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DISTRICT COUNCILS' NOMINATING COMMITTEE

What is the Nominating Committee?

The Nominating Committee is a twenty-two-member public body. The Committee is comprised of one member from every elected District Council. That means the Committee has one representative from every police district in Chicago.

What are the eligibility criteria for Commissioners?

Residency in Chicago for the last five years
At least five years’ combined experience in one or more of the following fields: law, public policy, social work, psychology, mental health, public safety, community organizing, civil rights, or advocacy on behalf of marginalized communities.
No employment in the last five years with the Chicago Police Department (CPD), the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and the Police Board.
To learn more about the qualifications, review Chicago Municipal Code Sec. 2-80-040.

What do Commissioners do?

Commissioners serve four-year terms on the seven-member Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.
The Commission is responsible for overseeing the Chicago Police Department (CPD), the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and the Police Board.
The Commission is empowered to create and approve policies for all three agencies. In 2023, the Commission used its policymaking powers to address the Police Department’s gang database and to prohibit police from associating with criminal, extremist, terrorist, or discriminatory organizations.
The Commission plays a central role in selecting and removing the Superintendent of CPD, the Chief Administrator of COPA, and members of the Police Board. In 2023, the Commission nominated Larry Snelling, the new Superintendent of CPD, and Kyle Cooper, the new President of the Police Board.
The Commission is responsible for setting goals and evaluating the Superintendent of CPD, the Chief Administrator of COPA, and the President of the Police Board on an annual basis.
The Commission can hold hearings, request information from city agencies, request investigations by the Office of the Inspector General, and make recommendations to City Council on public safety and police accountability. Every fall, the Commission provides Chicagoans with an annual report on CPD’s proposed budget for the upcoming year.
To learn more about the Commission, go to City of Chicago :: What is the Community Commission?. You can also learn more by reviewing Chicago Municipal Code Sec. 2-80-050.

Are Commissioners paid?

Commissioners are paid $12,000 per year. The President of the Commission is paid $15,000 per year. Commissioners are responsible for selecting a member to serve as President.

SEE THE 2024 NOMINATION PROCESS REPORT

The District Council Nominating Committee proudly presents its comprehensive process report. This report provides transparent and detailed information on the Committee's work over the course of eight months to craft and carry out a fair and equitable process for selecting the inaugural members of the permanent Commission. Highlights from the report include the Committee's norms and rules of order, its community-driven rubric and interview questions, and even an accounting of the financial cost of the process and the estimated hours spent by each District Council delegate.

View Commission Nomination Process Report

The report is a testament to the Committee's work on behalf of the people of Chicago to select an exceptional group of passionate and thoughtful individuals who will advance police accountability and public safety on this Commission. If there are any questions about the nomination process, please email CommissionNomination@cityofchicago.org or call (312) 742-8888.