# Committee on Police and Fire meeting, March 18, 2024

- When: Mon, Mar 18, 2024, 12:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: Room 201A, 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/manage/videos/923475495
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/923475495.txt) (12,336 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 approved remote participation requests and the February 5 Rule 45 report after hearing two public commenters. It recommended approval of Adrienne M. Johnson to the 1st Police District Council, with members voicing support. COPA Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten presented the agency's 2023 annual report, saying open investigations fell to about 600 from roughly 2,000 and describing the effect of the 18-month investigation cap in the new FOP contract; members asked about the superintendent's comments on officer wellness, older cases, complaint numbers by district, retraining, lawsuit costs and pensions. The committee then recommended approval of a deputy chief's appointment and First Deputy Fire Commissioner Mary Sheridan's reappointment to the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board, and adjourned.

Topics: COPA annual report, police accountability, police district councils, Emergency Telephone System Board, 911 dispatch, police misconduct lawsuits, officer wellness, public comment

### Agenda items discussed

- [1:13:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=4419) Rule 59 remote participation requests: passed
- [1:14:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=4470) Public comment period: discussed
- [1:23:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=4992) Approval of the February 5 Rule 45 report: passed
- [1:23:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5025) Appointment of Adrienne M. Johnson as member of the District Council for the 1st Police District (A2024-0007824): passed
- [1:30:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5403) Rule 59 remote participation for Alderpersons Ervin and Mosley: passed
- [1:29:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5370) Civilian Office of Police Accountability 2023 annual report: discussed
- [1:59:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7143) Appointment of a CPD deputy chief as member of the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board (A2024-0007285): passed
- [2:11:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7905) Reappointment of Mary Sheridan as member of the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board (A2024-0007286): passed
- [2:12:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7950) Motion to adjourn: passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Chris Taliaferro](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/29) (chair): Asked COPA's chief administrator whether she agreed with the police superintendent's statement linking COPA investigations to officer well-being. ([1:36:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5799)); Said officer mental health is very important and that any impact of investigations on it should be examined. ([1:40:58](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6058)); Credited COPA for reducing open cases to about 600 and asked about its oldest open cases. ([1:41:30](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6090))
- [Nicole T. Lee](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11) (alderperson): Thanked Adrienne Johnson for stepping up and asked what she hopes to accomplish on the district council. ([1:25:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5148)); Said she fully supports the appointment. ([1:26:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5211))
- [Timothy R. Knudsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/43) (alderperson): Said it is important to fill citywide boards and commissions, noted the 1st District council had been short a member, and expressed support. ([1:26:59](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5219))
- [Lamont J. Robinson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/4) (alderperson): Thanked Adrienne Johnson for taking on the role and said her Bronzeville experience will help. ([1:27:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5268)); Asked the new board appointee what experience and suggestions he would bring. ([2:04:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7479))
- [Pat Dowell](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/3) (alderperson): Said the 1st District needs representation from its south end as well as downtown and asked for unanimous approval of Johnson. ([1:28:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5313))
- [Jeanette B. Taylor](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/20) (alderperson): Asked how effective COPA investigations are, citing high numbers of excessive force, improper search and operational violation complaints. ([1:44:40](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6280)); Cited a recent multimillion-dollar settlement and asked what conversations are happening with the police pension board. ([1:45:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6318)); Said she supports COPA and district councils but sees no real change and questioned giving more money to anything tied to CPD. ([1:45:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6333))
- [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (alderperson): Congratulated the deputy chief on his swearing-in and noted Mary Sheridan is a 38th Ward resident. ([2:06:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7617))
- [Samantha Nugent](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/39) (alderperson): Said she had worked with the emergency telephone board at the county level and asked the appointees to explain how 911 is kept operational at all times. ([2:07:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7659)); Said the planning involved shows why the board deserves support and asked about radio interoperability with the county. ([2:10:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7803))

### Exchanges between members

- [1:25:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5145) The chair recognized Lee.
- [1:25:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5148) Lee thanked the chair.
- [1:26:57](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5217) The chair recognized Knudsen.
- [1:27:48](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5268) Vice Chair Lamont J. Robinson thanked the chair.
- [1:28:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5304) The chair recognized Dowell.
- [1:28:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=5331) The chair thanked Dowell.
- [1:44:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6273) The chair recognized Taylor.
- [1:44:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6276) Taylor thanked the chair.
- [1:55:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6918) The chair thanked Taylor.
- [1:55:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=6937) The chair followed up on statistics Taylor had referenced from the COPA report.
- [2:00:24](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7224) The chair recognized Taylor on the board appointments.
- [2:04:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7476) The chair recognized Vice Chair Lamont J. Robinson, to be followed by Sposato.
- [2:06:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7614) Sposato thanked the chair.
- [2:07:33](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7653) The chair recognized Nugent.
- [2:07:36](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7656) Nugent thanked the chair.
- [2:11:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542?t=7878) The chair thanked Nugent.

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/04470ee0-c2a1-4b3a-9f94-cf94db0152fc.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/ce1e4811-d89f-4004-8a90-2cace84346e8.pdf)
- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/63252021-581d-47e4-a43b-4733e5bcba62.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/956e7656-0540-4d48-aa6f-1a4f630f344f.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/96D87E44-A8E0-EE11-904C-001DD806E542 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt