Chicago Ald. Bob Fioretti today introduced an ordinance that would require the largely secretive work of the Police Board to be more open.The proposal would require the panel to post votes online and explain its decisions on police disciplinary action. Fioretti also wants to limit the terms of board members, slash their pay, and establish attendance requirements to stop “rampant absenteeism."
“We need to build trust and accountability in the system,” said Fioretti, 2nd. “The public needs to be able to access police board decisions and read them to understand the results.”
Fioretti’s move came on the same day the City Council approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s six nominees to the board. Demetrius E. Carney, the board's long-time president, was among those reappointed. Carney has served on the board for 14 years.
The police board interviews prospective superintendents and provides the mayor with a short list of candidates when the position is vacant. It also hears disciplinary action cases for an officer or police department employee who has been removed, discharged or received a suspension of more than 30 days.
The board offers monthly reports describing the disciplinary cases it considers and the outcome, but not how each member votes. The outcome of the case is posted concisely for “brevity’s sake,” said Max Caproni, the executive director of the board. “People can tell what the outcome was and call our office if they want to dig deeper.”
Fioretti says those votes should be posted on the website within two business days and board members should have to detail the facts in each case, explaining their decisions and findings.
Under the proposed ordinance, the police board would also have the authority to make public policy recommendations and hold public hearings.
Members can serve an unlimited number of five-year terms. Under the proposed ordinance, members would be allowed to serve no more than two consecutive terms, and those who have already reached the 10-year mark may only serve an additional 18 months.
Members are paid $15,000 a year and the president collects $25,000. Fioretti wants to see their pay slashed to $5,000 for board members and $7,500 for the president.
Emanuel is conducting a review of the pay for all boards and commissions with the goal of cutting in half the city's annual $621,000 outlay.
Emanuel said his corporation counsel will review Fioretti's proposed changes.
