Story highlights Outspoken priest responds to news of hires: "We can't police our way out of this"

The hires will include 516 patrol officers, 200 detectives, 162 sergeants and lieutenants

(CNN) Reinforcements are coming to a violent Chicago.

As a major part of a plan to combat crime -- including the city's worst homicide rate in decades -- the police department said it will be adding nearly 1,000 positions to ranks.

The hires, which will take place over two years, will include more than 500 new patrol officers and 92 field training officers to help train the new recruits, Superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters Wednesday.

2016 base salaries Officers -- $47,604

Training officers -- $54,552

Detective -- $70,278

Sergeants -- $76,932

Lieutenants -- $87,402 Source: Chicago Police Department

There will also be promotions for existing officers, with 200 new detectives, 112 new sergeants and 50 new lieutenants, he said.

Johnson said the major hiring boost comes after a meeting a few months ago with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who helped Johnson build a plan to improve the department's strength.