S U BSIIIUIE ORDER
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago faces increased shooting incidents and homicides, with a 139% increase in reported murders in July 2020 over July 2019, making July 2020 the most violent month the City has seen in 28 years; and
WHEREAS, In order to meet this recurring and intractable challenge, the City must shift its policing focus, and should look to other cities' approaches to similar concerns over public safety and policing, including the variety of community policing strategies and programs that have already been adopted around the country; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, Racine, Wisconsin adopted a unique, but ultimately successful, community policing program called Community Oriented Policing Houses, or "COP Houses", a program which has been adopted by other cities in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee; and
WHEREAS, Under this program, Racine purchased or rehabilitated older residences to serve as community outposts in which police officers were stationed, to help provide long term stabilization of neighborhoods by fostering relationships between officers and community members, improving the quality of life in the neighborhood, reducing crime, and empowering citizens to take back their neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, COP Houses in Racine have often led to improved property maintenance, reduced crime rates by as much as 70%, and improved relationships between communities and the police; and
WHEREAS, The City and the Chicago Police Department should look to other successful community oriented policing programs, including COP House, to keep our communities safe and rebuild relationships with our residents; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department shall review and take all necessary actions, consistent with appropriate safety, security and community policing protocols, to approve a community policing pilot program commonly referred to as a "COP House" in the 5th P...
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