Civilian Police Commission to change city's history of police reform by Suzanne Hanney
Chicago leads the nation in community engagement with its police department, advocates say, following the City Council’s 36-13 passage of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance on July 21. “Nowhere else do civilians have such significant powers when it comes to policing, including a role in hiring and firing the police superintendent, and in shaping police policy,” the Community Renewal Society (CRS) said in prepared material. The ordinance creates a new, seven-member, civilian commission that will oversee Chicago Police Department policy, the Chicago Police Board and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), which investigates officers’ actions.
Randy Duncan is
creating a finale, using dancers from throughout the Chicago area, with original music by Ira Antelis. (courtesy photo)
The new Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability will have the power to recommend candidates for police superintendent and for COPA administrator and also to remove the latter, with city council approval. However, the Chicago mayor will retain the power to hire and fire the superintendent.
(Michelle Reid photo)
FROM THE STREETS
performs an excerpt from Architect of a Dream, choreographed by Kia S. Smith to music by Solomon Ilori, which memorializes the legendary Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream” speech and aims to be a symbol of hope for audiences during this time of sociopolitical turbulence.
Oswaldo Gomez (Courtesy photo).
South Chicago Dance Theatre
The mayor’s final say-so over the superintendent was a compromise made by Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday, July 19; the ordinance passed the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety the next day and the full City Council another day later. The process of firing a superintendent would begin with a mayor’s written explanation, followed by a commission hearing, the superintendent’s response and a two-thirds City Council vote. Conversely, the commission could vote no-confidence in a superintendent, which would require the same twothirds vote of the City Council and the mayor’s letter. “Before, the mayor was the only one with the power to hire and also fire the superintendent. Now she shares that ability and responsibility with the commission and also the City Council,” said Oswaldo Gomez, ONE Northside police accountability organizer. “The other piece, which I think was even more disputed between mayor’s side and our side, had to do with way polices are created and implemented,” Gomez said. “Currently, the Chicago Police Department has the sole responsibility of creating and implementing policy. Now, there’s a civilian commission with the mandate to look at policy and see how it impacts the community. This commission, which was created by ECPS, has the ability to reject police department policy or even propose police department policy, even if the department is not in favor of it.” Story continues next page...
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