Meet our Commander

Cmdr. Joseph k. Mark

Commander Mark is a 26-year member of the Department previously served as a Watch Operations Lieutenant in the 009th (Deering) District, which he now leads. Commander Mark has worked within the Bureau of Patrol for the majority of his career. While in the 009th District, he also served as the Tactical Lieutenant. Prior to his promotion to Lieutenant, Commander Mark was a Watch Sergeant in the Public Transportation Section and the 020th (Lincoln) District. He was also assigned to the 003rd (Grand Crossing) District, where he was a Tactical Sergeant and Watch Sergeant. Commander Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

The 9th District (Deering): Serving Chicago's South Side

The Chicago Police Department's 9th District, traditionally known as the Deering District, is a vital cornerstone of community safety on the city's South Side. Stretching across a diverse and vibrant collection of communities, the district is committed to fostering strong relationships between residents and the officers who patrol their streets.

Neighborhoods We Serve The 9th District provides police services to a wide array of culturally rich and historic neighborhoods, including:

  • Armour Square

  • Bridgeport

  • Brighton Park

  • Chinatown

  • Englewood

  • Fuller Park

  • Gage Park

  • McKinley Park

  • New City

  • The district is also home to Rate Field, famously known as Sox Park.

 

Local Representation Because of its expansive coverage, the 9th District works alongside multiple local representatives. The district's boundaries include all or parts of the following aldermanic wards:

  • 3rd Ward: Pat Dowell

  • 11th Ward: Nicole Lee 

  • 12th Ward: Julia M. Ramirez

  • 14th Ward: Jeylu B. Gutierrez

  • 15th Ward: Raymond A. Lopez

  • 16th Ward: Stephanie D. Coleman

  • 20th Ward: Jeanette B. Taylor

 

Illinois House of Representatives (State Reps): At the state level, the district's neighborhoods are represented by several members of the Illinois General Assembly, including:

  • 1st District: Representative Aaron M. Ortiz

  • 6th District: Representative Sonya M. Harper

  • 23rd District: Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Jr.

  • 24th District: Representative Theresa Mah

 

A Brief History The Deering District has a long history of protecting Chicago's South Side communities. For 70 years, the district's officers operated out of the old station built in 1938 at 3501 S. Lowe Avenue. As the neighborhoods grew and the demands of modern policing evolved, the district needed a facility that could better serve both the officers and the community.

On December 13, 2008, the district took a massive step forward when Mayor Richard M. Daley cut the ribbon on the new, state-of-the-art station located at 3120 S. Halsted St. At 44,000 square feet, the new building is nearly five times the size of the original 1938 station and earned a LEED Gold certification for its environmentally friendly design. More importantly, the modern station was built with community policing in mind, featuring a spacious public lobby and a dedicated Community Room to host CAPS meetings and further bridge the gap between residents and the 9th District Police.