CONSENT DECREE:
steps in a process that unfolded after black teenager Laquan McDonald was shot and killed by a white police officer who has since been convicted of second-degree murder.
A subsequent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice concluded — unsurprisingly — that Chicago cops are poorly trained and supervised; prone to unnecessary violence against civilians, especially minorities; and rarely held accountable for misconduct.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s lawsuit forced the city to the table to negotiate the consent decree — a blueprint for reform, overseen by an independent monitor reporting to a federal judge.
Despite the FOP’s dire warnings, 170 police officers took part in focus groups to help shape the draft agreement. They had a lot to say. In a summary of the discussions, facilitators wrote that the officers “were engaged in the discussion despite the fact that they were free to decline to participate; their obvious deep frustration with the current state of crime and policing in Chicago; and their disagreement with the need for a consent decree in the first place.”
What are the biggest challenges cited by officers? Lack of support — from supervisors, politicians, the criminal justice system, community members and the news media. Inadequate training and equipment. Officers said they are expected to be mental health counselors, victim advocates and social workers, but they are not prepared for those roles. Department policies are poorly communicated, they said, but officers are punished for not following them.
They’re required to be trained on equipment they don’t have. They don’t get enough practice with firearms. Recruits come out of the academy unprepared to work the streets and are assigned to field training officers who are poorly equipped to mentor them. After that, they get little hands-on training, mostly available only on the day shift, and they can’t be spared for training anyway because of manpower shortages. Supervisors don’t supervise because they’re afraid of making mistakes that will keep them from being promoted.
Most of these are longstanding complaints that could (and should) have been addressed without a consent decree. They weren’t. That’s a strong argument for federal oversight. But officers are wary of the added scrutiny and the focus on holding errant cops accountable for misconduct. They worry that an honest mistake will cost them their livelihood. They say fear of being second-guessed could cause them to hesitate in dangerous situations, costing their lives.
Here’s the bottom line: Police officers are given a badge and gun and the authority to shoot citizens. The people who grant that power have every right to demand that it isn’t abused. That’s the compact between public and police.
The right equipment, training and supervision can give officers confidence to do their jobs safely, professionally and without hesitation.
Chicago cops may not welcome a consent decree. But if they want all those other things, this is how to get them.