Chicago City Wire

President Kyle Cooper provided an update on the arbitration of police disciplinary cases during the July 17 Police Board public meeting. The Illinois Appellate Court case concerning whether arbitration proceedings for serious police disciplinary cases will be public or private is still pending. Oral arguments were held in June, and a decision may take several weeks or months. An appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court might follow.

Cooper indicated that it could be some time before an arbitration process is established. Once in place, there may be a backlog of cases since discharge cases opting for arbitration have been on hold for over a year.

He encouraged officers facing serious disciplinary charges to consider choosing a Police Board hearing instead of waiting indefinitely for an undefined arbitration process. Cooper assured that the Police Board is committed to conducting expeditious and fair hearings while upholding due-process rights.

Recent data shows that in recent decisions, it took less than nine months from serving charges to issuing decisions. Since 2021, the Police Board has decided 45 cases after full hearings. In 35% of these cases, officers were discharged; another 35% received lesser penalties than recommended by the Superintendent; and about 30% were found not guilty.

These outcomes demonstrate the Board's commitment to impartial assessment and ensuring due process. Cooper emphasized that as long as he serves as President, the Board will remain committed to this responsibility. He stated that board members are neutral decision-makers who assess each case based on evidence and applicable law.

The Police Board website will continue providing updates on litigation developments and current disciplinary case statuses.