CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to create a new agency to investigate police shootings and misconduct allegations is moving toward approval even as critics say it’s not strong enough to keep a close eye on a police force with a reputation for brutality.
After months of community hearings, the City Council on Wednesday will consider the proposal to replace the Independent Police Review Authority, which was discredited by long delays in completing investigations that nearly always sided with officers.
Emanuel has been under strong pressure to strengthen oversight of the police since the release of a video in December last year showing the 2014 death of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager shot 16 times by a white police officer. The video sparked repeated protests and calls for Emanuel to resign. The officer was eventually charged with murder.
Emanuel said on Tuesday that the creation of the new agency is critical to restoring trust between the Chicago Police Department and the city’s residents.
“Our residents and our officers deserve certainty about the disciplinary process, and it is up to us to ensure the right tools are in place for thorough and timely investigations of complaints against officers,” he said.