[in person] Chicago Police District Council - Special Quarterly Meeting All Police District Councils

Chicago Police District Councils

Saturday, March 8, 2025
10:00 a.m. — 2:30 p.m. CST

View meeting details

Add to iCal

Add to Google Calendar

5015 S Blackstone Ave Chicago, IL 60615 (Directions)

Kenwood Academy, Door 6

This is an in-person assignment and will include an additional hour of pay. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK the meeting details on the day of your assignment, as dates and locations sometimes change.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Reine Rambert

Police District Council members articulated common challenges they face, including: insufficient police interaction with community members, slow police response times, police understaffing and turnover, and difficulties attending roll calls.

Live reporting by Ebony Ellis

Police District Council members articulated common challenges they face, including: insufficient police interaction with community members, slow police response times, police understaffing and turnover, and difficulties attending roll calls.

Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 2/48
Here is the agenda for today’s meeting. chicago.gov/content/dam/ci…
chicago.gov/content/dam/ci…
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 3/48
The purpose of the community commission for public safety and accountability (CCPSA) is to “bring police officers and Chicago residents together to plan, prioritize, and build mutual trust; strengthen the police accountability system.” Read more at chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…
chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 4/48
We are currently in the public comment portion
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 5/48
Each person has two minutes to speak. One person from the 14th police district suggests a few apps for people to stay aware of safety in the area.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 6/48
Someone from the 2nd police district lets everyone know that he has a camera because he believes that this meeting is “historic.” He wanted to let everyone know to not be alarmed by him taking pictures.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 7/48
Now that the public comment portion is over, a question is posed. “What are the main policing issues that impacted your district last month. A few people answer with slow response time from police.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 8/48
Answers are being typed up and shared with everyone on screen.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 9/48
Someone from the 2nd and 15th police districts say that more opportunities to connect with officers are needed.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 10/48
Someone from the 22nd police district suggests for people to pay attention to the Facebook groups for CAPS to be aware of what is going on and other updates
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 11/48
The question posed now is providing an overview of questions and comments received from constituents last month.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 12/48
In police district 22, there are concerns of senior crimes.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 13/48
The next questions posed is updates the development of community policing initiatives and developing restorative justice in your district.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 14/48
“working with CAPS to do outreach with domestic violence resources in the neighborhood,” from the 6th police district.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 15/48
The questions from earlier in the thread will be on a form (district council monthly update form) for district council members to complete later in the meeting.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 16/48
A presentation begins in explaining the District Strategic Plan (DSP).
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 17/48
DSPs development is being explained.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 18/48
The SARA model (S)canning (A)nalysis (R)esponse (A)ssessmnet
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 19/48
Someone from the 2nd police district recalled a meeting a total of 15 people as an example of lack of community participation
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 20/48
Right now, the audience has been placed into breakout groups, answering prompts.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 21/48
Deirdre O’Connor, from the 20th police district council, talked about hosting the DSP meeting in her community
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 22/48
“The number one problem is narcotics. It doesn’t seem to be any understanding when it comes to understanding how bad the problem is,” a council member from the 11th police district council.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 23/48
Another question is posed in a breakout group. How do you currently feel about DSPs? How could they improve?
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 24/48
Bryan Ramson, Jr., chairman of the 11th police district council says, “multiple things need to be implemented. It seems like there is going to be pushback from the police.”
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 25/48
“There is no motivation for any change on the CAPS level,” says O’Connor.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 26/48
Ramson asks, “what mechanism can we implement. Are there going to be consequences? Reductions in funding?”
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 27/48
“Having just more public awareness of who is on the district council action plan (DAC),” says Erin Vogel (9th police district council).
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 28/48
Ramson mentions that other organizations in the community are trying to work to solve the same problem. These organizations have their own strategic plans. “The problem isn’t that we need more planning, we need action,” he says.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 29/48
Deondre Rutues, 15th police district council member says, “We need all levels of leadership involved. Captains, lieutenants, chiefs, sargents.”
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 30/48
“We’re going to have some friction amongst our own councils,” a police district council member says.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 31/48
Discussions of working groups, people who are interested are tasked with meeting between now and June of this year. Questions to think about are what is the consensus? What is common to what is being heard from all communities?
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 32/48
After a lunch break, Ayanna Thomas, First Deputy Director of CCPSA, answers a few questions.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 33/48
We are now in the community engagement item on the agenda.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 34/48
A goal is to figure out how to utilize tools to work for each police district.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 35/48
Here is a handout that is being referenced.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 36/48
For task number 11, the use of mail chimp will be implemented. The role out will begin later this month. For task number 12, resources for events and public meetings
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 37/48
For task 15, it is mentioned that COCs will help to capture those interested and connect them to district councils
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 38/48
Additional comments are being added onto the tasks.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 39/48
Joseph Williams, from the 7th Police District Council asks about the address function of mailchimp and if it is built from information provided by the CCPSA or the district council?
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 40/48
Ciera Whitaker, from the 6th police district council suggests the COC to accompany district councils to their meetings and community engagement activities and work more closely with community engagement
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 41/48
Rutues (15th police district council) mentions that mostly “oldheads” are using Facebook.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 42/48
Proposals are currently being discussed.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 43/48
Preparation for developing proposals are mentioned.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 44/48
Someone asks what is the 20 percent of the current district councilors would look like?
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 45/48
Sarah Krammerer, from the first police district council member asks, “could you consider what would the opposition says?” She goes onto say that everyone might not agree with these things (proposals).
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 46/48
One of the hosts say that feedback is welcomed.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 47/48
The next meeting will be on June 7th. Here are other announcements.
Ebony Ellis @Eb_Writes26 48/48
The meeting has adjourned at 2:29pm.

Agency Information

Chicago Police District Councils

See meeting notes for details

www.chicago.gov

See Documenters reporting

Each of the 22 District Councils is made up of three people elected by residents of the police district in regular municipal elections every four years, though anyone can participate in District Council work, and the more people who participate, the more effective the District Councils can be. The first District Council elections occurred in February 2023. Just as Chicagoans vote for a mayor and a local ward Alderperson, they also vote for up to three people to serve on the District Council.

The District Councils have several key roles:

  • Building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer. They can work with the police to address problems and set priorities.
  • Collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives.
  • Holding monthly public meetings, where residents can work on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities. They can also raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, and increase accountability.
  • Working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices. Working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district.
  • Ensuring that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability gets input from the community, so that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.
  • Nominating members of the Community Commission. Anyone who serves on the Community Commission must first have the support of elected District Council members.

(Source: Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-070(a) and (e))

For a map of police districts, visit https://www.chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php#/?places_type=chipolicedistrict.

More from this agency

Police District Council 018 - Near North (Lincoln Park, Near North Side, West Town, Logan Square)

Chicago Police District Councils

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

6:00 p.m. CDT

Police District Council 024 - Rogers Park (Rogers Park, Edgewater, West Ridge)

Chicago Police District Councils

Sunday, April 27, 2025

3:00 p.m. CDT

Police District Council 024 - Rogers Park (Rogers Park, Edgewater, West Ridge)

Chicago Police District Councils

Sunday, April 27, 2025

3:00 p.m. CDT