Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday announced the creation of a police accountability task force. The announcement came a week after Officer Jason Van Dyke of the Chicago Police Department was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Laquan McDonald.
"The shooting of Laquan McDonald requires more than just words," Emanuel said in a statement. "It requires that we act; that we take more concrete steps to prevent such abuses in the future, secure the safety and the rights of all Chicagoans, and build stronger bonds of trust between our police and the communities they're sworn to serve."
Emanuel said the new task force, which will be advised by former Massachusetts Governor and Chicago native Deval Patrick, will review the system of accountability, oversight and training in the police department. Patrick also served as U.S. Assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division under President Bill Clinton, Reuters reports.
The five-member panel will recommend reforms to improve independent oversight of police misconduct, ensure officers with repeated complaints are evaluated and establish a process for release of videos of police-involved incidents, Emanuel said. Its recommendations will be presented to the mayor and city council by March 31, 2016.
