The head of the Chicago Police Department says 600 officers will work to keep the city secure and safe during Fourth of July festivities.
CHICAGO (AP) — The head of the Chicago Police Department says 600 officers will work to keep the city secure and safe during Fourth of July festivities. Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis says the hundreds more officers will patrol during the Taste of Chicago and at sites of three Lake Michigan fireworks shows on Sunday’s Independence Day holiday. Weis says department administrators have "canceled everybody’s day off." Weis say the effort "does stretch our resources a little bit" but the force has to be flexible. He says the extra officers will be a "reserve force." Chicago’s lakefront fireworks have been scheduled for July 3 for the last 35 years. But this year smaller fireworks shows were planned for July 4 in an effort to save the city money. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.