RULES & ETHICS
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A SUBIECT MATTER HEARING ON THE POLICIES-PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE LAQUAN MCDONALD CASE
WHEREAS, Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old Chicago resident was shot 16 times by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke on October 20th 2014; and,
WHEREAS, The US Attorneys Office confirmed they were investigating the death of Laquan McDonald on April 13,2015; and,
WHEREAS, The City Council approved a $5 million settlement with Laquan McDonald's family which required that the video showing his death remain sealed until investigations were complete on April 15, 2015; and,
WHEREAS, A freelance journalist sued the city to force the release of dash cam video showing the shooting of Laquan McDonald; and,
WHEREAS, On November 19, 2015, A Cook County Judge ordered the city to release the dash cam video showing Laquan McDonald being shot by Officer Jason Van Dyke; and,
WHEREAS, On December'4,2015 the City of Chicago released hundreds of pages of police reports surrounding the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald; and,
WHEREAS, The City Council Finance Committee approved a $5 million settlement to be paid to the family of Laquan McDonald without having seen the dash cam footage ofthe incident, and after a conversation with the City's Corporation Counsel; and,
WHEREAS, Some members ofthe City Council believe they made decisions without having access to sufficient information to make a well-informed decision; and,
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago administration recognizes that public dissatisfaction exists with the information available concerning the policies and processes that were utilized in the Laquan McDonald case, the timeline for the arrest and charge of Officer Van Dyke the justification for the 13-month delay in charges for Officer Van Dyke, and the justification for the $5 million payout to the McDonald family; and,
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council finds that information regarding the activities of City government must be widely dispersed in order to foster public trust and to improve the quality of its decisions; and,
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council finds that transparency in government promotes accountability and provides information to its citizens regarding the business ofthe City; and
WHEREAS, The City Council recognizes that the utmost level of transparency is necessary to restore public trust in City government and elected officials; and,
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council intends, with this resolution, to establish a policy of transparency and openness over and above previously established requirements for the purposes of answering pertinent questions constituents and the general public have concerning the details surrounding the handling of the Laquan McDonald case specifically as it relates to the role of the current administration and City Council; and,
WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon this legislative body to call upon officials in the Mayor's Office, including the Mayor and Corporation Counsel to provide more transparency about the details ofthe Laquan McDonald case;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That we, the undersigned members of the City of Chicago City Council, gathered here this 9th Day of December, 2015 do hereby request that the Committee of Rules & Ethics expeditiously convene a public hearing to receive testimony from the public, the Mayor, and representatives of the City of Chicago administration, including the Mayor and Corporation Counsel, as well as expert witnesses to determine definitive answers to the questions that were raised by members of City Council and the general public regarding the Laquan McDonald case.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the Honorable Michelle Harris, chairman of the Committee on Rules & Ethics along with other city officials that can provide any pertinent information concerning this issue.