CHICAGO – Ten years ago, we grieved with the McDonald family as Chicago learned of the tragic loss of their son, brother and friend, Laquan. Laquan McDonald deserved better from the City of Chicago, and we are still fighting for equitable community safety ten years after his tragic death.

In the last decade, Chicago has created a new ecosystem of police accountability with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, formed to ensure that allegations of police misconduct are independently and fairly investigated. The City has committed to releasing footage from officer-involved shootings and other serious incidents within 60 days, and driven by the passion and commitment of advocates and residents, established the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability to strengthen police accountability and build mutual trust between police officers and residents. 

The City of Chicago also entered into a Consent Decree, a court order mandating reforms to ensure that the Chicago Police Department performs constitutional and effective policing that keeps both community members and officers safe, and restores community trust in the police. The City is committed to prioritizing the investments necessary to expeditiously reach full compliance with the Consent Decree.

The death of Laquan McDonald was one of the darkest moments in our city’s history, but out of that tragedy came transformation that is moving us forward. We continue to keep the McDonald family in our hearts, remain inspired by their resilience and courage, and continue our work on the bold reforms needed to achieve a better, stronger, safer Chicago.

###