police accountability coalition letter to mayor rahm emanuel

8/15/2019 Police Accountability Coalition Letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel

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June 8, 2016

Mayor Emanuel

Chairman Ariel Reboyras

Chairman Willie B. Cochran

And other Aldermen of

The Chicago City Council

City Hall

121 N. LaSalle St.,

Chicago, IL 60602

Coalition to Follow Up on the Police Accountability Task

Force

Dear Mayor Emanuel, Chairmen Reboyras, Cochran and other City Council Members,

We, the organizations and individuals listed below, are part of a growing coalition forming to

ensure that all the recommendations of the Police Accountability Task Force (“PATF”) are effectively

implemented and that the possibility of real change, as contemplated in the report, is realized.

As we all are aware, we have an historic opportunity to bring change to our entire law

enforcement infrastructure and to create a real and respectful relationship between the police and the

communities they are duty bound to serve and protect. The important steps in building that

relationship have to be premised on trust, respect, and transparency. That is why we write to urge you,

as our elected officials, to embrace those fundamental precepts in the next phase of implementing the

recommendations of the Police Accountability Task Force.

In a letter to the editor released on May 13, 2016, Mayor Emanuel indicated that he is

embracing three concepts recommended by the PATF, namely the creation of a civilian oversight board,a public safety inspector general (“IG”) and the creation of a new entity to replace the Independent

Police Review Authority (“IPRA”). The Mayor further stated that he plans to introduce an ordinance

embodying those three policy changes at the June 22, 2016 City Council session.

On Friday, June 3, 2016, IPRA released video, audio and police reports related to a range of

approximately 100 serious cases such as police-involved shootings and deaths in custody. That long-

awaited release was done in response to a February 2016 PATF recommendation on a video release

policy for the City. The release of this volume of materials and what we expect will be an on-going

adherence to this policy is a very significant step towards transparency and accountability and will

hopefully aid in restoring the legitimacy of the Police Department.

While the recent release of the video and related materials and the Mayor’s announcement

regarding replacing IPRA, setting up a citizen’s oversight board and a public safety IG are important

steps, much more needs to be done. First, the public should be invited into the discussion about all

elements of the planned ordinance. There must be meaningful engagement with all the communities

that will be deeply affected by the success or failure of these efforts, especially those on the South and

West sides of the City. In addition, in this City, we are fortunate to have a significant number of subject

matter experts on these and other topics regarding local policing. It is critically important to engage that


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expertise, as many of these experts

academic and reform communities

public, transparent process that inc

true of the civilian oversight board.

Please call on us.

We are not saying that the

that are made and enacted should

the types of community input and

prerequisite for such proposals.

On a broader level, and loo

the June 22nd

ordinance, it is essen

prioritizing, further defining and ef

recommendations, especially those

the Police Department. The Task Fo

operate in conjunction with one an

the full range of the recommendati

important expertise exists here in

elsewhere ready to partner with Ch

City Hall when people all over this

conversation.

We are asking all of our ele

the right thing, and propose seriou

opportunities to express their view

to involve those communities in th

the necessary credibility and vettin

to assist in making these efforts su

occur, but that actively encourages

We would be happy to me

forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Karen Sheley

Director, Police Practices Project

ACLU of Illinois

already participated in the PATF and/or are memb

here in Chicago. No ordinance will have any legiti

ludes the community and subject matter experts.

All of the signatories below stand ready to assist i

efforts to reform the system should be slowed dow

be the result of an open and collaborative process.

ublic hearings contemplated in the Task Force rep

king beyond the three recommendations that are c

ial that the City develop and announce a strategic

ectively implementing large segments of the Task F

involving community involvement and effective in

rce Report made clear that its recommendations w

other and that any real plan to affect change would

ons, rather than cherry-picking a few items. Here a

hicago to assist in this effort and there are national

icago in this work. There is no need for this work t

ity can and should be involved in this important co

cted leaders to seize the opportunity that this mom

reforms only after the relevant communities have

s on and participate in the crafting of those reform

formulation of the reforms will virtually guarante

g to succeed. Many people and organizations in th

cessful. But we must have a process that not only

it.

t with you and discuss in greater detail our concer

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ers of the legal,

acy without a

his is particularly

this process.

n, but proposals

At a minimum,

rt should be a

ontemplated for

lan for

orce

ernal changes at

ere intended to

have to include

gain, relevant and

leaders here and

be cloistered in

mmunity

ent presents, do

had real

measures. Failure

that they lack

City stand ready

permits that to

s. We look


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E. Hoy McConnell, II

Executive DirectorBPI

Malcolm Rich

David Melton

Chicago Council of Lawyers/Appleseed Fund for Justice

Tracy Siska

Executive Director

Chicago Justice Project

Shari Runner

President and CEO

Chicago Urban League

Jesus “Chuy” Garcia

Commissioner

Cook County Board of Commissioners

Bonnie Allen

Paul Strauss

Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights


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Amy Campanelli

Public Defender of Cook County

Victor Dickson

Former Member

Police Accountability Task Force

Lori E. Lightfoot

Former ChairPolice Accountability Task Force

Sybil Madison-Boyd

Former Member


Lisa Schneider Fabes

Former Project Manager


John Bouman

President

Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law

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police accountability coalition letter to mayor rahm emanuel

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