Police Reform Groups Alarmed by City’s Counter-Proposals to GAPS Ordinance

For immediate release
March 30, 2018
 
Chicago civil rights advocates and government watchdog groups are outraged and alarmed by the watered-down proposals submitted this week by Ald. Ariel Reboyras in response to a community-driven ordinance for a police civilian oversight board.

For almost two years, the broad and diverse members of the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) have engaged in community conversations across Chicago to develop a comprehensive proposal for a community oversight board, with elected representatives in each police district and real authority over top police officials. This board was a cornerstone recommendation of the Police Accountability Task Force, created by Mayor Rahm Emanuel following the public furor over the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer.

Instead of giving due consideration and a hearing to the GAPA proposal sponsored by Ald. Roderick Sawyer and Ald. Harry Osterman, Mayoral allies in City Council have introduced two competing ordinances that gut the structure of GAPA’s plan, transforming the oversight body into a purely advisory panel. The members would have none of the powers proposed by GAPA.