For Immediate Release: August 24, 2023
Contact: media@colorofchange.org 

In Chicago, the Fraternal Order of Police Threatens to Set Police Accountability Back 60 Years

Following the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police’s attempts to remove 22 serious disciplinary cases from the police board’s docket, and instead review those cases behind closed doors, Color Of Change released the following statement from Michael Collins, Senior Director of State and Local Government Affairs:

“Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police has made it clear that serious misconduct by officers will be overlooked in favor of advancing an agenda of corruption and closed-door decision-making. The police union has proposed that officers should have a choice for their disciplinary cases to be considered publicly by the police board — or privately by a third party. Rather than taking accountability for their decision-making and their breaches of public safety, this proposition would upend 60 years of precedent and allow officers who are facing serious accusations of misconduct to be let off with a slap on the wrist.”

“Police unions wield power that protects officer wrongdoings while neglecting the communities they are intended to serve. Violence, racism, and brutality are not uncommon behaviors of Chicago’s Police Department, and police unions only exacerbate these behaviors by resisting change. When officers are allowed to act as if they are above serious consequences, the path to transforming our criminal justice system remains blocked. At a time when police misconduct has reached new heights, Chicago should be investing in measures to increase public safety and police accountability, not protect those who breach public trust. As this proposal moves to the City Council, we demand that Chicago’s elected officials put Chicagoans first and refuse this irresponsible proposition by the police union.”

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