For Immediate Release: March 21st, 2024
Contact: media@colorofchange.org

The Coalition for Police Accountability and Transparency Applauds Judge’s Opinion in the Case of Chicago’s Police Union v. The City Of Chicago

CHICAGO– Today, Honorable Judge Michael Mullen released his opinion in the legal case concerning discipline and accountability procedures for Chicago police officers. In his carefully considered ruling, Judge Mullen rejected arguments from the Chicago police union that would have allowed Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers accused of serious police misconduct to move their case away from the Police Board, which is open to the public, to arbitration behind closed doors. The judge’s ruling comes after the full City Council rejected private arbitration in serious police misconduct for a second time in February. In light of today’s decision, member organizations of Chicago’s Coalition of Police Accountability and Transparency released the following statement: 

“Today’s decision is a victory for transparency and police accountability in Chicago. We applaud the Judge’s ruling which rejects the Chicago police union’s attempts to dismantle critical efforts to hold police to the highest standards of public accountability. As Chicagoans, we will continue to fight to ensure that arbitrators are representative of the community and are appropriately trained because we know that our communities are safer for it.” 

CPAT members include ACLU of Illinois, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, Color Of Change, Impact for Equity, NAACP Westside, N’COBRA Chicago Chapter, Network 49, Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation (SOUL), the Young People of N’COBRA, and more.

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