AUGUST 2013
CITY OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
REPORT CONCERNING COPA'S RELEASE OF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS WHILE UNDER REVIEW BYTHE SUPERINTENDENT
CITY OF CHICAGO
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
740 NORTH SEDGWICK STREET, SUITE 200
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60654
JOSEPH M FERGUSON TELEPHONE (773)478-7799
INSPECTOR GENERAL FAX (773) 478-3949
TO THE MAYOR, THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY CLERK, THE CITY TREASURER, AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
The Public Safety Section (PS) of the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) releases this report concerning the external release of officer-involved investigative reports by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) in compliance with its obligations under both the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC) and the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Media reporting from late-December 2017 and January 2018-concerning the publication of and details within COPA's investigative report on Officer Robert L. Rialmo's fatal shooting of Quintonio LeGrier and Bettie Jones (Rialmo Report)-prompted OIG to review COPA's release practices while investigative findings and recommendations are under consideration by the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Government transparency is required to build and maintain public trust. For law enforcement oversight agencies, public transparency is critical to holding law enforcement accountable and maintaining legitimacy with the public. To ensure the longevity of transparency policies, however, such policies should be applied in a v manner that avoids the appearance of interfering with an ongoing investigation or disciplinary procedure. Integrity of the accountability process is as important as transparency of the process.
Under Illinois' FOIA, "[a]ll records in the custody or possession of a public body are presumed to be open to inspections o...
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