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

Chicago Police District Councils

Criminal Justice

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024
1:00 p.m. CST

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1605 N Troy St, Chicago, Illinois 60647 Chicago, IL 60647 (Directions)

Humboldt Park Branch, Chicago Public Library

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Pre-Research Resources

City Bureau: “Can the Neighbors We Elect to Police District Councils Redefine Public Safety?”
City Bureau” “Chicago’s New Police District Councils, 4 Months In”
Find My Beat and District: Interactive map of police district boundaries
Chicago Reader/Block Club Chicago: Information about the candidates who ran for this council in the municipal elections
The TRiiBE: “ECPS coalition wins a wide majority of Chicago’s new Police District Council seats”
Public comment email address: DC014PublicComment@gmail.com

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Mona Tong

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.

View notes

Live reporting by Dylan Comerford

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.

12:05 PM Feb 3, 2024 CST

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 2/25

@CHIdocumenters Check out the meeting’s agenda here:

chicago.gov/content/dam/ci…

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 3/25

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.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 4/25

For a map of police districts, visit

gis.chicagopolice.org/apps/ChicagoPD…

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 5/25

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.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 6/25

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.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 7/25

District 14’s council members are Christopher M. Laurent – Chair, Ashley Vargas – Nominating Committee, and David Orlikoff – Community Engagement

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 8/25

See meeting handouts regarding police arbitration/ police traffic stops

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 9/25

The meeting has started at 1:04pm and all 3 members are present.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 10/25

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.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 11/25

Police Accountability updates presented by Ashley Vargas include various in-progress cases of intimidation of migrants by police officers.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 12/25

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.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 13/25

Christopher Laurent is explaining his efforts to comply with the Open Meetings Act, which set restrictions on committee members discussing outside of these meetings.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 14/25

Now there is a presentation of the 2024 Commissioner Application Process. Applications are due next week.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 15/25

See this link for more info on application process:

chicago.gov/city/en/depts/…

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 16/25

Some key 2023 achievements of CCPSA: disabled gang database & selected police superintendent

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 17/25

David Orlikoff is now sharing how attempting to coordinate with the 14th District Police dept. regarding thoughts on pretextual traffic stops has been difficult.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 18/25

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.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 19/25

CCPSA is having a hearing on Feb 8 regarding Shotspotter, which will be open to public comment.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 20/25

Orlikoff is explaining reasons why he doesn't support Shotspotter such as increased surveillance in black and brown communities.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 21/25

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.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 22/25

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

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 23/25

Laurent is asking how the community feels about the police commander being present at these meetings/ in what capacity.

dylan comerford @dyldocumenting 24/25

The next meeting will be March 2, 1pm at 2200 n Oakley

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The meeting has come to an end at 2:35. Pictured below is the aforementioned public comment letter (by Olan Mijana and Sally Hamann)

View thread

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.