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) 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.

OIG reviewed a COPA investigation concerning allegations that a CPD member used excessive force during an emergency takedown, resulting in the complainant’s losing several teeth.

Despite the accused member’s denial of having knowledge that the complainant sustained injuries, the accused’s body worn camera (BWC) footage captures the accused stating, “I think I knocked out two of [the complainant’s] teeth.” Additionally, assisting CPD members’ BWC video footage captures the complainant inside the squadrol with their face visibly bloody prior to being taken to the district.

COPA concluded that the accused officer’s use of force was unreasonable and recommended a 10-day suspension. However, COPA failed to conduct a Rule 14 analysis to address the CPD member’s statement to COPA that they did not notice any injuries., which was contrary to their statement captured on BWC that they may have “knocked out two of [the complainant’s] teeth.”

OIG recommended that COPA reopen the investigation to conduct a Rule 14 analysis of whether the accused CPD member made false statements regarding whether they were aware that the complainant sustained injuries immediately after the use of force.