As the FBI’s Chicago office continues to make terrorism a top priority, the bureau is facing pressure to help quell violence in Chicago, the Chicago Tribune reports.
But Robert Holley, the special agent in charge in Chicago, said his office lacks the staff to adequately combat violent crime. In addition to terrorism, his 850 agents, analysts and support staff, Â also are tied up investigating cyberattacks, financial fraud, political corruption and bank robberies. About half of the 850 are actually agents.
Holley pointed out that budget problems mean a hiring freeze.
“We will go after the worst of the worst, and we will go after the gang leadership. That has to be our focus,” said the 18-year FBI veteran, who has met with Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and plans to speak with Mayor Rahm Emanuel next month. “(But) if I put more resources on violent crime, I’d have to take away from other things… I’m not prepared to accept that risk right now.”
If you’re going to paraphrase the original Chicago Tribune story, at least ensure that your basic facts are straight. As the Tribune correctly points out, the Chicago FBI Field Office has 850 employees, but only about half that number are Special Agents. The remaining employees are support staff, analysts and other non-law enforcement employees. Your summary of the Tribune story is very misleading by stating that Chicago has 850 Special Agents, when in fact, it only has about half that number.