Chicago cops must now radio in incidents when they point a gun at someone
By July 2019, any Chicago police officer who points a gun at someone during an arrest or street stop would have to inform dispatchers by radio of the incident under a deal between Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office that was introduced Thursday.
Cops would not have to fill out a use of force report, as they do when they use a Taser or fire a gun, but supervisors would have to review the gun-pointing incident and it would be recorded in city data. The department also would have to develop training on when to point a weapon.
The issue of tracking gun-pointing incidents was a late sticking point between Madigan and Emanuel in the push to bring federal judicial oversight to the department, a process sparked nearly three years ago by video of an officer shooting teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times. Lawyers for the two officials have been working toward a consent decree — a court order enforceable by a federal judge — intended to tighten the rules on uses of force and strengthen supervision and discipline, among other changes.
Emanuel and Madigan released a 232-page proposed order in July, but they have continued to negotiate over the gun-pointing matter and were headed toward litigating the issue while pressing forward on the rest of the document. Madigan has said the department needs to track the episodes to ensure police are using their guns appropriately, while police officials have argued it could make cops hesitate in dangerous situations.
“If it’s serious enough to point a gun at a person, which is an incredibly serious use of force, it’s important enough to document why you did it,” said Craig Futterman, a University of Chicago law professor involved in the litigation.
Cops would not have to fill out a use of force report, as they do when they use a Taser or fire a gun, but supervisors would have to review the gun-pointing incident and it would be recorded in city data. The department also would have to develop training on when to point a weapon.
The issue of tracking gun-pointing incidents was a late sticking point between Madigan and Emanuel in the push to bring federal judicial oversight to the department, a process sparked nearly three years ago by video of an officer shooting teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times. Lawyers for the two officials have been working toward a consent decree — a court order enforceable by a federal judge — intended to tighten the rules on uses of force and strengthen supervision and discipline, among other changes.
Emanuel and Madigan released a 232-page proposed order in July, but they have continued to negotiate over the gun-pointing matter and were headed toward litigating the issue while pressing forward on the rest of the document. Madigan has said the department needs to track the episodes to ensure police are using their guns appropriately, while police officials have argued it could make cops hesitate in dangerous situations.
“If it’s serious enough to point a gun at a person, which is an incredibly serious use of force, it’s important enough to document why you did it,” said Craig Futterman, a University of Chicago law professor involved in the litigation.
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