Pioneering the Neighborhood Policing Initiative through dedicated sector ownership, advanced problem-solving, and deep community integration.
The District Coordination Officer (DCO) is the driving force behind the Chicago Police Department’s Neighborhood Policing Initiative (NPI). Assigned to a specific sector—a cluster of individual beats—DCOs serve as the consistent, familiar face of the department for neighborhood residents, business owners, and community organizations.
Unlike traditional beat officers who are tethered to the 911 dispatch radio, DCOs are strategically given the operational freedom to step away from routine emergency calls. This crucial flexibility allows them to dedicate their time entirely to proactive, long-term problem-solving. By acting as the central nervous system for their sector, DCOs bridge the critical gap between active patrol operations, specialized district units, and the community-driven goals of the CAPS framework.
Comprehensive Responsibilities:
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Sector Ownership & Trust Building: * Serve as the primary, recognizable point of contact for a designated sector, fostering transparent, everyday relationships with residents that go beyond crisis response.
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Regularly attend and community events, community rallies, and informal neighborhood gatherings to ensure law enforcement remains approachable and engaged.
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Advanced Problem-Solving & Nuisance Abatement: * Utilize proactive methodologies to dismantle chronic crime and disorder conditions, such as persistent loitering, chronic calls, and disruptive neighborhood behavior.
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Build comprehensive service histories for chronic problem areas, analyzing trends to deploy long-term interventions rather than temporary, reactive fixes.
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Infrastructure & Environmental Strategy: * Act as a neighborhood navigator, collaborating with city agencies (e.g., Streets and Sanitation, BACP, Department of Buildings) to resolve physical signs of disorder that invite crime.
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Intra-District Coordination: * Serve as the vital intelligence link between the community and the district. DCOs funnel actionable, localized information directly to regular beat officers, Tactical teams, and District Commanders.
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Ensure that specific residential blocks or commercial corridors flagged by the community receive targeted "special attention" and that patrol resources are deployed efficiently based on real-time neighborhood feedback.
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9th District Coordination Officers (DCO)
P.O Kate Ohara
P.O Jeffrey Weber
P.O Joseph Ramones
P.O Christopher Wilde
P.O Angelica Arroyo
P.O Myra Ruiz
P.O Joseph Jacobo