Interested in Serving on the Police Board?


The Police Board is integral to ensuring public safety and accountability in Chicago. It is responsible for making difficult disciplinary decisions for officers accused of misconduct. More information about the Police Board is available here.

Nomination and Appointment Process

Historically, Police Board members have been hand-selected by the mayor. Because of a City law passed in July 2021, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability is now responsible for nominating candidates to serve on the Police Board. For every vacancy on the Police Board, the Community Commission must nominate three candidates and give their names to the mayor. The mayor may either select one of the three nominees or ask the Commission for a new list of three nominees. The process will continue until the mayor appoints a candidate. The mayor’s appointed candidate must then be voted on by the full City Council.

The Community Commission recognizes the importance of ensuring that Chicagoans from all communities have a voice that impacts public safety and accountability and is committed to ensuring that Police Board members are representative of our entire City. Accordingly, the Commission has developed an open selection process for Police Board members.

Applications will remain open on a rolling basis. If you submit an application at a time when no seats are opening or up for reappointment, the Commission will keep your application on file to be considered in the future.

Click here to review the Commission’s Police Board Member Selection Procedures, last adopted August 31, 2023.

Apply to Be a Member of the Police Board

The Commission is actively accepting and reviewing applications to fill two vacancies on the Police Board. We are specifically looking for attorneys with at least 10 years of practicing experience. The term is five years, and each board member receives a monthly stipend of $1000.

If you are interested in being considered for the Police Board in the future, please submit the following items to PoliceBoardNominations@cityofchicago.org:

It is the Commission’s great hope that qualified Chicagoans will recognize the importance of the Police Board and will come forward to serve. 

Recent Nomination Decision

At the Commission’s public meeting on September 28, 2023, the Commission nominated six candidates to fill four existing vacancies on the Police Board. On October 30, the Mayor responded to the Commission with the selection of two candidates for the Police Board and the designation of a new Police Board President:

Kyle Cooper – President
Partner, Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC

Dr. Niama Malachi
Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant, The Social Consultant

Pursuant to Chicago Municipal Code 2-80-080(d), the candidates selected shall be referred to the City Council Committee on Police and Fire for hearing, and shall then be subject to City Council approval.

The Mayor also left two of the four existing vacancies open. Pursuant to Chicago Municipal Code 2-80-080(c), the Mayor provided the Commission with a written explanation for rejecting the other candidates nominated by the Commission. In accordance with the same section of the code, within 30 days after this rejection, Commission shall submit new candidates to the Mayor.

Mayor’s Letter Received by the Commission on October 30, 2023 – The letter announces the selection of Kyle Cooper and Dr. Niama Malachi to the Police Board and provides a written explanation for rejecting the other candidates to fill two remaining vacancies.

Past Nominations by the Commission for the Police Board

Name Date of Nomination Date of Appointment
 
September 2023 Nominations to Fill 4 Vacancies on the Police Board
Rebecca Cook Nominated 9/28/2023 Not Appointed
Kyle Cooper Nominated 9/28/2023 Selected by the Mayor, awaiting City Council hearing
Cathryn Crawford Nominated 9/28/2023 Not Appointed
Debra Gittler Nominated 9/28/2023 Not Appointed
Oreal James Nominated 9/28/2023 Not Appointed
Dr. Niama Malachi Nominated 9/28/2023 Selected by the Mayor, awaiting City Council hearing