PROTECT US.

>> MORE ON THE NORTHWESTERN HAZING ALLEGATIONS.

>>> AND INVESTIGATIONS INTO ETHICS VIOLATIONS.

HERE IS BRANDIS WITH OUR TOP STORY.

>>> CHICAGO IS ON TRACK TO SPEND A RECORD AMOUNT ON POLICE OVERTIME, THAT IS ACCORDING TO NEW FINDINGS OBTAINED BY WTTW REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE.

HEATHER, BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS .

>> Reporter: CHICAGOANS SPENT $126.5 MILLION IN POLICE OVERTIME IN JUST THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2023, 50% MORE THAN THE CITY SPENT ON POLICE OVERTIME IN 2022.

IT TOOK THE CITY JUST FIVE MONTHS TO EXHAUST ITS BUDGET FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR, WHICH HAD BEEN SET AT JUST $100 MILLION.

>> WHAT ABOUT LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS?

>> IN 2022, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENT $210.5 MILLION ON POLICE OVERTIME, THAT WAS AN INCREASE OF 56% WHEN COMPARED TO 2021.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS NOT JUST AN ANOMALY.

THIS IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF MASSIVE POLICE OVERTIME SPENDING.

>> WHAT HAS CHICAGO PD HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE SPENDING?

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS MONEY IS BEING SPENT EFFICIENTLY.

BUT THEY ARE COPING WITH STAFFING CONCERNS THAT IS AFFECTING POLICE DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE NATION.

THEY HAVE HAD TO POLICE A NUMBER OF LARGE EVENTS NOW THAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS WANED.

THAT HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO INSURE PROPER STAFFING.

>> ANY SENSE OF WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2023?

>> Reporter: IF THIS RATE CONTINUES, THE CITY WILL END BEER SPENDING NEARLY $250 MILLION ON POLICE OVERTIME, WHICH WOULD BE A NEW RECORD.

I SHOULD SAY, THIS DATA ONLY GOES THROUGH JUNE 30th.

WE DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENT OVER THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

THAT WAS ONE WHERE OFFICERS HAD THEIR REGULAR DAYS OFF CANCEL.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A LITTLE EVENT CALLED NASCAR CHICAGO.

IT IS NOT SURE HOW MUCH THE RACE ITSELF BOOSTED OVERTIME SPENDING.

WE WILL ASK.

>> WE WILL BE LISTENING.