We’re taking a look at the past four months of the new councils and how everyday Chicagoans can play a role in police accountability.

By Grace Del Vecchio

Some police district councils are working to explain what they do to the public — here’s an example from the 19th district (Source)

Throwback to February when we told you about these brand new police district councils and their role in police accountability: These councils are the result of the Empower Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance, passed by Chicago City Council in July 2021. It created two types of bodies: a citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability and District Councils, which are elected in each of Chicago’s 22 police districts.

The goal of both the Commission and the District Councils was to give Chicagoans a meaningful new role in police oversight and explore and advance alternative effective approaches to public safety. So after a summer of the ECPS ordinance in effect, where do Chicagoans stand with this goal?

Since May, Chicago Documenters have covered over 15 police district council meetings and counting. Here are some things they’ve seen:

  1. Some of the councils had rocky starts — council members reported that the city was slow to activate council members’ official City of Chicago emails and community members voiced confusion around the role of the councils. 

  2. Documenters reported a tense atmosphere during the 9th Police District Council’s first meeting at Saint Gabriel Catholic School in Canaryville, a conservative white pocket of the Near Southwest Side district, which includes parts of Back of the Yards, Bridgeport, Brighton Park and McKinley Park.

  3. A public commenter who spoke about alternatives to police violence was booed by other meeting attendees, and a group of older white people walked out. Several of the non-white attendees later voiced that the environment at the meeting made them feel unsafe and uncomfortable.

  4. Other meetings were more productive, creating space for discussion. During their second meeting, 20th Police District Council members Anna Rubin, Darrell Dacres and Deirdre O’Connor asked constituents of the North Side district that includes parts of Andersonville, Edgewater, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square and Uptown about what safety means to them. Attendees brainstormed initiatives to make the district safer and guest presenters from whom they would like to learn.

What does this mean for Chicago residents?

The meetings have tackled some of the biggest problems with policing in Chicago. During an 8th District Police Council in July, treatment of migrants who are currently being housed in police stations sparked questions from community members. The meeting came days after news broke that police officers were being investigated for having “improper sexual relations” with immigrants who had been sleeping in police stations. While the reported misconduct took place in the 10th police district, a community member said that it should be considered an issue of public safety. 

Civic power often begins with you, showing up to meetings happening in your community. Organizers fought for the creation of the district councils so that Chicago residents can voice their ideas and concerns around public safety and demand answers from stakeholders. At many of the meetings, council members have passed out community surveys and taken questions and comments, sometimes asking questions that spur discussion. Sometimes different stakeholders, including community leaders, alders and Chicago Police Department officials will be present as well to take questions and provide information.

What can you do?

Now that we’ve recapped you on police district councils, here are your next steps:

  1. Find your local police district here.

  2. Head to chicago.gov and select your district’s specific page. Here you’ll find:
         a. The names of your district council member
         b. Notices and agendas for upcoming meetings
         c. Minutes from past meetings

  3. Get acquainted with your district council members. Check out the Chicago Reader’s deep dive into each of the police district council candidates.

  4. Document a police district council meeting near you! Every week, we update the Chicago Documenters assignments page, so if you’re eligible for assignments, be on the lookout and apply to take notes or live tweet a meeting. Note: all police district council meetings are in-person, so these meetings are not available to Document virtually.

    a. If you don’t want to Document, then just show up and bring a neighbor!

  5. Bonus: learn more about the long fight by Chicago organizers to get police accountability on the ballot. 

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