Police Board President Kyle Cooper’s Statement on the FOP’s Petition to Appeal the Illinois Appellate Court Decision Regarding Arbitration of Police Disciplinary Cases

The Fraternal Order of Police has filed a petition with the Illinois Supreme Court to appeal the recent Appellate Court decision requiring public arbitration proceedings for the most serious police disciplinary cases.

While unsurprising, this appeal will further delay the establishment of an arbitration process, increase the backlog of cases awaiting hearing, and ultimately cost taxpayers and officers accused of serious misconduct substantial amounts of money. The delay and uncertainty caused by this appeal deny accused officers, alleged victims of misconduct, and the public the timely resolution they deserve.

As previously stated, I believe the Appellate Court's decision was sound and it should be allowed to stand. Full public access to the hearings and decisions in the most serious cases is essential for ensuring accountability and increasing the community's trust in the Chicago Police Department.

As I have done and will continue to do, I again encourage officers facing the most serious disciplinary charges to choose a Police Board hearing rather than wait an indefinite amount of time to proceed in a currently undefined arbitration process, as the Police Board is committed to holding expeditious and fair hearings that uphold the due-process rights of all parties.

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