Analysis: Proposals for Community Commissions for Public Safety and Accountability
The Chicago Council of Lawyers has analyzed two proposed ordinances to establish civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). Both ordinances — one proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot (“Mayor’s Proposal”) and one proposed by a group of community organizations (“Community’s Proposal”) — would establish a Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability with certain powers over the Chicago Police Department, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and the Chicago Police Board.
The Community’s Proposal, issued jointly by the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability, has been pending in the City Council’s Public Safety Committee since January; the ordinance proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been pending since May. In our analysis, we highlight the key differences between the two ordinances; make recommendations for resolving those differences; and endorse selected sections from each ordinance, but we do not take a position as to which proposal better suits community needs as a whole. The City Council Public Safety Committee is expected to vote on which proposal should be recommended for a full Council vote on Friday, June 18, at 10 AM.