RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6 (a); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare; and
WHEREAS, police officers derive their duty and authority from the power given them through the City of Chicago's home rule power for the protection of the public; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a report at President Obama's direction in 2016 that found "increased diversity within law enforcement agencies serves as a critically important tool to build trust within communities;" and
WHEREAS, in interacting with the public, police officers rely on an established trust within the diverse communities throughout the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, police officers, acting as the public face of local government, should reflect the diversity of the communities to which they serve; and
WHEREAS, in Chicago, certain barriers, including background investigations that treat all criminal convictions alike, can prevent the Police Department from hiring the diverse officers it needs to connect with and serve all communities; and
WHEREAS, in Chicago, these barriers significantly target members of under-represented communities and in turn disqualify them from serving as police officers in their own communities; and
WHEREAS, a minor, non-violent infraction of the law or youthful indiscretion should not become a permanent barrier to a life of public service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Chicago does hereby
request Superintendent Johnson of the Chicago Police Department and Commissioner Choi of the
Department on Human Resources to appear before a Joint Committee on Finance and Public Safety ...
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