New use- of- force policy adds hours of cop training
Staff Reporters
Calling it “a needed change,” Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson announced Wednesday that the department will implement a new use of deadly force policy, focusing on conflict de- escalation and “the sanctity of life.”
By 2018, all sworn members of the department will be required to complete an e- learning course, along with an additional 12 hours of training, according to police officials.
The reform efforts by the department are selfimposed, and police leaders solicited feedback from city residents and community leaders before deciding on the changes.
Johnson said the release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video in 2015 and its ensuing fallout “was an incident we all learned from.”
Protests erupted in Chicago after the video — which showed Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting the 17- yearold 16 times as he walked away — was released. Van Dyke currently faces murder charges in the teen’s death.
Johnson’s predecessor, Garry McCarthy, was fired, and the Department of Justice opened an investigation into CPD practices.
The department has intensified its community outreach efforts in the 16 months since the video was released.
Johnson said the McDonald shooting “may have given us the springboard to move forward and change some things.”
“Sometimes tragic things happen that ultimately result in things being better,” Johnson said.
Community activist William Calloway joined Johnson, Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot and other police leadership at Wednesday press conference and praised the department’s decision to implement reform.
Addressing fellow activists, Calloway said, “This is a big win for us, our voices were heard.”
Last October, on the second anniversary of McDonald’s death, Calloway staged a rally outside police headquarters to call for police reforms.
Johnson emphasized that the decision to change its policies was not one made by the federal government.
The CPD has not heard from the DOJ with regard to any potential consent decree, according to police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
“The ball’s in their court,” he said. “We submitted our reform plan, we’re doing that, as far as what the DOJ is going to implement, I don’t know.”
In January, the Department of Justice announced it found violations of the U. S. Constitution and federal law by officers when it comes to use of force, racial disparities as well as other systemic problems.
Kevin Graham, the newly elected president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the rank- and- file union rejects those findings, but was still open to discussing ways to improve officer safety, noting that three Chicago Police officers have been shot in the last two weeks.
“We do not believe Chicago Police officers engage in systemic excessive force, as the Department of Justice report alleges, and we are glad that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has called into question such conclusions,” Graham said in a statement. “Nevertheless, we are always willing to discuss new measures with the superintendent that ensure the safety of our officers and those of the public.”
Sharon Fairley, chief administrator of the Indepen- dent Police Review Authority — which the DOJ also found to be at fault — praised the changes.
“We believe these new policies incorporate new concepts that are essential to fair and effective policing,” Fairley said in a statement. “Specifically, we’re pleased to see the department’s renewed commitment to the sanctity of life, de- escalation practices and the requirement for officers to believe a person poses an imminent threat before discharging their firearm at a fleeing suspect.”
Before taking questions from reporters, Johnson, Lightfoot and Ald. Ariel Reyboyras ( 30th), the chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, addressed several dozen officers, informing them on the coming changes.
“We remain true to our commitment to reform and to rebuild public trust and transform the Chicago Police Department,” Johnson said. “We will not waver on this promise. We will — we will — be a department that is better for the citizens of Chicago and better for the brave men and women that make up it’s ranks.”
Johnson added that he’s “not naive” and knows some department members may be not totally receptive to the impending changes.
“I know that there will be some who will think these policies are too restrictive for officers to do their jobs and there will be some who think it isn’t restrictive enough,” Johnson said. “However, I do believe that the set of policies we’re releasing today is in the best interest of everyone.”