[remote or in person] 14th Police District Council - Logan Square/Humboldt Park/Wicker Park

Chicago Police District Councils
Criminal Justice

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025
1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. CST

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3030 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 (Directions)

Logan Square Library

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Pre-Research Resources

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Betsy Johnson

Calls for 14th Police District Council member David Orlikoff to resign are intensifying – from both community members and council members.

Today’s meeting is taking place at the Logan Square Library. Here’s the agenda:

This meeting is also being live streamed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DistrictCouncil14/video

There are assorted documents and resources available at a table upon entry to the meeting room, including a “Know Your Rights” document.

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m. Councilors Laurent, Vargas, and Orlikoff are all present. A quorum is reached. There are 22 people in attendance, by my count.

Laurent says they will be delaying public comment until later in the meeting.

Motion to approve the minutes from January. Orlikoff declines to second the motion. But Laurent moves ahead and the minutes from January’s meeting were approved.

The councilors are looking through the quarterly and annual minutes from 2024 in order to approve those as well.

There are a few small changes made to these minutes, requested by Orlikoff. The minutes are approved.

We are moving into District Council Updates. Orlikoff says they would prefer to give their update after public comment.

Vargas gives an update on the “Immigration Know Your Rights” workshop held on January 28. She encourages attendance of these workshop.

Laurent says the next meeting will be moved to Tuesday, March 4 (instead of March 1).

We are now taking a 5 minute recess.

It is a full house at this meeting. It appears that groups of people are talking with each other and preparing for public comment.

The meeting returns to order at 1:25 p.m. We are moving into public comment. Each commenter will have 2 minutes to speak.

Laurent relays a public comment sent via email. This person relays their account of Orlikoff’s hateful actions and asks his to resign. They state “David, if you are listening, your time is up buddy.”

The next commenter, in person, reiterates these feelings, and demands that Orlikoff should resign.

The next commenter reiterates these feelings as well. She mentions that David Orlikoff has called her a “psycho bitch.” She continues to detail physical violence Orlikoff has committed against her.

The next commenter addresses Orlikoff directly. She says “For the benefit of the community, I think it’s time for you to resign.” She details additional violent behavior committed by Orlikoff that she has witnessed. She believes his behavior disrupts the work being done with the district council.

The next commenter also calls for the immediate resignation of Orlikoff. He states that Orlikoff is a hindrance to the council and the movement. He raises his voice to ask the crowd “what was the last straw?”

The next commenter is a District Councilor from the 9th district. She also calls for Orlikoff’s resignation. She mentions a letter signed by many DCs calling for his resignation. You can find the letter here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25485177-press-release-request-for-resignation/

The next commenter is a DC from the 17th district. He speaks about the DCs responsibility to ensure that this abuse does not continue.

The next commenter echoes what the others are saying, and asks Orlikoff to step down.

Vargas has a public comment sent to her from a DC in district 11. It is an audio recording, and it is played out loud. The DC asks Orlikoff how would he respond if the shoe was on the other foot? She pleads with him to come to the right solution together.

The next commenter echoes all of the sentiments expressed so far. He asks for Orlikoff to step down.

DC Vargas will now read the letter presented to Orlikoff on Dec 16, and signed by other DCs. Again, you can find that letter here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25485177-press-release-request-for-resignation/

Laurent adds that the most important aspect of all of this is that Orlikoff gets help.

An attendee relays several questions to the DCs. One of these questions is about Michael Nowacki, a known Oathkeeper and Chicago Police Sergeant. They say that they have heard he may be retiring, which feels like an admission of guilt.

Another attendee wants to know how Commander Melinda Linas personally feels about being associated with Proud Boys.

An attendee asks how they plan on notifying the community that the meeting on March 4 is happening. Laurent responds that they will be making a post on social media and issuing a press release.

Another attendee speaks about how they fought really hard to get this initial CCPSA meeting.

Another attendee speaks about new legislation passed that will require commanders and captains to attend all DC public meetings.

