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* WBEZ…
In 2018, Chicago police officer Joseph DeRosa pleaded guilty to a felony in Michigan, admitting to resisting and obstructing police during an allegedly drunken meltdown at a casino. According to a police report, DeRosa kicked a Michigan officer in the face.
Under Illinois law, cops convicted of felonies lose their certification to be police officers in the state. The idea is to keep them from hopping from one law-enforcement employer to another.
Yet DeRosa is still a member of the Chicago Police Department.
CPD’s Bureau of Internal Affairs opened an investigation into DeRosa shortly after his arrest, and the department stripped the officer of his police powers. But it took 20 months for CPD to send notice of the felony conviction — notice required under the law — to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, according to that panel, which is in charge of decertifying cops.
Next it took the city’s Law Department another 31 months to move to fire DeRosa. Even today, the city’s Police Board has yet to schedule an evidentiary hearing on the dismissal charges. […]
The department has not provided records showing what became of the internal investigation into DeRosa’s arrest. CPD spokespersons also would not answer why it took the department so long to send notice of the felony conviction to the state board in charge of decertifications.
This is just so ridiculous. He’s been stripped of his police powers since 2018. He’s on the state’s attorney’s “do not call” list and was quickly decertified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, but only after CPD waited 20 months to send ILETSB the required notice. And he hasn’t been paid since 2020.
But CPD still hasn’t fired him?
* Meanwhile, from the city’s inspector general…
The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published the results of its inquiry into the completeness of the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) 911 call response data, as recorded by CPD and the City’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). OIG originally set out to evaluate geographic equity in CPD’s response times, but was unable to do so because of the frequency with which the data necessary to do so is missing. During the period of OIG’s inquiry, information on when CPD units arrived at the scene of an emergency call was missing more than half of the time.
In the course of planning and conducting this inquiry, OIG spoke with members of Chicago’s communities and representatives of 12 community-based organizations to gather data on public perceptions of CPD’s 911 responses. Several South and West Side organizations reported to OIG that they believe there to be geographic disparities in CPD’s response to 911 calls and that they have experienced slow or no response to 911 calls in their communities, leading to distrust of CPD members and the City’s emergency response apparatus. Neither OIG nor CPD, however, can meaningfully evaluate the efficiency or equity of 911 police responses because of inadequate data—despite a CPD policy which requires members to capture the relevant data.
“Effective emergency response is at the very core of CPD’s public safety function. The City and the Department are ill-equipped to evaluate and improve response times, simply because, more often than not, we have no information on when the police arrive to respond to an emergency,” said Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. “Without this basic information, we can’t assess whether City services are provided equitably or efficiently—and we can’t improve what we can’t measure.”
A new information system procured by the City—though not yet implemented—promises some but not adequate improvement. OIG recommended that CPD provide training and appropriate technology to all members to reinforce and facilitate their responsibility to accurately report milestones throughout emergency events. OIG also recommended that CPD collaborate with OEMC to analyze and evaluate data for each time interval in the dispatch process and assess best practices for improving police responses to 911 calls.
The full report is here.
…Adding… Sun-Times…
Chicago’s acting top cop has announced broad changes to the department’s leadership team, filling high-ranking positions before his replacement is expected to be confirmed.
Interim Supt. Fred Waller told department members that the staffing overhaul was effective Friday, but sources said some of his picks had already been installed.
Some of Waller’s choices have troubled records. Two commanders have been accused of fostering a hostile work environment, and two others have been named in costly lawsuits.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 10:42 am
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But the solution is that we don’t have enough cops and don’t give CPD enough money, clearly.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 10:47 am
Re: the IG, I think it’s important to add that the city fought for over decade to hide the data the IG is also seeking and that the city is legally required to collect and provide.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/04/12/the-city-is-supposed-to-publicize-police-response-times-to-911-calls-but-its-weeks-past-court-mandated-deadline/
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 10:48 am
I wonder who Officer DeRosa’s clout was?
Comment by Keyrock Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 11:09 am
clear. transparent. compliant with rules required by a union contract. the system has to be that. it is not that. discipline and firing in a union enviroment requires following clear rules. but a system that is as confusing as the City system on law enforcement does not help anyone. there are too many entities that are involved. this needs to be fixed. too many entities….like governments in Illinois.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 11:40 am
I know there’s no immediate evidence that these are intentional, but neither story passes my “wasn’t born yesterday” standard for judging incompetence vs. malfeasance. Unless further information convinces me otherwise, I’m going to assume that CPD/Law Dept intentionally dragged their feet on firing the guy, and that CPD intentionally didn’t record their response times.
Comment by vern Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 11:45 am
Regarding CPD cop Derosa, last I looked none of the boards or regulatory bodies have any citizens on them. It’s all cops. The police cannot ever police themselves. That’s as obvious as the sky is blue. That’s how Jon Burge had a twenty year run.
The practice of police agencies retaining and editing their own body cam footage is problematic and without oversight, if it reflects criminal conduct by a cop. Maybe our AG Kwame Raoul can cook up some legislation so they can review body cam footage, instead of leaving it up to the local yokels.
Comment by Payback Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 11:51 am
Agree with Vern. When feet are dragged, there’s usually someone who wanted them dragged.
Speaking of clout and management, the Sun-Times story on Interim Supt. Waller’s promotions also raised some questions.
Comment by Keyrock Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 11:52 am
Even the Governor says we need more police in Chicago. Don’t mix up the issues. Incompetence in a large government organization is expected. Leaving 1300 vacancies on the force is malpractice,
Comment by Always something Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 12:11 pm
@Always something -
Chicago is already top 3 or something like that among US cities for officers per capita. The problem is not that CPD doesn’t have enough officers. It never has been. That is a convenient lie which people love to hang on to because it allows them to avoid looking at literally anything else.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 12:54 pm
==…Adding… Sun-Times…==
Let me pretend to be shocked that a domestic abuser who also makes sexual and harassing comments in front of court-ordered monitor would appoint people like him to important positions!
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 1:02 pm
The offense occurred in 2018. The amendments to the Police Training Act concerning decertification and reporting went into effect in July 2022. I’m not sure what the requirements are concerning offenses that occurred before that 2022 date, but I doubt that anyone is interested in backdating decertifications as that would lead to a whole panoply of squishy legal problems.
The difference between firing the officer and suspending him without pay is pretty much a technical distinction. The may have postponed the firing process due to pending criminal matters or for collective bargaining reasons. But the result to the public is the same (other than it potentially blocks a hiring slot, but that’s pretty out there).
Comment by duck duck goose Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 1:47 pm
@homenody. Tell that to the Governor. I’m guessing you don’t live in the city either
Comment by Watchful eye. Wednesday, Sep 6, 23 @ 2:40 pm