[remote] Listening Session - COPA Chief Administrator Search - Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability

Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability

Wednesday, April 30, 2025
6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. CDT

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The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is hosting a series of listening sessions across Chicago to hear directly from the community about the COPA Chief Administrator search process.

You can document this meeting remotely, you will need to sign up for the Zoom meeting at https://cityofchicago-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nhy774YrSuSJEmq1PSfvzg#/registration Never post a Zoom link directly on social media as this can lead to Zoombombing.

The end time listed on this assignment is an estimation based on the duration of past meetings of this type.

A video recording of the meeting may be made available after the fact at https://www.youtube.com/@chicagoccpsa/videos.

The Commission will provide an opportunity for public comment. Each person participating in public comment will have up to two minutes to speak.

We would like the public to answer the following prompts: (a) What qualities would you like in a new Chief Administrator for COPA, (b) What priorities should be the focus of the new Chief Administrator, and (c) Any other considerations for how Commissioners should assess candidates.

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Fabienne Elie

Public speakers voiced they want the commission to prioritize accountability, cultural competency and community engagement in their search for the next administrator.

Fabienne
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 2/15
Today's session is geared towards hearing from the community about its requirements for the new COPA Chief Administrator, as well as priorities for that administrator and any other criteria that CCPSA should consider.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 3/15
FYI for those interested a video recording of the meeting may be made available after the fact at . youtube.com/@chicagoccpsa/…
youtube.com/@chicagoccpsa/…
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 4/15
The meeting has begun at 6:32 pm. Commissioner Anthony Driver is introducing the listening session by providing context like the role of the COPA chief administrator and the purpose of the listening session.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 5/15
3 min have been allotted per speaker for up to 25 speakers. Responses will be recorded and used to finalize criteria for COPA chief. Feedback can also be provided after the fact in writing.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 6/15
Gerald Polanco from Impact for Equity spoke 1st. His criteria included compassion towards individuals experiencing police misconduct. "The new leader should be willing to prioitize meeting with familes... community meetings" and experience analyzing data to make recommendations
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 7/15
Next speaker is Nancy Rodriguez. "One of the things I would like to see for the new COPA chief is to be culturally competent and have knowledge of our communities. Be a good listener." She adds that you can see the cooperation once people feel listened to.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 8/15
Speaker Tiwon Sims referenced his experience where he felt mislead by police and their reports. He questioned whether CCPSA/COPA work & why a new head is worthwhile w/o accountability despite numerous complaints. He spoke passionately about his mistrust of police & qual. immunity
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 9/15
No other speakers have signed up to speak. Nancy Rodriguez asked to speak a second time. "We need to address the 70-75% of murder victims who happen to be African American." Commissioner Driver asked her to clarify her ask. She says it needs to be addressed along with thefts.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 10/15
Speaker Lindsay Wax referenced a "slush fund" that exists for Police vacancies. She suggested the new COPA chief redirects those funds to social services for public safety issues like homelessness rather than hiring more police.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 11/15
Commissioner Driver agrees that those funds are misappropriated as new police will not be hired. He believes these funds are used to pay for settlements but he also clarifies that funding is not under the purview of COPA Chief.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 12/15
Commissioner Driver also adds applications for chief will be blind initially so he cannot speak to questions about internal vs external nominations.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 13/15
Commissioner Driver emphasized that personal disputes were not taken into consideration when the exiting Chief left the position. No additional attendees elected to speak. Commissioner Driver reminded folks can also provide written comment at forms.office.com/pages/response…
forms.office.com/pages/response…
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 14/15
This session concluded at 6:55 pm.
Fabienne @NeuPublicRecord 15/15
* Clarification for an earlier tweet. The personal disputes referenced were between Superintendent Snelling / the Police Union and COPA leadership.
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Agency Information

Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability

www.chicago.gov

(312) 742-8888

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In July 2021, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance creating a new model for police oversight, accountability, and public safety. The ordinance creates two types of bodies: a citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, with power to advance systemic reform, and District Councils, which will be elected in each police district and work to improve policing and public safety in the district. The Commission and District Councils will bring police officers and Chicago residents together to plan, prioritize, and build mutual trust; strengthen the police accountability system; give Chicagoans a meaningful new role in oversight; and explore and advance alternative effective approaches to public safety.

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