Chicago City Wire

Residents who file formal abuse complaints against the Chicago Police Department members can now obtain video and documents from the department related to the incident in question more easily.

The change comes courtesy of an executive order enacted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot that went into effect earlier this month, allowing those who file complaints with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability to receive the information, WGN 9 reported in March.

Up until now, people who filed complaints had to seek to obtain such documents by requesting them under the Freedom of Information Act.

Unless materials need to be withheld for legal or investigative reasons, they will be released in 30 days.

Lightfoot, who has come under fire for some of the positions she has taken related to police, including officers wrongly raiding Anjanette Young's home, said she is hoping the new order will help improve transparency and accountability in policing.