An Ordin.ince in Relation to Police Oversight Establishment of COPA and PSD
ORDINANCE
(AS AMENDED)
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago ("City") is a home rule municipality as described in Section 6(a), Article VII ofthe 1970 Constitution ofthe State oflllinois, and as such may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, The City established by ordinance at Chapter 2-84 of the Municipal Code of Chicago a Department of Police to protect the health, safety and welfare ofthe residents ofthe City; and
WHEREAS, Effective oversight is essential to maintaining a professional, well-managed, ethical and properly functioning Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Both the Police Department and the residents of the City whom the Police Department serves should be able to rely on an impartial, effective, and adequately-resourced oversight office to conduct objective, thorough, and independent investigations into the matters within the office's jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, Trust in the oversight office's ability to provide independent oversight is critical and must be established and maintained; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor and the City Council are committed to providing the resources needed to properly investigate allegations of police misconduct, ensuring the expertise of personnel who conduct such investigations, and establishing the credibility of the investigations and inspiring the community's confidence in their quality and independence; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor of the City of Chicago ("Mayor") established the Police Accountability Task Force ("PATF") to review the system of accountability, oversight and training that is currently in place for the Police Department and recommend reforms to the current system to improve independent police oversight; and
WHEREAS, The PATF actively engaged the community, victims' rights groups, law enforcement, and youth, religious and elected leaders to ensure its findings and recommendations were base...
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