In a 1/23/13 report, Chicago's Inspector General's Office (IGO) recommended that the Chicago Police Department use civilians to staff 292 positions currently held by police officers.

The IGO looked at 370 administrative functions in the police department, and concluded that over three-fourths could be done by civilians—saving the city $6.4 million to $16.6 million per year.

“While overall civilian employment has declined in CPD,” the report said, “. . . average nationwide civilian employment in law enforcement agencies has been increasing.”

The IGO further advised that CPD analyze other positions to see if civilians could replace officers elsewhere.