Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot was joined by Chicago Police Department (CPD) Superintendent David O. Brown to announce a new Community Working Group designed to review the Department’s policies pertaining to use of force. Comprised of community leaders, activists and police officers from across Chicago, the new Use of Force Working Group will convene in partnership with CPD over the summer to provide feedback, revisions and formal recommendations to the Police Department to adopt under a new use of force policy.  To ensure the health and safety of all participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, the working group will virtually convene via video teleconference over the next eight weeks.

Launching this week, the new Use of Force Working Group will convene 20 community leaders, stakeholders and activists from across the city to propose policy recommendations designed to further ensure use of force policies respect the sanctity of all lives, officer safety and de-escalation techniques that prevent or reduce the need for force. The launch of the Use of Force Working Group follows community conversations held across Chicago in February to receive input from the general public on a series of policies and procedures, including use of force, community policing strategies, mental health and body-worn cameras. Consisting entirely of volunteer members, the Department composed a diverse group of community members with different levels of expertise and lived experiences who are all committed to providing recommendations for CPD’s use of force polices. Residents can find the latest information on the Department’s reform efforts at: chicagopolice.org/reform