Op-Ed: Chicago’s Public Safety Gains Show Why Smart Investments Matter – In recent years, the city of Chicago has made significant progress toward its public safety goals. Reports of violent crime in Chicago fell sharply in 2024 and, despite the national narrative, continued to trend downward throughout 2025.
That progress is no accident, but rather a reflection of sustained investment, smarter strategies, and the growing recognition that public safety and economic stability are deeply interconnected.
During this same time, the city has become a top destination for corporate relocations, expanded its technology and innovation footprint, and secured billions of dollars in new investment across sectors ranging from quantum and fintech to advanced manufacturing and life sciences.
Companies choose cities where their employees feel safe, where infrastructure is reliable, and where long-term growth is possible. Chicago’s ability to compete for top talent and investment depends on its continued commitment to safe, stable communities.
While no single solution can claim credit for Chicago’s recent gains, the integration of responsible technology into law enforcement has played an important role. In 2022, the Chicago City Council approved the use of license plate reader technology as part of a broader effort to modernize how agencies prevent and solve crimes.
Since then, law enforcement in Chicago and across Cook County have increasingly relied on these tools to find missing children, investigate hit-and-run crimes, recover stolen vehicles, reduce the flow of illegal substances into neighborhoods, and bring violent offenders to justice. The technology helps officers identify suspects faster, generate timely leads in investigations, and, ultimately, deter crime before it happens.
For small businesses—particularly those in communities of color—this progress is essential. A strong public safety environment influences everyday decisions about operating hours, hiring, and whether customers feel safe visiting neighborhood commercial corridors. When crimes are solved more quickly, repeat offenses decline, and confidence returns to the community.
Public safety, in this sense, becomes an economic imperative.
As we look to continue the downward trend in crime across Chicagoland, it’s important to understand the role that license plate reader technology plays in maintaining safe communities.
License plate readers capture still images of vehicles in public spaces, similar to what any person can observe standing on a street corner. They do not use facial recognition. They do not record conversations. They do not monitor where someone shops, worships, or seeks healthcare. The data collected is limited to vehicle information such as license plate numbers, make, and model, and it is typically stored for a short, defined period before being deleted or tied to an active investigation.
Just as important, this technology operates within strict guardrails, including Illinois state law. Local law enforcement agencies have full control of the data, who can access it, and whether it can be shared, and many departments require formal approvals, audit trails, and written agreements before any information sharing occurs—important safeguards that are especially meaningful for vulnerable communities and communities of color.
Nationally, a staggering number of serious crimes never result in an arrest. Increasing the likelihood that someone who commits a crime will be identified and held accountable is one of the most proven ways to reduce crime overall. License plate readers are a critical tool for law enforcement officers that make our neighborhoods safer.
For business owners, the benefits are measurable: Employees feel safer commuting to work. Customers are more comfortable visiting commercial corridors. Entrepreneurs are more confident investing in storefronts, equipment, and people.
Chicago’s economic future depends on safe streets, thriving small businesses, and trust between communities and institutions. Thoughtful investment in proven public safety tools, including license plate readers, will ensure our continued momentum toward our public safety goals.
Dr. Cornel Darden, Jr. is the Chairman of the Board of the Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce.
Op-Ed: Chicago’s Public Safety Gains Show Why Smart Investments Matter
