Police Board

Criminal Justice

Thursday, April 15, 2021
7:30 p.m. CDT

Location unavailable

This is a remote assignment. The meeting will be live-streamed by CAN-TV at https://www.youtube.com/user/chicantv/videos. The video may not appear until at or a few minutes after the scheduled start time. If you do not see if right away, wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.

CAN-TV will also broadcast the meeting live on Chicago cable television channel 27.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Amy Qin

COPA speaks on Adam Toledo case, Police misconduct

View notes

Live reporting by Jade-Ruyu Yan

COPA speaks on Adam Toledo case, Police misconduct

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan

Hi, I'm live-tweeting tonight's Police Board meeting at 7:30pmCT for @CHIdocumenters #CHIDocumenters. They'll review police misconduct & discipline. I'm expecting Adam Toledo to be brought up, although it's not mentioned in the agenda. (chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…)

06:51 PM Apr 15, 2021 CDT

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 2/27

You can watch the meeting here when it starts at 7:30pm: youtube.com/channel/UCSgXu…
& you can follow along here for updates in tweet form

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 3/27

Updated link: cantv.org/live/

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 4/27

Meeting has begun. Ghian Foreman, Police Board President, currently speaking about Adam Toledo. Said that the video has been released in an "unprecedented amount of time" and thanking Sydney Roberts, from COPA, for this.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 5/27

Sydney Roberts saying COPA reached out to Adam Toledo's family the day he was shot. "We kept in constant contact with the family" over the past weeks. COPA has 60 days to release the video - they "aim to release it expeditiously" but without compromising the investigation.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 6/27

“There is .. more investigation that COPA must do.” Roberts asks for patience. Interviews, forensic analysis, medical examiners report, time for ISP to review reports. COPA doesn’t have control over this, says Roberts.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 7/27

"I ask for the public's patience to allow us to do a full, and thorough, and *objective* investigation of the entire incident," says Roberts, including other officers and their actions before the shooting, she says. "This is a homicide investigation -- that takes time."

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 8/27

Roberts says that the video release was delayed because the family wanted more time - although now we're on day 17, COPA, she says, was ready on day 11 (after the shooting occurred). She's emphasising how committed COPA is to providing the public with transparency & materials.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 9/27

Supt. David Brown now speaking. The officer that was "involved" is now on admin duties for 30 days. If- after COPA review- allegations are sustained with penalty of 1 yr., Brown then has 90 days to review COPA's recommendation, and then prepare charges if he agrees with the rec.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 10/27

Ghian Foreman says you can find the process that Brown is describing on Chicago Police Board website (I believe it's here: chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…)
Video in both English & Spanish explaining process.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 11/27

Tonight, there's one disciplinary case - they're taking a final decision on Officer Saharat Sampim, recommending he be discharged from CPD for false statements regarding a police shooting. (abc7chicago.com/chicago-police… - you can read about it here)

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 12/27

Motion passed, 9 to 0.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 13/27

Now time for public comment. Gwendolyn Woodsen (sp.?). Lina Bevins (sp.?). None of the speakers seem to be able to speak; rather than trying to give people the chance to work out technological problems, Ghian Forman is moving on to each next speaker.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 14/27

One comment is hoping for police to work more with their community about a rise in shootings in their area (I didn't catch which area). Brown responds saying officers can't join the call because they're deployed to protests tonight, but "we would love to follow up" with caller.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 15/27

Next speaker: Mr. Gonzalez (?) with Little Village Community Council, calling to start "community dialogue" to bring a "comprehensive youth program" to LV. This is regarding the shooting of Adam Toledo. They hope to create a "youth conference" with grassroots workers.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 16/27

Another speaker speaking on behalf of South Side communities, about "trying to keep things peaceful in our neighbourhoods," adding that the youth aren't coming to programs for youth engagement. Also hoping for "peaceful protests."

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 17/27

Another speaker Jennifer Edwards (?) talking about walks they have been holding in an effort to curb crime, and asking for help from police department etc. to connect with city departments on helping address crime on 79th St.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 18/27

Another speaker also talking about block club walks in Chatham. Next speaker is connected, also talking about shooting near 457 E 79th St. "This is a dangerous & unacceptable condition that exists at this intersection." They've made many 911 calls but say haven't had response.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 19/27

Ghian Forman saying that they've heard "from our neighbours on the South Side quite a bit" and asking how CPD can make "some incremental progress." Brown answers that with COVID, programs with young people have "been put on hold." But they're hoping to interact "more and more."

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 20/27

"We are being aggressive with our community policing strategy," Brown assures listeners, and hopes that as COVID eases they can do more.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 21/27

Next speaker is the mother of Derrick Suttle, a man who was shot and killed by police officer in 2012, after trying to run the officer over with a van (I think you can read about it here: chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/11/man…). She is asking for his case to be reopened.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 22/27

Next speaker: Krista (?) Noel speaking about Adam Toledo and other police shootings, telling CPD / COPA to "stop getting all this press on these snuff films."
“You know a way to keep us calm? Stop killing us.”

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 23/27

Motion to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:22pm CT.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 24/27

news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/south-…
Btw, you can learn more about Derrick Suttle (and his mother Flora Suttle) here -- story from 2019 by @javannaplummer1.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 25/27

(reporting on Suttle starts at 4:15 on the video)

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 26/27

More to note in @javannaplummer1 's reporting in 2019 about Derrick Suttle - "There was a cover-up, there was a code of silence," said Flora Suttle, a retired Chicago police officer who had been assigned to internal affairs division.

Jade Yan @jadeluciayan 27/27

Flora Suttle said Derrick's case "a part of" the "questionable" cases cited in Laquan MacDonald case (from @javannaplummer1 - news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/south-…)

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Agency Information

Chicago Police Board

www.chicago.gov

(312) 742-4194

Carisa.Boatman@cityofchicago.org

@PoliceBoard

See Documenters reporting

The Chicago Police Board is an independent civilian body that oversees various matters of the Chicago Police Department, mainly deciding disciplinary cases involving police officers or members of the department, and nominating candidates for Superintendent of Police. The nine individuals who sit on the board are appointed by the mayor.

If you’re attending a Police Board meeting in person, be prepared to go through security. You may hear graphic descriptions of violent events or loud verbal protest from members of the public.

Remote meetings may be viewed at https://cantv.org/watch-now/ or on CAN-TV, Chicago cable channel 27. The video recordings are later posted on Youtube and previously on CAN TV’s YouTube within a day or two.

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