Chicago Civilian Oversight Suspends Slain Officer, FOP Demands Apology

Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) has issued a report on a 2019 raid on the wrong home and recommended punishment for some officers involved. During the raid, a woman who lived at the home was reportedly forced to stand naked in the room as officers searched.

In a staggering display of insensitivity. COPA's report recommends suspending slain officer Ella French for three days. French was murdered in August during a traffic stop.

The report says about French's actions during the 2019 raid: “Officer French failed to timely activate her body-worn camera and failed to document the detention and search of the male and his vehicle in an Investigatory ‘Stop Report,’” COPA’s investigatory report concluded.  “Accordingly, COPA recommends a 3-day suspension.” 

“This is the latest example of why that agency has zero credibility in the eyes of every CPD officer,” police union President John Catanzara told WGN Investigates.  “We demand an apology immediately for the intentional harm caused to Ella’s family, friends and co-workers.”

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said Thursday that the report on the raid was finalized in April when Officer French was alive, and that making mention of her death would have required the report to be redone entirely, which is not in accordance with established procedures.