Overview

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), the Police Department, and the Police Board have different roles. The responsibility to receive complaints of alleged misconduct by Chicago police officers rests with COPA.  Depending on the nature of the allegations, either COPA or the Police Department's Bureau of Internal Affairs will investigate the complaint.  The Board’s role is to decide those disciplinary matters that are filed with the Board.

For more information, watch this video in English or Spanish.

The Police Board's Role

The Police Board decides disciplinary matters involving allegations of serious misconduct made against members of the Chicago Police Department. The Board has the responsibility to:

• Decide cases when the Superintendent of Police files charges to discharge a police officer from the Chicago Police Department; and
• Rule on matters in which the Chief Administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the Superintendent of Police do not agree regarding discipline of a police officer.

See Allegations of Police Misconduct: A Guide to the Complaint and Disciplinary Process and other Police Board publications for detailed information.

Police Board Decisions

Section 2-84-030 of the Municipal Code of Chicago requires the Police Board to post on this website its Findings and Decisions in disciplinary cases.  Below are the Findings and Decisions decided in:

• March 2023: Case No. 22 PB 3002
• February 2023: None
• January 2023: Case No. 22 PB 3010

Go to the Archives for the Findings and Decisions of cases decided in previous years.

Reports and Data on Police Board Cases

• Most recent monthly report of decisions
• Quarterly reports of disciplinary cases: Q1 2022, Q2 2022, Q3 2022, Q4 2022
• Annual reports
• Data on each case filed by the Superintendent since 2010  

Cases Currently Before the Police Board

Currently before the Police Board are the following cases in which the Superintendent of Police has filed charges against a member of the Chicago Police Department (unless otherwise noted below, the Superintendent recommended that the member be discharged from the Chicago Police Department). A copy of the charges filed in a particular case is available by clicking on the case number below. (The public is reminded that the filing of charges is not evidence of guilt. The accused officer is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair hearing at which the Superintendent has the burden of proving guilt by a preponderance of the evidence.)

The hearings are open to the public. (Contact Police Board Executive Administrative Assistant Jazmyne Rollins at Jazmyne.Rollins@cityofchicago.org for information on changes to procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) An evidentiary hearing resembles a trial in court, although not as formal; the typical case includes opening statements, witness testimony, and closing arguments. (The Board has entered a third Order on holding evidentiary hearings via Zoom.) Status hearings typically include the attorneys and the hearing officer addressing various issues in preparation for the evidentiary hearing. TUA = Taken under advisement (the evidentiary hearing is complete and a decision will be forthcoming).

Case Number:  Description of Primary Charges--Next Hearing Date

No. 21 PB 2990: Used deadly force without justification (charges against two officers)--TUA

No. 21 PB 2991: Used deadly force without justification (charges against two officers)--April 11, 12, 26, and 27 at 9:00am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 21 PB 2998: Verbal abuse of an arrestee and charges stemming from an off-duty traffic crash--TUA

No. 21 PB 3000: Misconduct during the execution of a search warrant in a residence--TUA

No. 22 PB 3001: Used excessive force, failed to report misconduct, made false statements (charges against three officers)--TUA

No. 22 PB 3004: Neglect of duty and made false statements: TUA

No. 22 PB 3005: Used excessive force and made false statements: May 15 - 18 at 10:00am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 22 PB 3006: Conduct unbecoming an officer while off duty: May 9 - 11 at 9:00am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 22 PB 3007: Charges pertaining to an on-duty traffic crash: April 3 - 5 at 9:00am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 22 PB 3008: Failed to report misconduct and made false statement: TUA

No. 22 PB 3009: Made false statements regarding a police-involved shooting (charges against two officers): June 5 - 9 at 10:00am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 22 PB 3011: Domestic incident off duty and made false report: June 23 & 27 at 10:00am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 22 PB 3012: Used excessive force: June 20 - 22 at 9:00am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 23 PB 3013: Domestic incident off duty: April 24 at 9:00am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3014: Domestic incident off duty: April 19 at 9:30am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3015: Made false statements: March 28 at 10:30am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3016: De-certified as a law enforcement officer due to felony conviction--April 4 at 8:30am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3017: Used deadly force w/o justification--April 24 at 9:00am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3018: Used deadly force w/o justification while off duty--May 4 at 9:00am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3019: Used deadly force w/o justification--March 28 at 10:00am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3020: Tested positive for an illegal drug--April 4 at 8:30am (status hearing)

No. 23 PB 3021: Commissionn of a crime while off duty--April 13 at 10:00am (status hearing)

Rulings on COPA/CPD Disagreements on Discipline

When the Chief Administrator and the Superintendent of Police do not agree regarding discipline of a Department member, the Chief Administrator shall refer the matter to a member of the Police Board.

The reviewing member shall then rule on the disagreement between the Chief Administrator and the Superintendent, as follows:

• If, in the opinion of the reviewing member, the Superintendent’s response did not meet the burden of overcoming the Chief Administrator’s recommendation for discipline, the recommendation shall be deemed to be accepted by the Superintendent.
• If, in the opinion of the reviewing member, the Superintendent’s response met the burden of overcoming the Chief Administrator’s recommendation for discipline, the Superintendent's response shall be implemented.

The reviewing member must recuse her/himself from any future involvement with such case by the full Police Board.

This review process is set forth in Section 2-78-130 of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) ordinance and in Article VI of the Police Board Rules of Procedure.

The rulings of reviewing members are posted below, as required by the COPA ordinance.

• No. 23 RR 01

Go to the Archives for the decisions from previous years.