CHICAGO – Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the appointment of LaKenya White to serve as the acting interim Chief Administrator for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). White is a Chicago native who has worked in various investigative and police accountability roles in Chicago for the past 25 years.

“LaKenya White's years of dedicated service to the City of Chicago, and specifically to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and police oversight make her an exceptional choice for acting interim Chief Administrator,” said Mayor Brandon Johson. “Her experience speaks for itself in her ability to respond decisively under pressure. White's institutional knowledge is critical to ensuring a smooth transition. With this appointment, we look forward to continuing COPA's important work to advance fair, timely and effective accountability within our police department.”

White has worked at COPA since its inception in 2017, rising from Major Case Specialist to most recently serve as the Director of Investigations for Intake.
“It is an honor to be appointed Interim Chief Administrator,” said LaKenya White. “COPA is a great agency and a national leader in the field of police oversight. My goal is to build on the agency's successful work, further strengthening the positive strides we have made while fostering stronger connections between the community and the Chicago Police Department.”

White began her career in police oversight in 2000 as an Intake Aide in the Office of Professional Standards. In 2007, she joined the newly established Independent Police Review Authority as an Investigator, later serving as a Shooting Specialist handling officer-involved shootings. She transitioned to COPA in 2017, supporting the organization as a Major Case Specialist. White became a Supervising Investigator in 2021 and in 2023, was named Director of Investigations, where she oversees the Intake Unit and makes jurisdictional decisions on all incoming complaints.

White holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Chicago State University and a master's in business administration from St. Xavier University with a focus on fraudulent investigations.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is currently leading a nationwide search for the next permanent COPA Chief Administrator.

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