Live reporting by
Matthew Carnero-Macias
Matthew Carnero Macias
@Mister_MCM
Good evening. I’ll be live-tweeting the Chicago Police Board meeting scheduled for 7:30 PM, taking place entirely via audio conference due to COVID-19. I’m @ChiDocumenters reporting in the public’s interest for @CityBureau & #ChiDocumenters.
07:45 PM Mar 19, 2020 CDT
Their agenda can be found here chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…. The Chicago Police Board is a governing body that is comprised of private citizens. The members are appointed by the Mayor and passed in City Council. Their mission can be found here chicago.gov/city/en/depts/….
There are currently nine members on the board. Their expertise and leadership can be found here chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…. Their entry in Chicago’s Municipal Code can be found here chicago.gov/content/dam/ci….
Chicago Police Board Members present for the audio conference meeting this evening are:
Paula Wolff, Matthew Crowl, Michael Eaddy, Steve Flores, Jorge Montes, John P. O'Malley Jr., Rhoda Sweeney, Andrea Zopp and Max Caproni.
Paula Wolff, Matthew Crowl, Michael Eaddy, Steve Flores, Jorge Montes, John P. O'Malley Jr., Rhoda Sweeney, Andrea Zopp and Max Caproni.
Other meeting attendees included:
-Interim Chicago Police Superintendent, Charlie Beck chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-….
-Chief Administrator of COPA, Sydney Roberts chicagocopa.org/about-copa/lea…
-Interim Chicago Police Superintendent, Charlie Beck chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-….
-Chief Administrator of COPA, Sydney Roberts chicagocopa.org/about-copa/lea…
At 7:33 PM the minutes from the previous meeting were approved.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, at this point in time, the search for a permanent Police superintendent is postponed until further notice. --Ghian Foreman, President of the Chicago Police Board
As a disciplinary action, board members Eaddy and Montes move to approve the motion to fine Officer Ediberto Diaz, who was charged with unlawfully discharging a firearm while intoxicated and off duty and has since then been removed from the police department. The Motion passed.
As a disciplinary action, board members Eaddy and Wolff move to approve the motion to fine Officers Michael Coughlin Jr. and Jose Torres. Both were charged with unlawfully using deadly force and have since, been removed from the dept. The motion to fine them passed.
More information regarding their case can be found here.
policeboard-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/case/f…
policeboard-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/case/f…
Chicago Police Department Interim-Superintendent, Charlie Beck, reported that:
-all physical sworn personnel is in uniform
-Staffed the department's medical section with 24/7 personnel
-Advised applicable personnel to work from home
-Shutdown gyms and recreational facilities
-all physical sworn personnel is in uniform
-Staffed the department's medical section with 24/7 personnel
-Advised applicable personnel to work from home
-Shutdown gyms and recreational facilities
Continued Beck's Report:
-In the process of dispensing personal protective equipment to all districts
-Limit the booking of misdemeanor suspects
-Limit amount of citations and tickets
-increased the station and lockup cleaning
- 1 confirmed COVID-19 case in dept.
-In the process of dispensing personal protective equipment to all districts
-Limit the booking of misdemeanor suspects
-Limit amount of citations and tickets
-increased the station and lockup cleaning
- 1 confirmed COVID-19 case in dept.
There were a total of three community members present who voiced their concerns.
Community member Matt Brandon said "Our main districts are being used as training districts. That leaves us with unprepared officers in situations that call for seasoned veteran officers."
Austin community member Mary Hartfield said, "I'm just very concerned about the killing that's been going on in our community. I hear shootings every night I go to bed. We got police officers that are not following the rules but they expect us to follow the rules. "
Hartfield's comments speak to the fragmented and fractured relationship between the community and the police dept. Without trust, residents refuse to cooperate with police in hopes of solving crimes and assisting in investigations.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 PM.
The next scheduled board meeting will take place on April 16, 2020, at 7:30 PM.
The next scheduled board meeting will take place on April 16, 2020, at 7:30 PM.
This is @Mister_MCM and this concludes my live-reporting on the Chicago Police Board meeting for @CHIdocumenters, #ChiDocumenter & @city_bureau.