RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Police Accountability Task Force recommended several reforms to civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department, including the replacement of the Independent Police Review Authority with a new civilian police oversight agency, the establishment of an inspector general for public safety, and the creation of a community safety oversight board; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor and Members of the City Council undertook a robust public engagement process to seek input from stakeholders throughout the City of Chicago, as well as sought input from other municipalities who have confronted similar issues, on how to most effectively implement these reforms; and
WHEREAS, At public hearings, community members have informed the Mayor and city officials of the need for a greater degree of community input into the process of police reform, and in particular the creation of the community safety oversight board; and
WHEREAS, It is essential for the City of Chicago to take immediate action to replace the Independent Police Review Authority and create the new Public Safety Deputy in order to give the public and our public safety agencies the certainty they deserve; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor and Members of the City Council have taken significant efforts to implement reforms suggested by the Police Accountability Task Force, including the preparation of an ordinance that replaces the Independent Police Review Authority with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which will have expanded jurisdiction and greater independence; and creates a new Public Safety Deputy to oversee the entire police discipline process; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor and Members of the City Council recognize that the community safety oversight board is a critical link between the residents of the City of Chicago and the police discipline process, and further recognize that full implementation of the civilian oversight reforms suggested by the Police Accountability Task Force will not be. complete until this board is established; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the Members of the City Council, assembled this fifth day of October, 2016, do hereby express and reaffirm our commitment to implementing the reforms proposed by the Police Accountability Task Force; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the Members of the City Council will continue to engage the community to inform the drafting of an ordinance creating a community safety oversight board, with the expectation of introducing such ordinance for consideration in 2017.