POLICE BOOKS - Dennis Banahan

About the Chicago Police Department

On January 31, 1835, the State of Illinois authorized the Town of Chicago to establish its own police force. On August 15, Orsemus Morrison is elected Chicago's first constable, assisted by Constables Luther Nichols and John Shrigley. The three-man police force serves and protects a population of about 3,200. The Police Department pre-dates Chicago as a city.

Today, the Chicago Police Department is the second largest in the United States, serving approximately 2.9 million residents within the 228 square miles that constitutes the City of Chicago. The Chicago Police Department had, at the end of 2005, 13,323 sworn police officers and over 2,000 civilian personnel.

The Chicago Police Department is divided into 25 police districts. Each district has between 9 and 15 police beats, with a total 281 beats throughout the city of Chicago. Each of the 25 police districts is led by a district commander who, in addition to uniformed police officers, has teams of undercover tactical and gang police officers at his or her disposal. The Chicago Police Department Districts are organized into five larger organization entities called Areas. These area commanders report to the Bureau of Patrol.

In addition to the Bureau of Patrol, the Chicago Police Department has four other bureaus: Bureau of Investigative Services; Bureau of Strategic Deployment; Bureau of Crime Strategy and Accountability; and, the Bureau of Administrative services. Instead of a Chief of Police, the Chicago Police Department has a Superintendent of Police; and, the Bureau commanders hold the rank of Deputy Superintendent.

From the Book:

"Dennis Banahan retired from a colorful career with the Chicago Police Department, leaving his mark as one of its most highly decorated officers. He is the recipient of an almost unprecedented fifteen departmental commendations received for bravery and exceptional police service under every police administration for which he served during his thirty year tenure.

He was a Homicide detective from 1973-81. In 1981, he transferred into the Narcotics Section where he was detailed to the U.S. Department of Justice’s DEA Task Force. In 1984 he was promoted to Sergeant and later reassigned to the Narcotics Section as a supervisor. In 1991, he was promoted to Lieutenant and returned to the mean streets of Chicago’s South Side in the Englewood Police District. In 1996, he was assigned as the Tactical Coordinator of the Gresham Police District. He retired from the Chicago Police Department in 1999.

Mr. Banahan is a member of the Police Writer’s Club and the Mystery Writers of America. He currently writes a monthly column with author Gina Gallo for the Blue Murder online magazine and he has written articles for such other distinguished online magazines as the New York Cop. He is 52 years old, single and continues to make his residence in Chicago."