Members of the Chicago City Council:

We, District Councilors, exist because of the need for transparency and accountability within the Chicago Police Department. However, efforts to sidestep oversight and dodge accountability continue in earnest. On June 26, 2023, an arbitrator issued an interim opinion that permits Department members facing charges of serious misconduct—which, if sustained, would require either termination or suspension of more than one year—to bypass adjudication by the Police Board and instead seek private arbitration.* As a “next step,” the arbitrator’s ruling suggests that the Chicago City Council may be called upon to ratify this decision, inserting language into the City’s collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police that would enshrine this end-run around transparency and public accountability. We urge you to reject this obstruction of the Police Board’s authority should it come to you for a vote.

This decision allows police officers who are accused of the most severe allegations to evade the Police Board in favor of arbitration—a process which disproportionately favors officers**—just when, for the first time, the Police Board will be chosen and governed by a newly elected civilian police oversight board, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Ratification of this decision would significantly erode efforts for transparency and accountability at the precise moment when both are within reach. This maneuver is a direct affront to our core values and is something that we must challenge. Such an action also deals a devastating blow to community trust in law enforcement's ability to self-regulate, underscoring the need for independent oversight now more than ever.

We call on City Council to ask yourselves, “Do we really want transparency and accountability?” and respond by voting down any measure which runs counter to that goal.

1. Alexander Perez, 2nd Police District Council Member

2. Ephraim Lee, 2nd Police District Council Member

3. Julia Kline, 2nd Police District Council Member

4. Kenya Franklin, 3rd Police District Council Member

5. Anthony Bryant, 3rd Police District Council Member

6. Brenda Waters, 4th Police District Council Member

7. Ponchita Moore, 5th Police District Council Member

8. Robert R. McKay, 5th Police District Council Member

9. David Boykin, 6th Police District Council Member

10. Eric Russel, 6th Police District Council Member

11. Theresa Chandler, 7th Police District Council Member

12. Joseph Wlliams, 7th Police District Council Member

13. Dion McGill, 7th Police District Council Member

14. Erin Vogel, 9th Police District Council Member

15. Kiisha Smith, 10th Police District Council Member

16. Elianne Bahena, 10th Police District Council Member

17. Rosemarie Dominguez, 10th Police District Council Member

18. Alees Edwards, 11th Police District Council Member

19. Bryan Ramson, 11th Police District Council Member

20. Chloé Vitale, 12th Police District Council Member

21. Leonardo Quintero, 12th Police District Council Member

22. Michelle Page, 12th Police District Council Member

23. David Orlikoff, 14th Police District Council Member

24. Ashley Vargas, 14th Police District Council Member

25. Deondré Rutues, 15th Police District Council Member

26. Carmelita Earls, 15th Police District Council Member

27. Anthony Tamez, 17th Police District Council Member

28. Steve Spagnolo, 17th Police District Council Member

29. Beth Rochford, 17th Police District Council Member

30. Robert Johnson, 18th Police District Council Member

31. Samuel Schoenburg, 19th Police District Council Member

32. Jennifer Schaffer, 19th Police District Council Member

33. Maurilio Garcia, 19th Police District Council Member

34. Anna Rubin, 20th Police District Council Member

35. Darrel Dacres, 20th Police District Council Member

36. Deirdre O’Conner, 20th Police District Council Member

37. Marilyn Pagán-Banks, 24th Police District Council Member

38. Veronica Arreola, 24th Police District Council Member

39. EdVetté Jones, 24th Police District Council Member

40. Saul Arellano, 25th Police District Council Member

41. Angelica Green, 25th Police District Council Member

_____________________________________________________________________________

*https://ilrb.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/ilrb/arbitration/documents/L-MA-18-016_Interim_Award.pdf

**https://igchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/OIG-Review-of-the-Disciplinary-Grievance-Procedure-for-Chicago-Police-Department-Members.pdf