Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability

What is the Community Commission?

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 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.

What are the goals of the Commission and District Councils?

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
Explore and advance alternative effective approaches to public safety

Source: https://www.19thtogether.com/the-19th-district

How are commissioners selected?

The Community Commission has seven members who meet qualifications that are described in the ordinance. An Interim Community Commission was named in August 2022. The City Council had an open application process and nominated 14 candidates to serve on the Interim Commission, and the Mayor chose seven of them. Interim Commissioners will serve until members of the permanent Commission are nominated, selected, and confirmed.

Starting in the Summer or Fall of 2023, elected community members who serve on District Councils in each police district will nominate 14 candidates to serve on the permanent Commission, and the Mayor will choose seven of them. Commissioners must also be confirmed by the City Council.

Who can be a commissioner and for how long?

Commissioners will serve four-year terms. There are qualifications to serve on the Commission, and anyone who meets the qualifications can apply to be on it. The Commission will have public meetings at least once a month.

What range of powers does the commission have?

Playing a central role in selecting and removing the Police Superintendent, Police Board members, and the COPA Chief Administrator

When there is an opening for Police Superintendent or a member of the Police Board, the Commission will develop a short list of candidates. The Mayor must choose from the Commission’s list or request a new list. Once the Mayor makes a selection, the City Council will vote whether to confirm.
The Mayor has sole authority to remove the Police Superintendent and Police Board members. But if the Commission believes that one of those officials is not fit to do the job, the Commission can hold hearings and take a vote of no confidence in the official. That would trigger a City Council hearing and vote and a public response from the Mayor.
The Commission will select the COPA Chief Administrator, subject to City Council confirmation. The Commission, with City Council approval, can also remove the COPA Chief for cause.
Click here to review the Commission’s Police Board Member Selection Procedures, last adopted August 31, 2023.
Click here to review the Commission’s COPA Chief Selection Procedures, last adopted July 27, 2023.

Establishing goals and evaluating progress for the Police Department, COPA, and the Police Board

Working with the Police Department on community policing programs

Making recommendations to the Public Safety Inspector General about research or audits to conduct

Setting Police Department Policy

Reviewing the Police Department budget

Identifying and recommending preventative, proactive, community-based, and evidence-based solutions to violence, including non-policing alternatives

Promoting community engagement and transparency

(Source: Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-040(c) and (d), and 2-80-050)