Committee on Police and Fire meeting, June 30, 2026
- When: Tue, Jun 30, 2026, 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
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1205553939
- Transcript: full text (6,625 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 heard three public commenters, approved its Rule 45 report, and took up two agenda items. The committee approved the reappointment of Walter Schroeder to the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board, which the chair said would be reported out at the next City Council meeting. COPA Chief Administrator LaKenia White presented the agency's first-quarter 2026 report, describing a pattern and practice investigations policy, work on disciplinary guidelines with the police department, and a reconstituted community advisory committee. Members asked about pending investigations, staffing vacancies, rising caseloads and budget resources, and the chief said COPA has about 34 vacancies and needs more resources. The meeting then adjourned.
Topics: COPA quarterly report, Emergency Telephone System Board, Appointments, COPA staffing, Police discipline, Budget, Public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 20:45 Public comment
- 30:42 Rule 45 report for the May 6, 2026 meeting: passed
- 31:12 Reappointment of Walter Schroeder as a member of the Chicago Emergency Telephone System Board (A2026-0025555): passed
- 35:59 COPA quarterly report, first quarter 2026: discussed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Chris Taliaferro (chair): Asked the COPA chief about staffing levels for investigating complaints efficiently and thoroughly. (44:03); Asked how first-quarter case intake compared with previous quarters and whether any case type was increasing. (45:43)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Thanked Walter Schroeder for his years of service and said the Emergency Telephone System Board is important to the city. (34:49)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Asked whether the 589 pending investigations listed in the handout had already been started. (43:40)
- Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): Commended the COPA chief's work and asked whether the agency has the resources it needs heading into budget season. (47:00)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Asked what is holding up COPA's vacancies and how long onboarding takes. (48:13); Said she hopes the budget office releases positions early because onboarding takes months, and asked for the information through the chair. (48:38)
Exchanges between members
- 35:25 The chair thanked Curtis after his remarks on the reappointment.
- 48:06 The chair thanked Vice Chair Lamont J. Robinson after his question to the COPA chief.
- 49:12 The chair thanked Lee after her questions on COPA vacancies.