Recommendation to Reopen Chicago Police Department Disciplinary Investigation

Executive Summary

Pursuant to the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC) § 2-56-230(c)(ii), the Public Safety section of the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts reviews of individual closed disciplinary investigations conducted by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) and the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD or the Department) Bureau of Internal Affairs (BIA). Based on those reviews, OIG may make a recommendation to reopen the investigation to address a deficiency materially affecting its outcome.

BIA investigated allegations that a Chicago Police Department member wore a balaclava bearing the Three Percenters insignia while on duty during a protest in the summer of 2020. Mingari’s display of the Three Percenters insignia was the subject of news coverage in June 2020, and a CPD spokesperson was quoted as saying of the case, “These symbols are not representative of the Department…Members are prohibited from participating in any political activity while on duty or when in uniform, including wearing or displaying political paraphernalia.”

BIA conducted a preliminary investigation that relied on the opinion of a single source, that described the Three Percenters as “Red Blooded Americans,” and stated that “the majority of law enforcement officers display the [Three Percenters] flag simply because they like the design, [and] not so much [for] what it represents.” BIA administratively closed the case without a finding referring to CPD’s directive U04-01, Uniform and Appearance Standards, Section XVII.(E), which permits members to wear protective balaclava.

OIG recommended that BIA reopen the investigation to conduct any necessary additional investigation and analysis, including but not limited to determining whether a CPD member’s on-duty display of the insignia of the Three Percenters constitutes a violation of CPD’s rules and directives, including Rules 2, 3, and 12-Failure to wear the uniform as prescribed.