W E D N E S D A Y
March 1, 2023 Vol. 43, No. 31
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Police oversight group’s power expands slowly Gains access to more data on citizen complaints By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
The Oak Park Village Board received the first report from its Citizen Police Oversight Committee since the conclusion of the months-long equity assessment of the village’s police department by consultant BerryDunn. CPOC’s semiannual report, presented at the board’s Feb. 21 meeting, provided insight into how efforts to fortify the commission’s oversight powers have broadened the village’s ability to supervise policing. The report is altogether more expansive, especially when compared to the one that directly preceded it, not least of which because it is the first report to assess the village’s use of license plate recorders, known as Flock cameras. The village’s eight controversial cameras were approved by the village board last April without affording its committees the opportunity to provide input and without seeking the counsel of BerryDunn. This is also the second report since CPOC was granted the authority to review footage and audio recordings associated with citizen complaints. Reviewing the footage has been helpful to CPOC, Chair Donovan Pepper shared with the board, because
Visible Principal OPRF High School’s Lynda Parker named West Cook Principal of the Year SEE STORY, PAGE 12 TODD A. BANNOR
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See CPOC REPORT on page 6
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