Crime & Law
Stalemate Over Serious Chicago Police Discipline Cases to Continue as Illinois Supreme Court Weighs Police Union’s Plea to Intervene
(WTTW News)
A legal stalemate that has lasted nearly a year and a half will continue as the Illinois Supreme Court considers whether to weigh in, keeping the system Chicago officials used for 60 years to hold officers accused of the most egregious misconduct in a deep freeze.
An appeals court ruled last month that Chicago police officers accused of serious misconduct have the right to ask an arbitrator — and not the Chicago Police Board — to decide their fate, but those proceedings must take place in public.
That decision upheld the effort backed by the city’s largest police union to upend Chicago’s police disciplinary system but affirmed a ruling that rejected the Fraternal Order of Police’s demand that an arbitrator decide behind closed doors whether officers facing serious allegations of misconduct should be terminated or suspended for more than a year.
The Chicago Police Board holds its meetings in public and allows input from Chicagoans, while arbitrations traditionally take place behind closed doors and are not open to public scrutiny.
The 2-1 decision by Illinois’ 1st District Appellate Court was reached in error, according to the appeal filed by the police union asking the Supreme Court to take up the issue.
The court will consider the request during its November term, said Christopher Bonjean, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court.
That will ensure the deadlock will continue for at least several more months, Chicago Police Board President Kyle Cooper said.
“While unsurprising, this appeal will further delay the establishment of an arbitration process, increase the backlog of cases awaiting hearing and ultimately cost taxpayers and officers accused of serious misconduct substantial amounts of money,” Cooper said in a statement. “The delay and uncertainty caused by this appeal deny accused officers, alleged victims of misconduct, and the public the timely resolution they deserve.”
The union’s appeal keeps 25 cases in limbo — including three that seek to terminate officers accused of killing Chicagoans without justification, including the officer that shot and killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo in 2021.
Five other officers face lengthy suspensions or terminations for using excessive force against members of the public, police board records show.
Another five officers face termination after being accused of committing domestic violence, police board records show.
Three other officers are facing charges of violating department rules by failing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, police board records show.
Cooper’s pleas to officers facing discipline to allow the police board to resolve their cases has been rejected by the union, and all but a handful of officers.
Once the legal fight is over, it will likely take months for city officials to set up a new system to work through the now massive backlog of cases.
WTTW News coverage of policing and police reform is supported by The Joyce Foundation.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
