Police Discipline

Overview

The process for addressing allegations of misconduct by sworn officers of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) is carried out by several independent City agencies. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), CPD, and the Police Board have different powers and duties. The responsibility to receive complaints of alleged misconduct by Chicago police officers rests with COPA.  Depending on the nature of the allegations, either COPA or CPD's Bureau of Internal Affairs investigates the complaint; in certain instances alleged misconduct is investigated by the City's Office of Inspector General.  The Police Board’s role is to decide those disciplinary cases that are filed with the Board.

The Police Board's Role

The Police Board decides disciplinary cases involving allegations of serious misconduct made against members of the Chicago Police Department. The Board has the responsibility to:

  • Decide cases when the Superintendent of Police files charges to discharge a police officer from the Chicago Police Department; and
  • Rule on matters in which the Chief Administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the Superintendent of Police do not agree regarding discipline of a police officer.

See Allegations of Police Misconduct: A Guide to the Complaint and Disciplinary Process and other Police Board publications for detailed information.

Police Board Decisions

Section 2-84-030 of the Municipal Code of Chicago requires the Police Board to post on this website its Findings and Decisions in disciplinary cases.  Below are the Findings and Decisions decided in:

  • December 2024: None
  • November 2024: None
  • October 2024: None
  • September 2024: None
  • August 2024: Order re motion filed in Case No. 22 PB 3009-1 (the case was decided in October 2023)
  • July 2024: Case Nos. 23 PB 3017, 23 PB 3019, 23 PB 3020, and a Memorandum and Order for these three cases
  • June 2024: Case No. 23 PB 3026
  • May 2024: Case No. 23 PB 3036
  • April 2024: None
  • March 2024: None
  • February 2024: None
  • January 2024: None

Go to the Archives for the Findings and Decisions of cases decided in previous years.

Reports and Data on Police Board Cases

Cases Currently Before the Police Board

Currently before the Police Board are the following cases in which the Superintendent of Police has filed charges against a sworn officer of the Chicago Police Department (unless otherwise noted below, the recommendation for discipline is that the officer be discharged from the Chicago Police Department). A copy of the charges filed in a particular case is available by clicking on the case number below. (The public is reminded that the filing of charges is not evidence of guilt. The accused officer is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair hearing at which the Superintendent has the burden of proving guilt by a preponderance of the evidence.)

The hearings are open to the public. (Contact Police Board Executive Administrative Assistant Jazmyne Rollins at Jazmyne.Rollins@cityofchicago.org if you would like information on how to attend a hearing.) An evidentiary hearing resembles a trial in court, although not as formal; the typical case includes opening statements, witness testimony, and closing arguments. (The Board has entered an Order on holding evidentiary hearings via Zoom.) Status hearings typically include the attorneys and the hearing officer addressing various issues in preparation for the evidentiary hearing. TUA = Taken under advisement (the evidentiary hearing is complete and a decision will be forthcoming).

Case Number:  Description of Primary Charges--Next Hearing Date

No. 23 PB 3013: Domestic incident off duty--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3014: Domestic incident off duty: Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3016: De-certified as a law enforcement officer due to felony conviction--April 25 at 9:00am (status hearing) (Accused officer elected Police Board hearing)

No. 23 PB 3018: Used deadly force without justification while off duty--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3022: Disobeyed order to comply with COVID-19 policy--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3024: Disobeyed order to comply with COVID-19 policy--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3025: Used deadly force without justification--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3027: Domestic incidents off duty--Next date to be determined (Motion to remove the case from the Police Board's docket entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3029: Use of excessive force while off duty (366-day suspension recommended)--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3030: Used deadly force without justification--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3031: Verbal abuse and failure to perform duty—Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3032: Domestic altercations off duty—Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3033: Improper searches—Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3034: Disobeyed order to comply with COVID-19 policy—Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 23 PB 3035: Failed to report misconduct and made false statement--TUA (Motion to transfer case to arbitration denied)

No. 24 PB 3037: Used deadly force without justification--Next date to be determined (Motion to transfer case to arbitration entered and continued)

No. 24 PB 3038: Did not reside in the City of Chicago--January 22 at 9:15am (status hearing) (Accused officer elected Police Board hearing)

No. 24 PB 3039: Use of excessive force--January 27 - 29 at 9:30am each day (evidentiary hearing)

No. 24 PB 3040: Tested positive for cocaine--January 22 at 10:00am (status hearing) (Accused officer elected arbitration)

No. 24 PB 3041: Did not reside in the City of Chicago--January 22 at 9:30am (status hearing) (Accused officer elected Police Board hearing)

No. 24 PB 3042: Tested positive for cannabis--January 10 at 9:30am (status hearing) (Accused officer elected Police Board hearing)

No. 24 PB 3043: Tested positive for cannabis--January 22 at 10:00am (status hearing) (Accused officer elected arbitration)

Rulings on COPA/CPD Disagreements on Discipline

When the Chief Administrator and the Superintendent of Police do not agree regarding discipline of a Department member, the Chief Administrator shall refer the matter to a member of the Police Board.

The reviewing member shall then rule on the disagreement between the Chief Administrator and the Superintendent, as follows:

  • If, in the opinion of the reviewing member, the Superintendent’s response did not meet the burden of overcoming the Chief Administrator’s recommendation for discipline, the recommendation shall be deemed to be accepted by the Superintendent.
  • If, in the opinion of the reviewing member, the Superintendent’s response met the burden of overcoming the Chief Administrator’s recommendation for discipline, the Superintendent's response shall be implemented.

The reviewing member must recuse her/himself from any future involvement with such case by the full Police Board.

This review process is set forth in Section 2-78-130 of the Municipal Code of Chicago and in Article VI of the Police Board's Rules of Procedure.

The rulings of reviewing members are posted below, as required by the the Municipal Code of Chicago.

Go to the Archives for the decisions from previous years.

Facts

Department:
Resources:

Department Main Office

Chicago Police Board