Unpacking the Police Accountability Task Force Report

Chicago protester
Dontreal Widow holds up a poster with the photo of 17 year-old Laquan McDonald and taunts Chicago police officers Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015, one day after murder charges were brought against police officer Jason Van Dyke in the killing of McDonald, in Chicago. Associated Press
Chicago protester
Dontreal Widow holds up a poster with the photo of 17 year-old Laquan McDonald and taunts Chicago police officers Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015, one day after murder charges were brought against police officer Jason Van Dyke in the killing of McDonald, in Chicago. Associated Press

Unpacking the Police Accountability Task Force Report

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A report released this week by the Police Accountability Task Force says the community’s lack of trust in the Chicago Police Department is justified and the system is broken.

The task force was created by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel after weeks of public protest over the city’s handling of the police shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald.

The task force writes that Chicago residents feel that police “have no regard for the sanctity of life when it comes to people of color.”

WBEZ’s South Side bureau reporter Natalie Moore and NPR’s David Schaper joined WBEZ Weekend Anchor Greta Johnsen to help unpack the report, its context, and what the recommendations actually mean.

Then, we turn to the political ramifications of the police task force report with WBEZ’s city politics reporter Lauren Chooljian. How has Mayor Rahm Emanuel responded to the allegations, and what do aldermen think?

We also check in with WBEZ state politics reporter Tony Arnold, who tells us about the latest in the Illinois budget standoff.

Greta Johnsen is the weekend anchor for WBEZ. Follow her at @gretamjohnsen. She spoke with WBEZ South Side reporter Natalie Moore, NPR reporter David Schaper, and WBEZ’s political reporting team Lauren Chooljian and Tony Arnold.