Chicago Police Consent Decree Monitor Discusses Progress
The monitor said work had to be done for the department even to achieve the preliminary compliance CPD has reached in just over 50% of the provisions her team has so far reviewed.
The monitor for the Chicago Police Department's consent decree has discussed the department's progress.
Maggie Hickey, a former federal prosecutor and court-appointed monitor, on Monday spoke publicly about the state of the consent decree, which took effect in 2019 following a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into CPD after the killing of Laquan McDonald by then- police Officer Jason Van Dyke.
“I do think the policies are being reformed and that is maybe working a little quicker than the culture being reformed,” Hickey said, adding, “I’m not going away anytime soon, unfortunately.”
Hickey spoke as part of a presentation by the Joyce Foundation, a Chicago-based nonprofit, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Hickey said work had to be done for the department even to achieve the preliminary compliance CPD has reached in just over 50% of the provisions her team has so far reviewed. But she said she believes the critics’ “higher-level concern” is culture, and whether there is buy-in from members of the department.
Asked by a member of the public about officers who “vehemently” oppose reforms, Hickey said newly enacted policies have to come with accountability, meaning officers who disregard policies should be disciplined.
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