Today’s appellate court decision, affirming the Circuit Court’s ruling that arbitration proceedings be open to the public, is a victory for both the residents of Chicago and the hardworking men and women of the Chicago Police Department who put their lives on the line to serve and protect the public.   

Full public access to the hearings and decisions in the most serious police disciplinary cases is essential for ensuring accountability and increasing the community’s trust in the Chicago Police Department. Transparency not only reassures the public that misconduct is addressed fairly and consistently, but it also protects the vast majority of officers who serve honorably by making clear the difference between those who uphold the law and those who violate it.

Nevertheless, I expect the union’s leadership will attempt an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. It therefore may be many months or longer before an arbitration process is up and running. Then, once a process is finally in place, there will be a backlog of cases to be heard, as all discharge cases in which the accused officer elected arbitration have been on hold for more than a year.

I again urge officers facing the most serious disciplinary charges to choose a Police Board hearing rather than wait an indefinite period for a still-undefined arbitration process. The Board offers a proven, efficient path to the fair resolution of the most serious disciplinary cases. The Board’s recent record makes this clear. Since 2021, the Police Board has decided 45 cases following a full hearing on the charges. In 35% of these cases, the Board ordered the accused officer discharged from the CPD; in another 35%, the Board imposed a lesser penalty than that recommended by the Superintendent; and in about 30% of the cases, the Board found the officer not guilty of all charges. These outcomes reflect a Board that takes seriously its responsibility to impartially assess each case on its own merits and to ensure due process is afforded.

For as long as I serve as President, the Board will remain dedicated to this mission, which serves the best interests of both the public and the officers of the Chicago Police Department by promoting accountability, safeguarding the rights of the accused, and strengthening trust in the disciplinary system. This transparency and fairness help build a safer, more just, and more cohesive Chicago, one in which residents and officers alike can have confidence in the integrity of the process and in one another.

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