Advocates On COPA: A Step In Right Direction

By Chip Mitchell
Sharon Fairley IPRA COPA
Sharon Fairley, leader of the Chicago Independent Police Review Authority, speaks during a news conference with Mayor Rahm Emanuel in December 2015. Emanuel has released proposal that would create a new agency to replace IPRA with what is called the Civilian Office on Police Accountability. Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press
Sharon Fairley IPRA COPA
Sharon Fairley, leader of the Chicago Independent Police Review Authority, speaks during a news conference with Mayor Rahm Emanuel in December 2015. Emanuel has released proposal that would create a new agency to replace IPRA with what is called the Civilian Office on Police Accountability. Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

Advocates On COPA: A Step In Right Direction

By Chip Mitchell
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Some advocates for more Chicago police accountability said an ordinance proposed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel is a good start. 

The mayor’s plan would create a new police watchdog chosen by the city’s Inspector General. It would also replace the Independent Police Review Authority with a new agency, the Chicago Office of Police Accountability. 

Chicago Urban League chief Shari Runner praised those steps but said there are some missing pieces, like a minimum budget for the new agency and the ability to hire outside counsel without going through the city’s Law Department. Both of those changes would reduce the mayor’s influence.

Due to an editing error, a previous version of the story misattributed a statement to Shari Runner.

Chip Mitchell reports out of WBEZ’s West Side bureau. Follow him on Twitter @ChipMitchell1 and @WBEZoutloud.