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Chicago police ramping up efforts to reform officers’ use of force

On Behalf of | Sep 14, 2021 | Civil Rights

A 2017 lawsuit against the city of Chicago resulted in a consent decree that requires police departments to reform their use of force, supervision, discipline, recruiting and training. The Chicago police say they are making progress on reform efforts; however, the report does not address how much progress the department is making towards meeting the deadlines imposed in the 2019 decree.

How much progress have they made and what do independent monitors have to say about it?

Progress according to the police department

The police department’s most recent report indicates that the majority of Chicago police officers have completed training on use-of-force policies, providing medical aid and conducting vehicle pursuits. The department has scheduled training on de-escalating situations and an update to the use-of-force policy for later in the year.

Progress according to independent monitors

Independent monitors indicated that in May the department had missed about 40% of the consent decree’s headlines. A new report is forthcoming, but so far a representative for the Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform has said that the police department has complied with about 150 of the 800 reforms required by the decree. He also indicated that the department was “doubling down” on its efforts and he expected to see an increase in compliance.

While it appears that the Chicago Police Department is behind schedule on implementing all of the required reforms, they have made progress. The department continues to work on reforms such as improving the monitoring of use-of-force and updating police pursuit policies.