Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight meeting, October 12, 2023
- When: Thu, Oct 12, 2023, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Committee: Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/873417517
- Transcript: full text (10,084 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 Ethics and Government Oversight allowed two members to attend remotely, heard two public commenters, and approved its July 2023 Rule 45 report. It then held two subject-matter hearings, with no votes, on Office of Inspector General reports about Chicago Police Department enforcement of Rules 21 and 22, which require members to report misconduct, and Rule 14, which prohibits false reports. The Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety described under-enforcement of the rules, inconsistent policies on anonymous reporting, retaliation against officers who report, and sustained Rule 14 findings that were not consistently published or punished, while CPD's Bureau of Internal Affairs described planned training and messaging. Members asked about protections for officers who report misconduct, false complaints, retaliation lawsuits, expungement of Rule 14 findings, and implications for upcoming police contract and arbitration decisions.
Topics: police code of silence, duty to report misconduct, anonymous reporting, Rule 14 false reports, police discipline, retaliation, Inspector General reports
Agenda items discussed
- 31:47 Rule 45 report from July 2023: passed
- 32:08 Subject matter hearing on OIG's August 3, 2023 report on enforcement of CPD rules requiring members to report misconduct: discussed
- 1:14:03 Subject matter hearing on OIG's May 25, 2023 report on enforcement of CPD's rule against false reports: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Matthew J. Martin (chair): Asked when in 2024 in-service training on Rules 21 and 22 will begin and what it will cover. (1:12:01); Asked whether sustained Rule 14 violations had been expunged through settlements or mediation and whether that practice has stopped. (1:20:14); Requested written confirmation on expungement, saying expunged findings could affect disclosure obligations when officers testify in court. (1:24:24)
- Chris Taliaferro (alderperson): Supported anonymous reporting but asked whether there would be a mechanism to address and punish false allegations made by officers. (48:02); Asked what the biggest concern is for officers who do not report on other officers. (51:13); Said he supports a safe reporting system but asked whether reporting officers must give sworn statements and what protects their identity from disclosure. (52:28)
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Asked what metrics track whether officers who report misconduct are protected from retaliation. (59:12); Asked whether reports are broken down by type of misconduct. (1:00:51); Asked whether OIG had spoken with retired officers and what recommendations members should consider in the upcoming FOP contract. (1:05:04)
- William E. Hall (alderperson): Asked on behalf of a 6th Ward resident whether officers who reported misconduct faced retaliation leading to lawsuits and what lessons were learned. (1:08:10)