Unlike Alderman() Gregali who admitted on the floor last week that he didn’t knowif their was consensus was for a civilian review bill, the Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression (CAPCR()) does know. We have taken the concept to every ward in the City. Like police residency, over and over again, we talked to citizens who wanted police to live in the community and to serve citizens in the most professional manner possible. That is not a pipedream; it is a reasonable expectation of public servants paid by our tax dollars.
The passage of Board Bill 69 this morning is a “baby step” towards community control of the police. One of the inherent weaknesses of the proposed review board is that the recommendations are not binding. Now, the bill does not include elections of the four members as CAPCR has advocated as a critical element towards the board’s effectiveness. Today’s vote represents the lowest common denominator of agreement among the Board of Alderpeople. We hope that it also represents the opportunity for the community at-large to continue to have input in the refining of the process that will ultimately spawn this City’s first citizens' oversight board of the police. We have not come all this way to leave empty-handed. CAPCR is prepared to continue our fight for an effective civilian review board.
CAPCR thanks the organizations and allies who helped to wage this long battle that actually predates 2002. We thank Alderman Terry Kennedy for his unwavering leadership over the last four years, for the Aldermanic Black Caucus for their steadfast support and for the white Alderpeople who dared to buck this City’s historical racist and repressive model of governance. That, too, is a “baby step” towards building a democratic society where the participation and lives of all citizens are valued. The obstruction, both public and behind-the-scenes by Mayor Slay(), the police officers association and others must cease. Now, we need to get on with the people’s demand for police accountability. That starts with the Mayor and the Police Board signing off on the bill.