Chicago Police Reform Hits Obstacles, Public Trust Erodes

The consent decree designed to instigate reformation in the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has met several roadblocks over the years, leading some to believe that the initiative has reached an impasse. Chicago’s ongoing efforts at police reform have seen the expenditure of vast sums of funds, with taxpayers footing an increasingly burdensome bill that holds no promise of abating in the near future. Despite numerous elected mayors and appointed police chiefs, the city so far has been unsuccessful in executing meaningful change, causing public trust to wane.

In the over half-a-decade implementation timeframe since the CPD acquiesced to stringent federal judicial oversight, there have been sporadic attempts at rectifying the underlying issues of forceful actions and widespread civil rights contraventions that necessitated the arrangement. Judicial proceedings and meetings have run into hundreds, and taxpayers in Chicago have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars with the goal of implementing the stipulations outlined in the consent decree.

However, the tangible outcomes of these extensive endeavors appear to be sparse. A long overdue system whereby police officers collaborate with the community they serve to preclude potential threats to public safety has been neither designed nor executed by the CPD. A city-wide strategic study of officer deployment and its possible impact on crime detraction remains uncompleted.

Furthermore, the CPD seems to have stalled on the development of a strategy that informs police executives on repeated complaints of misconduct against specific officers. This red flag system would provide opportunities for the administration to decide whether such officers might benefit from counseling, retraining, or disciplinary measures.

In an overview of the progress made, police compliance with the consent decree has only reached a minimal 9%. Though citizen complaints regarding undue police force have seen a decline, instances of various misconduct indiscretions have seen an unfortunate surge.

Despite the challenges, the city is gearing up to channel substantial efforts and considerable funds into the reform process, extending well into the future. The current situation is reminiscent of the circumstances in Oakland, where the police department continues to grapple with a barrage of scandals and over two decades of federal judicial oversight.

Alarmingly, none of the influential stakeholders or overseeing institutions have demonstrated a vigorous push towards accelerating the reactionary pace. There have been no calls for punitive measures to be taken against the city for its inadequate progress.

The failed execution of a consent-decree can also be traced to a lack of community trust. A key element in the success of any such decree is the implementation of an accountability system that incentivizes proper conduct among officers. Unfortunately, the CPD’s track record over decades shows a lack in holding officers responsible for their actions, further undermining trust of the community.

Contemplated in the earlier days of the consent decree, a preemptive system to identify and manage problematic officers is yet to be functional. This delay in the consent-decree process portrays a further degradation of the local trust in the police department.

Clearly, the results yielded so far are far from satisfactory, leaving stakeholders and community members dissatisfied and disillusioned. Surveys conducted recently reflect this sentiment, with dissatisfaction among Chicago residents towards the performance of the police role within their neighborhoods and citywide increasing significantly.

The survey further suggests that the positive perception of police work has dwindled. Subsequently, negative perception towards the police’s overall performance has spiked to 42.7% in 2022, a significant increase from 30.2% recorded in 2020.

A notable voice by Anjanette Young surmises the declining confidence within the city’s population. She asserts that the overwhelming consensus is that the city may have passed the crucial tipping point, rendering the current reform effort ineffective.

Pouring scorn on the consent decree, Young stated, ‘The consent decree is not the answer.’ She strongly criticized the consent decree, saying it only serves as a superficial oversight mechanism and called for an alternative solution.

In Young’s words, ‘We need a plan B. We need to do something else.’ People are yearning for a fresh, integrated approach to restoring public trust and efficacy in the city’s public safety apparatus, thus emphasising the need for a concrete, actionable plan.