Officer Ella French was just 29 when she was shot and killed during an August traffic stop in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood. | Chicago Police Department
Officer Ella French was just 29 when she was shot and killed during an August traffic stop in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood. | Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Officer Ella French's family is outraged after a Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) report recommended the slain police officer, among others, receive disciplinary action for her part in a botched 2019 raid.
COPA's report surrounding a raid that was conducted at the wrong home two years ago was released months after French was shot and killed in the line of duty.
"This is disgraceful," Andrew French, Ella French's brother, told WGN9. "This is disrespectful to her name, disrespectful on so many levels."
Anjanette Young was the victim of the wrong house raid that COPA investigated. A spokesperson for Young said French was the only police officer that showed her "dignity or respect" during the ordeal. Still, COPA recommended French receive a three-day suspension for not wearing her body camera.
“This is the latest example of why that agency has zero credibility in the eyes of every CPD officer,” John Catanzara, president of the Chicago Police Union, told WGN9. “We demand an apology immediately for the intentional harm caused to Ella’s family, friends and co-workers.”
In a statement, COPA said their report was completed in April prior to French's death, and mentioning of her passing would have required the entire report to be redone, which is against protocol.
"Following the review and concurrence by the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, as well as serving of administrative charges, we carefully considered the release of the report and its impact on Ms. Anjanette Young and Ella French's family," COPA said in the statement to WGN9. "We honor the service Officer French gave to our city and mourn her death, and also hope the release of the report brings further closure to Ms. Anjanette Young."
Andrew French told MSN that although it meant a lot to know how much Young respected his sister, "you can't suspend somebody who isn't here."
Ella French was just 29 when she was shot and killed during an August traffic stop in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood. Her partner was also hurt.
French had worked for the Chicago Police Department since April 2018.
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