including
but not limited to street stops, traffic stops, foot patrol, physical arrests
and enforcement missions," the memo said.