Public Safety: Police and Fire Departments
The South Loop is primarily served by the 1st Police District, with portions being served by the 9th District (Chinatown) and 12th District (East Pilsen) as well. Each district is divided into sectors and beats, as shown on this map. The South Loop beats are:
- 1st District: 114 (partial), 123, 124, 131, 132
- 9th District: 914 (partial)
- 12th District: 1235 (partial)
Chicago embraces the idea of forging partnerships between the police department and the community through a program known as CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy). A key element of the CAPS program is to hold monthly or bi-monthly beat meetings with residents.
Residents can also aid the police by making proper use of 911 and the 311 notification service: “You should call 911 if the incident you are reporting is in progress and the on-site presence of a police officer is necessary to help resolve the matter (e.g., burglary, incident involving injuries, quieting loud neighbors, etc.).” For guidance on reporting a crime, click here. If the situation is not an emergency, please call 311 to avoid tying up the critical 911 service.
And though we hate to think about terrorism in our own backyard, the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) urge residents to report suspicious activity to local authorities through their “If You See Something, Say Something” program.
Here are links to the websites of each of the police districts serving the South Loop. In addition to contact information, these websites include:
- Wanted fugitives
- Crime incidents
- Events calendar
- Crime alerts
- Press releases
- District statistics