FRANK MAIN. Staff Reporter Source:
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago is seeing a rise
in the number of disciplinary charges sustained against cops - partly because
more of those cases are being resolved through mediation, according to the
agency that investigates police misconduct.
Chicago is seeing a rise in the number of disciplinary charges sustained
against cops - partly because more of those cases are being resolved through
mediation, according to the agency that investigates police misconduct.
The Independent Police Review Authority sustained charges against officers
in 70 investigations last year.
And in the first three months of this year, the agency has sustained
charges in 33 investigations. Charges were sustained in 42 investigations in
all of 2009 and 44 in 2010.
Ilana Rosenzweig, chief administrator of the authority, said her
investigators last year pushed to complete older cases that required a lot of
work. Also, the agency started resorting to mediation more often to resolve
allegations of misconduct, she said.
Mediation resulted in sustained charges in seven investigations in the
first three months of 2012. "It's an opportunity for an officer to accept
responsibility, to change behavior and in return, have a lower level of
discipline," Rosenzweig said.
Mediation also benefits the officers because they do not have to go through
a full-blown investigation and a lengthy grievance process, Rosenzweig said.
The agency will work with the unions representing officers and supervisors to
boost the use of mediation, which is reserved for cases that would not merit
firing an officer, Rosenzweig said.That allows her short-staffed agency to
concentrate on other major investigations, she added.
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy does not have to accept the results of a
mediation. In one case, he sought the firing of an officer even though a less
severe punishment was agreed to in mediation, Rosenzweig said.
The Chicago Police Board will consider whether to fire the officer, she
said. Other times, officers have refused to enter mediation and a full
investigation has gone forward, Rosenzweig said.
Some examples of recent mediations include a Harrison District officer who
received a written reprimand for accidentally discharging her gun last year and
two Wood District officers who had violations noted on their employment records
after they accidentally discharged their Tasers last year.