First Division is Redistricting

The Department of Illinois has formally begun the process of consolidating the First Division from seven districts down to four, and your statement aligns with what the official documents show. The key details from the Department’s October 2025–April 2026 discussions confirm the restructuring plan and provide context for how we got here.

✔️ What the Department Has Decided

The Department’s District Revitalization Committee (DRC) reviewed and endorsed a plan to reduce the First Division from seven districts (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9) down to four. This consolidation is driven by long‑term membership decline and the need for more efficient administration.

✔️ Proposed New District Structure

The First Division Commanders agreed to merge districts as follows:

  • Districts 2 & 3 → 2
  • Districts 4 & 5 → 3
  • Districts 7 & 9 → 1
  • District 8 → 4  Stands alone (due to its geographic boundaries and coverage area)

This creates four districts total, matching the Department’s goal of eventually having four divisions with four districts each (16 statewide).

✔️ Historical Context

You mentioned that years ago the 1st and 6th Districts were dissolved. That is correct: Districts 2 and 6 were merged in 2010, with District 2 becoming the surviving district. This earlier consolidation set the precedent for the current restructuring

Why This Is Happening

The Department cites several reasons:

  • Membership decline across Cook County and statewide
  • Administrative efficiency — fewer districts means fewer officers, fewer meetings, and reduced cost
  • Geographic logic — some districts naturally align based on boundaries
  • Department By‑Laws requiring districts to maintain 1,000+ paid members (many are below this threshold)

✔️ What's Needed To Be Done 

The Department is requiring each new/revised District do a review of each and every Post in their jurisdiction on two areas or issues: Post Constitution/ByLaws, Post Financial position/condition.  A member of the transition team from your current District has or will be contacting you to schedule an appointment ASAP to review and certify these two areas.