City Council Approves Civilian Oversight Panel for Chicago Police

Alderpersons Roderick Sawyer and Harry Osterman, two of the chief sponsors of the ordinances (along with Alderpersons Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Leslie Hairston, not pictured) pose for a celebratory photo with representatives from community groups including CAIR-Chicago; Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN); Community Renewal Society; Jewish Council on Urban Affairs; the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); One Northside; Chicago Teachers Union; and Indivisible-Chicago.

July 22, 2021 - Representatives from community groups, religious organizations, and labor unions, along with Alderpersons from around the city, met today to celebrate the passage of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance, one of the strongest police oversight laws in the nation.

After years of reluctance, Mayor Lori Lightfoot reached out to the coalition in the last few weeks and sought to throw her support behind ECPS. The measure passed the Committee on Public Safety on Tuesday evening and the entire City Council on Wednesday.

The ordinance creates a Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability. Among other things, the Commission has the power to make nominations for the position of Superintendent of police, the power to draft and approve policies for the Chicago Police Department, and the power to recommend non-policing alternatives to improving public safety. The Commission will oversee the Chicago Police Department, the Police Board, and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

"We know public safety is not the same thing as policing. Public safety is housing. Public safety is education. Public safety is jobs. Public safety is afterschool and summer programs. Public safety is healthcare," said Tamer Abouzeid, CAIR-Chicago Staff Attorney, at the press conference celebrating the passage of the law. "The ordinance we created is not perfect. It no doubt leaves some things to be desired, and it no doubt contains many compromises. But that's okay, because it is not the end, it is the beginning of transforming what public safety looks like in this city. We are here because our movement formed a strong coalition that forced people to the table and forced people to make the right decision. And we will build on that strength and continue to fight for what our communities deserve."

Photos by Paul Goyette

Tamer Abouzeid speaks at the press conference following the City Council vote.