OIG Finds Inconsistent and Poorly Documented Discipline Implemented for Chicago Police Department Members Following Findings of Misconduct

FOR RELEASE:
December 16, 2025

PRESS CONTACT:
Deanna Shoss, Communications, 773-478-8417

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General(OIG) has published an inquiry into the Chicago Police Department's (CPD) disciplinary process to assess whether finalized disciplinary actions imposed on CPD members are fully and consistently implemented and recorded. Discipline for sworn CPD members is meant to be progressive, meaning that discipline for new misconductshould be based on previous final disciplinary actions. OIG found that recordkeeping for finalized discipline decisions is inconsistent. Gaps in coordination with the Department of Human Resources and the Office of Public SafetyAdministration leads to an unclear picture of CPD membermisconduct and impedes CPD's ability to apply progressive discipline.

OIG found that the City's recording of its implementation of final discipline for CPD members-ranging from the noting of a violation to suspension-in personnel and payroll databases was inconsistent. Although all the Department's reported finalized separations were appropriately recorded, CPD could not provide documentation for over half of the finalized reprimands and over a third of finalized suspensions that were reported to OIG during the period of inquiry.

OIG also found incomplete records for CPD members using "options to suspension," which allows members to use paid time off in lieu of serving an unpaid suspension. Neither CPD nor collaborating departments have a complete record of the use of "options," meaning some suspensions could be unrecognized in members' discipline history if they use paid time off instead.

"Chicago has a fundamental obligation to administer a robust, transparent police disciplinary system in which both members of the public and members of CPD have reason to be confident," said Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for the City of Chicago. "There can be no meaningful, credible accountability-and we cannot hope to foster public trust-if we cannot, at the most basic level, actually ensure that discipline is implemented where we have found misconduct; this is where the rubber meets the road."

Read the Report

Read the full report, released on December 16, 2025.

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