Supporters of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety plan call for more police accountability during a rally April 21, 2021. (Heather Cherone / WTTW News)
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Supporters of a long-stalled plan that would put an elected board of Chicago residents in charge of the Chicago Police Department said Friday they are close to an agreement with Mayor Lori Lightfoot that could pave the way for a final vote next week.

Supporters of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety plan call for more police accountability during a rally April 21, 2021. (Heather Cherone / WTTW News)
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Police reform advocates and progressive aldermen blasted Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to create a seven-member civilian board to oversee the Chicago Police Department, saying Tuesday that it would not help restore trust in the beleaguered department.

(WTTW News)
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposal would keep the power to run the embattled police department concentrated in the mayor’s office even after decades of scandals, misconduct and brutality. 

Supporters of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety plan call for more police accountability during a rally April 21, 2021. (Heather Cherone / WTTW News)

It’s crunch time for Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who first promised to introduce her own plan for an elected board to oversee the police department eight months ago.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa wants to create an elected council to replace the Chicago Police Board and Civilian Office of Police Accountability and give the community a bigger voice in police oversight.

Sharon Fairley

Newly released videos capturing the events leading up to the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Paul O’Neal sparked protests over the weekend.

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The Independent Police Review Authority released police videos showing the shooting of Paul O’Neal.

“IPRA employees are capable and educated people,” said IPRA investigator Lakenya White. “We go beyond scope to find evidence, to find witnesses.”

Investigators at the Independent Police Review Authority and the union that represents them are pushing back against the mayor's call to scrap and replace the agency.

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Just days before the two-year anniversary of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, that sparked protests nationwide, the Movement for Black Lives has released an official platform that outlines its demands.

Hillary Clinton becomes the first woman to be nominated by a major party in the U.S. Meanwhile, Mayor Rahm Emanuel takes a hit at the Democratic National Convention and Illinois Democratic delegates focus on finding a challenger to Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018.

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A new report clears a division of the city's law department of intentional misconduct, but makes more than 50 recommendations to improve the practices of the division, which defends Chicago police officers against allegations of misconduct and civil rights violations.

Rudy Giuliani (Evan Garcia / Chicago Tonight)
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Republican former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Thursday didn't hold back his criticism of Chicago's ballooning murder rate and the handling of it by his counterpart, Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

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The latest report from Chicago’s inspector general gives a nod to ongoing efforts to reform the Chicago Police Department, but warns the process must not be rushed and community members must not be excluded.

Where do law enforcement and the communities they're sworn to serve start to heal and end years – if not decades – of suspicion, antagonism and violence? We look at solutions to end the mistrust and contentious relations between minority communities and law enforcement.   

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Chicago residents sound off about the Chicago Police Department as part of the U.S. Department of Justice probe. A live report from the community forum.

Over the weekend, Chicago police arrested 21 protesters on charges ranging from obstructing traffic and resisting arrest to aggravated battery of a peace officer. Demonstrators say more protests are planned for the week ahead.