The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced Friday that the body will conduct a nationwide search to find the next leader of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the agency tasked with investigating use of force incidents by Chicago Police officers.
The search plans came less than 24 hours after COPA’s former chief administrator, Andrea Kersten, announced her resignation. Monday also brought the departures of Jose Tirado, director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, and Jamie Rhee, commissioner of the Department of Aviation.
“For Chicago’s police accountability system to succeed, people who bring complaints to COPA and members of the Chicago Police Department who are the subject of COPA investigations, must all believe that COPA’s processes are fair, effective, and equitable,” Anthony Driver, president of the CCPSA, said in a statement Friday.
No timetable was provided, though the CCPSA said it’s “required by ordinance to engage a nationally recognized organization with expertise in government oversight to assist in the search” before reviewing applications, conducting interviews and, ultimately, nominating a candidate to the City Council.
Kersten joined COPA in 2021 and has led the agency since 2022. She faced regular scrutiny from the CPD leaders, the union representing rank-and-file officers, as well as pro-police members of the City Council, despite COPA’s increase in recent years in closing out police misconduct cases.
FOP President John Catanzara told the Tribune on Thursday that the CCPSA was set to recommend to the City Council next week that Kersten be fired.
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced Friday that the body will conduct a nationwide search to find the next leader of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the agency tasked with investigating use of force incidents by Chicago Police officers.
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced Friday that the body will conduct a nationwide search to find the next leader of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the agency tasked with investigating use of force incidents by Chicago Police officers.
The search plans came less than 24 hours after COPA’s former chief administrator, Andrea Kersten, announced her resignation. Monday also brought the departures of Jose Tirado, director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, and Jamie Rhee, commissioner of the Department of Aviation.
“For Chicago’s police accountability system to succeed, people who bring complaints to COPA and members of the Chicago Police Department who are the subject of COPA investigations, must all believe that COPA’s processes are fair, effective, and equitable,” Anthony Driver, president of the CCPSA, said in a statement Friday.
No timetable was provided, though the CCPSA said it’s “required by ordinance to engage a nationally recognized organization with expertise in government oversight to assist in the search” before reviewing applications, conducting interviews and, ultimately, nominating a candidate to the City Council.
Kersten joined COPA in 2021 and has led the agency since 2022. She faced regular scrutiny from the CPD leaders, the union representing rank-and-file officers, as well as pro-police members of the City Council, despite COPA’s increase in recent years in closing out police misconduct cases.
FOP President John Catanzara told the Tribune on Thursday that the CCPSA was set to recommend to the City Council next week that Kersten be fired.
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