Live reporting by
Dylan Comerford
Some community members wrote and read a letter expressing concerns and listing demands regarding the un-democratic actions of the Community Committee for Public Safety and Police Initiatives subcommittee led by Adam Burck.
dylan comerford
@dyldocumenting
Hello! I’ll be live tweeting today on the 14th Police District Council - Logan Square/Humboldt Park/Wicker Park - meeting today for
@CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters. The meeting begins at 1pm.
@CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters. The meeting begins at 1pm.
12:05 PM Feb 3, 2024 CST
What are the Chicago Police District Councils? Chicagoans vote for up to three people to serve on the 22 different District Councils corresponding to police districts. The first District Council elections occurred in Feb 2023.
A key role of the district councils is building stronger connections between the police and the community: they work with the police to solve problems through community policing and restorative justice initiatives.
District councils also ensure 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.
District 14’s council members are Christopher M. Laurent – Chair, Ashley Vargas – Nominating Committee, and David Orlikoff – Community Engagement
See meeting handouts regarding police arbitration/ police traffic stops
The meeting has started at 1:04pm and all 3 members are present.
A letter is being presented by community members, who have complaints about the creation of a subcommittee with non-elected members who meet with the commander instead of the committee's elected members.
Police Accountability updates presented by Ashley Vargas include various in-progress cases of intimidation of migrants by police officers.
David Orlikoff is responding to the issue of subcommittees: he pushed to create them as a space to speak further without time constraints present in these meetings, but he understands concerns. The committee may respond w/discussion times for public safety/accountability.
Christopher Laurent is explaining his efforts to comply with the Open Meetings Act, which set restrictions on committee members discussing outside of these meetings.
Now there is a presentation of the 2024 Commissioner Application Process. Applications are due next week.
Some key 2023 achievements of CCPSA: disabled gang database & selected police superintendent
David Orlikoff is now sharing how attempting to coordinate with the 14th District Police dept. regarding thoughts on pretextual traffic stops has been difficult.
He is now explaining how LA, a much larger city, has banned pretextual traffic stops and has improved its public safety outcomes as a result.
CCPSA is having a hearing on Feb 8 regarding Shotspotter, which will be open to public comment.
Orlikoff is explaining reasons why he doesn't support Shotspotter such as increased surveillance in black and brown communities.
A discussion is happening among community and council members on whether traffic stops are the most effective use of police resources in responding to the community's concerns about violence.
Ashley Vargas is explaining how she does not support shot spotter as it acts as a reactionary public safety solution instead of preventative. Instead, she believes more investments should be made in prevention efforts
Laurent is asking how the community feels about the police commander being present at these meetings/ in what capacity.
The meeting has come to an end at 2:35. Pictured below is the aforementioned public comment letter (by Olan Mijana and Sally Hamann)