Vargas states it was challenging to get the March 4 meeting. Says it was difficult cooperating with Commander Melinda Linas.

Orlikoff speaks about ending pre-textual traffic stops. It has been a top priority to get legislation passed on this. CCPSA is reportedly still blocking this progress.

Vargas speaks up, asking to continue discussion around what was raised during public comment. Audience members speak up and agree.

Orlikoff speaks again, and Vargas interrupts, saying that it is difficult to focus on other matters at this moment. Orlikoff asks why she is yelling at him.

Orlikoff addresses the room. He begins with “This is very uncomfortable.” He says that this is not what accountability looks like. An attendee says “So everyone in this room is lying?”

Orlikoff speaks about why he chose to run for this position. He says his intention was originally just to do canvassing, but eventually became a candidate.

Orlikoff says that he has asked people: is there anybody that you know that is willing to take this role on? And the answers have all been no. That is why he is still here.

Orlikoff says he met with the DCs who presented him the letter. “I can react emotionally after I have been attacked.” He says he asked the group how the replacement would happen, and that there was no plan.

Orlikoff also states that some signatures on the letter had been forged.

Orlikoff does not believe these calls to resign are being made in good faith. “The people pushing this have a personal goal to attack me.”

Orlikoff says that it does not make him racist to call out Kamala Harris for committing genocide. An attendee responds “What about when you call black women Nazis?” This devolves into some back and forth between them.

Laurent calls for order.

Orlikoff continues. He says he has been told by people that believing all women is a virtue, but it is better to support victims. He goes on to say he was a victim of rape. The other DCs start speak. He asks them to stop interrupting him.

“In order to finish, I need no interruptions.” Orlikoff says. He asks his mother, in attendance, to come up and support him.

Orlikoff’s mother comes to the front and stands next to him. Orlikoff delves into other seemingly unrelated personal history. Throughout all of this, some attendees have been leaving the room. An attendee asks for the DCs to turn on the timer.

It appears Orlikoff is giving his account of violence spoken about in public comment. Some more back and forth begins between attendees and Orlikoff. Laurent calls for order.

Laurent seeks to wrap this up. “That is wrong” says an audience member. Laurent says that we have more business to discuss. He gives an attendee 2 minutes to speak.

The attendee pleads with Orlikoff to look at the harm, and go to therapy, and resign. Other attendees chime in, saying “Resign!”

Another attendee addresses Orlikoff: “We have been forced to bring up your personal life because you are not listening.”

Laurent says to the attendee that this has nothing to do with the business here.

Vargas says to Orlikoff, “You are not the savior of traffic stops” which is met by snaps from the audience.

Laurent wraps up the discussion. Meeting adjourned at 2:34 p.m. This concludes the Chicago 14th Police District Council meeting. You can read more about the call for Councilor David Orlikoff to resign here: https://southsideweekly.com/calls-widen-for-police-district-councilors-resignation/

For more meeting coverage, check out https://documenters.org.

Note-taking by Parker Garlough

Calls for 14th Police District Council member David Orlikoff to resign are intensifying – from both community members and council members.

Agency Information

Chicago Police District Councils

See meeting notes for details

www.chicago.gov

See Documenters reporting

Each of the 22 District Councils is made up of three people elected by residents of the police district in regular municipal elections every four years, though anyone can participate in District Council work, and the more people who participate, the more effective the District Councils can be. The first District Council elections occurred in February 2023. Just as Chicagoans vote for a mayor and a local ward Alderperson, they also vote for up to three people to serve on the District Council.

The District Councils have several key roles:

  • Building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer. They can work with the police to address problems and set priorities.
  • Collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives.
  • Holding monthly public meetings, where residents can work on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities. They can also raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, and increase accountability.
  • Working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices. Working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district.
  • Ensuring that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability gets input from the community, so that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.
  • Nominating members of the Community Commission. Anyone who serves on the Community Commission must first have the support of elected District Council members.

(Source: Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-070(a) and (e))

For a map of police districts, visit https://www.chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php#/?places_type=chipolicedistrict.

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