Committee on Police and Fire meeting, March 13, 2026
- When: Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Police and Fire
- Video: https://vimeo.com/1173376218
- Transcript: full text (5,911 words, automatic 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 considered two appointments. Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability Executive Director Adam Gross described the national search that led the commission to nominate Interim Chief Administrator LaKenya White to lead the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and committee members questioned and commended her. The appointment of LaKenya White as COPA Chief Administrator passed on a voice vote. The committee also passed, on a voice vote, the appointment of Chicago Police Deputy Chief Chris Papayiannou as a member of the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board. One member of the public spoke during public comment, and both items were to be reported to the City Council meeting on March 18, 2026.
Topics: COPA Chief Administrator appointment, Police accountability, Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board, Board appointments, Youth engagement, Public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 18:43 Approval of the Rule 45 report: passed
- 19:59 Appointment of La Kenya White as Chief Administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA): passed
- 46:09 Appointment of Chris Papayiannou as member of the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Chris Taliaferro (chair): Thanked the commission for bringing the nominee forward and asked Interim Chief White to keep COPA staff motivated and encourage continued education for investigators. (44:06); Thanked Deputy Chief Papayiannou and said his Police Department experience would benefit the city on the Emergency Telephone System Board. (50:12)
- Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Thanked the nominee and asked how COPA could engage young people, citing a disconnect between the Police Department and youth. (42:31)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Asked Director Gross how many applications the national search received and what such a search costs. (30:20); Asked the nominee to be fair, thorough and open-minded, and said he was confident she would be. (31:51)
- Angela Clay (alderperson): Expressed support for the nominee, noted her Chicago background, and encouraged her to share patterns she sees with alderpersons. (32:26)
- Gregory I. Mitchell (alderperson): Asked the nominee why she wants the job. (33:33); Asked what the nominee would do differently based on her experience. (35:07); Asked whether a particular case had stood out to her during her career. (36:17)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Praised the nominee's career and her goal of changing COPA's perception, and said she would support the appointment. (38:44)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Said he supports the nominee, citing her experience, institutional knowledge and fairness, and said COPA's stigma stems partly from the change in name from OPS. (40:10); Commended the Emergency Telephone System Board appointee as well suited to the position and moved to pass the item. (49:50)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Commended the nominee for her emphasis on boots on the ground and institutional knowledge, and praised COPA's community affairs outreach. (41:26)
Exchanges between members
- 32:21 The chair thanked Alderperson Nicholas Sposato for his remarks.
- 32:26 Alderperson Angela Clay began by thanking her colleague who had just spoken.
- 39:59 Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis told the chair he had been trying to get his attention to speak.
- 40:07 The chair responded to Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis remark about being recognized.
- 44:03 The chair thanked Vice Chair Lamont J. Robinson for his question.
- 49:26 The chair recognized and thanked Alderperson Scott Waguespack.