Live reporting by
Ebony Ellis
Police District Council members articulated common challenges they face, including: insufficient police interaction with community members, slow police response times, police understaffing and turnover, and difficulties attending roll calls.
Hello, I’ll be covering today’s quarterly meeting for the Chicago Police District Council. This meeting is taking place at Kenwood Academy Highschool (5015 S. Blackstone Ave) starting at 10am. @CHIdocumenters #CHIDocumenters
10:12 AM Mar 8, 2025 CST
The purpose of the community commission for public safety and accountability (CCPSA) is to “bring police officers and Chicago residents together to plan, prioritize, and build mutual trust; strengthen the police accountability system.” Read more at chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…
chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…
Each person has two minutes to speak. One person from the 14th police district suggests a few apps for people to stay aware of safety in the area.
Someone from the 2nd police district lets everyone know that he has a camera because he believes that this meeting is “historic.” He wanted to let everyone know to not be alarmed by him taking pictures.
Now that the public comment portion is over, a question is posed. “What are the main policing issues that impacted your district last month. A few people answer with slow response time from police.
Someone from the 2nd and 15th police districts say that more opportunities to connect with officers are needed.
Someone from the 22nd police district suggests for people to pay attention to the Facebook groups for CAPS to be aware of what is going on and other updates
The question posed now is providing an overview of questions and comments received from constituents last month.
The next questions posed is updates the development of community policing initiatives and developing restorative justice in your district.
“working with CAPS to do outreach with domestic violence resources in the neighborhood,” from the 6th police district.
The questions from earlier in the thread will be on a form (district council monthly update form) for district council members to complete later in the meeting.
A presentation begins in explaining the District Strategic Plan (DSP).
Someone from the 2nd police district recalled a meeting a total of 15 people as an example of lack of community participation
Right now, the audience has been placed into breakout groups, answering prompts.
Deirdre O’Connor, from the 20th police district council, talked about hosting the DSP meeting in her community
“The number one problem is narcotics. It doesn’t seem to be any understanding when it comes to understanding how bad the problem is,” a council member from the 11th police district council.
Another question is posed in a breakout group. How do you currently feel about DSPs? How could they improve?
Bryan Ramson, Jr., chairman of the 11th police district council says, “multiple things need to be implemented. It seems like there is going to be pushback from the police.”
“There is no motivation for any change on the CAPS level,” says O’Connor.
Ramson asks, “what mechanism can we implement. Are there going to be consequences? Reductions in funding?”
“Having just more public awareness of who is on the district council action plan (DAC),” says Erin Vogel (9th police district council).
Ramson mentions that other organizations in the community are trying to work to solve the same problem. These organizations have their own strategic plans. “The problem isn’t that we need more planning, we need action,” he says.
Deondre Rutues, 15th police district council member says, “We need all levels of leadership involved. Captains, lieutenants, chiefs, sargents.”
“We’re going to have some friction amongst our own councils,” a police district council member says.
Discussions of working groups, people who are interested are tasked with meeting between now and June of this year. Questions to think about are what is the consensus? What is common to what is being heard from all communities?
After a lunch break, Ayanna Thomas, First Deputy Director of CCPSA, answers a few questions.
A goal is to figure out how to utilize tools to work for each police district.
For task number 11, the use of mail chimp will be implemented. The role out will begin later this month. For task number 12, resources for events and public meetings
For task 15, it is mentioned that COCs will help to capture those interested and connect them to district councils
Joseph Williams, from the 7th Police District Council asks about the address function of mailchimp and if it is built from information provided by the CCPSA or the district council?
Ciera Whitaker, from the 6th police district council suggests the COC to accompany district councils to their meetings and community engagement activities and work more closely with community engagement
Rutues (15th police district council) mentions that mostly “oldheads” are using Facebook.
Someone asks what is the 20 percent of the current district councilors would look like?
Sarah Krammerer, from the first police district council member asks, “could you consider what would the opposition says?” She goes onto say that everyone might not agree with these things (proposals).
