Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling vowed Wednesday to resist any attempt to eliminate altogether 984 police vacancies — even as Mayor Brandon Johnson struggles to erase a $1.15 billion shortfall after two straight years of deficit spending.

Johnson has ordered all of his department heads to cut 3 to 5% from their 2025 budgets.

Instead of cutting vacancies, Snelling said he plans to meet that $92 million mandate through a hiring slowdown. He plans to hold open those 984 police positions, but budget less money for those vacancies he knows the city won’t be able to fill.

“We do understand… that there’s a budget crisis and everybody is going to have to take a haircut,” Snelling told the City Council’s Budget Committee Wednesday during mid-year budget hearings.

“I just want to be careful t

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