# Committee on Public Safety meeting, July 15, 2025

- When: Tue, Jul 15, 2025, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: [Committee on Public Safety](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/public-safety)
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928579/video/1101589746
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1101589746.txt) (8,894 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 Public Safety, chaired by Alderperson Brian Hopkins, heard four public commenters, including speakers opposing the proposed assault-on-public-officials ordinance on First Amendment grounds and one urging an ordinance on police drone use. The main item was an ordinance from the Mayor's Office and the Law Department creating a city offense of assault against public officials. The Corporation Counsel said it fills a gap so the city can impose fines or jail time locally and does not reach protected speech. Members asked about the difference between assault and battery, threats sent by email, stalking, retroactivity, possible exclusions for domestic incidents, and protections for family members. The committee recommended the ordinance do pass, and a separate proposed ordinance about the Office of Public Safety Administration and FOIA was re-referred to a joint committee.

Topics: assault against public officials, First Amendment, threats against elected officials, police drones, domestic incidents, OPSA FOIA ordinance, public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [20:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=1233) Ordinance amending the Municipal Code regarding assault against public officials (O2025-0018154): passed
- [53:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=3195) Re-referral of proposed ordinance 18168 on Office of Public Safety Administration FOIA handling to a joint committee of Police and Fire and Immigrant and Refugee Rights: passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Brian Hopkins](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/2) (chair): Asked how the ordinance would interact with the state criminal code and whether police could arrest and detain someone during an ongoing incident. ([22:27](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=1347)); Said further research is under way and further proposals on the topic are expected in the near future. ([51:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=3093))
- [Derrick G. Curtis](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/18) (alderperson): Cited the shooting of state officials in another state and his years in law enforcement, said he supports the ordinance and does not see it taking away First Amendment rights. ([23:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=1434)); Asked whether the ordinance could be amended to exclude incidents between spouses arising in the heat of the moment. ([42:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2526))
- [James M. Gardiner](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/45) (alderperson): Asked what counts as reasonable apprehension of battery, whether verbal threats count, and what remedies officials should pursue. ([27:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=1659)); Asked whether the ordinance would cover stalking, such as someone parking in front of an official's home. ([30:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=1854)); Asked whether the ordinance would be retroactive and whether there is a time limit for reporting. ([39:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2394))
- [Desmon C. Yancy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/5) (alderperson): Said he had received two death threats in under two years and asked whether verbal threats without contact would be covered. ([31:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=1897)); Asked whether protections for spouses, domestic partners and minor children of officials were considered. ([51:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=3111))
- [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (alderperson): Described being surrounded by protesters at a library event and asked about intended versus unintended assault and the role of police at protests. ([34:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2077))
- [Matthew J. Martin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/47) (alderperson): Asked whether an offender must know the person is a public official and whether detailed threatening emails could create reasonable apprehension of an imminent battery. ([37:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2265))
- [Jessica L. Fuentes](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/26) (alderperson): Disagreed with excluding domestic incidents and said she supports the ordinance because all public officials face a high risk of threats. ([45:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2715)); Asked whether the ordinance could be amended to include documented threats of violence, noting six members had received a violent email that day. ([46:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2790)); Said she was not talking about political disagreement but about documented threats of physical harm to officials and their families. ([49:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2964))
- [Andre Vasquez Jr.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/40) (alderperson): Explained that the OPSA FOIA ordinance was being re-referred so the Police and Fire and Immigrant and Refugee Rights committees could discuss it jointly. ([53:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=3220))

### Exchanges between members

- [27:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=1650) Hopkins thanked Curtis for his balanced position.
- [34:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2079) Manaa-Hoppenworth said her question followed along the lines of Yancy's.
- [45:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442?t=2715) Fuentes respectfully disagreed with Curtis's suggestion to exclude incidents between spouses.

## Documents

- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/f6d3820e-9a9d-4da2-abc5-fcd29409b640.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/57d7c902-5784-4437-b090-63e6da73c64c.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/14202a90-3527-4c18-abe7-e268c970ef63.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/54A3B954-C75D-F011-BEC1-001DD80DE442 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt