# Committee on Police and Fire meeting, September 5, 2025 - When: Fri, Sep 5, 2025, 1:00 PM (Chicago time) - Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602 - Status: Scheduled & Published - Committee: [Committee on Police and Fire](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/police-and-fire) - Video: https://vimeo.com/1115568154 - Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1115568154.txt) (12,258 words, official captions) ## Meeting notes > AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time. The Committee on Police and Fire heard six public commenters, including speakers urging that Appendix G, the Chicago Fire Department affirmative action provision, be kept and enforced in the pending firefighter contract, and others raising concerns about police response and wrongful arrest. The committee approved its Rule 45 report and remote participation motions. It recommended approval of Era Patterson's appointment as executive director of the Office of Public Safety Administration after testimony from the Cook County Public Defender and the Cook County Board President's chief of staff; members discussed OPSA's medical division, the cost of personnel on medical leave, and the office's purpose. The committee then heard, with no vote, COPA's second quarter 2025 report from its interim chief administrator, covering 1,655 complaints, 10 officer-involved shootings, 603 pending investigations and 182 concluded cases. Topics: OPSA executive director appointment, COPA quarterly report, Fire Department affirmative action, medical leave and return to duty, public safety costs, police accountability ### Agenda items discussed - [18:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=1095) Motion to allow remote participation under Rule 59: passed - [18:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=1128) Public comment - [36:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=2215) Approval of the Rule 45 report for the July 10, 2025 meeting: passed - [37:42](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=2262) Appointment of Era Patterson as executive director of the Office of Public Safety Administration: passed - [59:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3588) Hearing on the Civilian Office of Police Accountability second quarter 2025 report: discussed ### Alderpersons who spoke - [Chris Taliaferro](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/29) (chair): Said Patterson's resume and witness testimony show a strong commitment to public service and that the city did well in appointing her. ([58:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3519)); Asked COPA for the average time to close a case and its oldest open case. ([1:12:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=4347)); Asked whether affidavits are still required and how anonymous complaints without affidavits are handled. ([1:13:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=4383)) - [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Expressed support for Patterson and expected her appointment to pass without opposition. ([48:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=2917)) - [Derrick G. Curtis](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/18) (alderperson): Welcomed Patterson, citing a phone conversation and praise from public defenders, and said he looks forward to working with her. ([49:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=2946)) - [Jason C. Ervin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/28) (alderperson): Asked Patterson what she has found to be good and bad about OPSA in her first three months. ([49:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=2985)); Asked whether it would be fair to judge her by reducing the number of police and fire members on medical leave who other city units deem fit for duty. ([51:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3117)); Said members not returning to work strain pensions and overtime budgets and that unresolved issues have led some Council members to question whether OPSA should exist. ([53:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3195)) - [Timothy R. Knudsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/43) (alderperson): Expressed support for Patterson and praised her early focus on leadership and management training for OPSA staff. ([56:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3384)) - [Jeanette B. Taylor](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/20) (alderperson): Said she had wanted OPSA eliminated because its purpose and cost were not explained, but after speaking with Patterson she supports the appointment and asked that the office explain its work to the public. ([57:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3444)) ### Exchanges between members - [48:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=2934) The chair thanked Alderperson Nicholas Sposato after his remarks. - [49:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=2979) The chair thanked Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis and recognized Alderperson Jason C. Ervin. - [56:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3378) The chair thanked Alderperson Jason C. Ervin after his questions. - [57:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3426) The chair thanked Alderperson Timothy R. Knudsen after his comments. - [58:25](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB?t=3505) The chair thanked Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor after her comments. ## Documents - [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/5abaa5b4-d1b7-4493-840a-83105c9c9b8e.pdf) - [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/058809a0-b4ca-407a-86d4-8e4e64c49a3c.pdf) - [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/4796bb0b-a174-47eb-abc4-d9edc5da9131.pdf) --- Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/1142CF0C-0B7D-F011-B4CB-001DD8068ABB ยท Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt