HISTORICAL FACTS: 2 | History Defined

Chicago is required to have a chief administrative officer; it hasn’t for decades

The city’s inspector general cited the Hilco smokestack demolition debacle as one of 11 “missed opportunities” where interdepartmental coordination could have been improved had a chief administrative officer been on the job — as is required under city code.

Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 21, 2023

Chicago still lacks tools to police recycling scofflaws: watchdog report

The city’s inspector general’s office reports the city still hasn’t fixed problems with making sure businesses, apartment buildings and condos provide recycling.

Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 9, 2023

Chicago police can’t dismiss seriousness of officers’ ties to right-wing extremist groups

It shouldn’t take the city’s inspector general’s goading for the Chicago Police Department to acknowledge the glaring red flags that were unfurled as soon as a picture of Officer Kyle Mingari wearing a Three Percenters face mask emerged .

Chicago Sun-Times · Mar 8, 2023

For 2nd time in a week, Chicago Police Department under fire over handling of a cop accused of belonging to extremist group

The city’s inspector general on Friday questioned the thoroughness of an internal investigation into the officer after it was reported that he was a member of the Oath Keepers.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 14, 2023

Civil rights organization blasts Chicago mayor, top cop for not firing officer for his links to the far-right Proud Boys

“Any individual who is tasked with protecting the public cannot be trusted to do so equitably when they associate with an openly racist, bigoted, and misogynistic organization,” wrote Jeff Tischauser of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 5, 2023

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez calls for hearings on CPD officer suspended over ties to the Proud Boys

The department’s handling of the probe “points out a much bigger problem about how internal affairs — and how, in general, the police department — is accountable to the public,” the alderperson said.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 13, 2022

The slow pace of police reform victimizes Chicagoans — and drains their wallets

Critics tell us that payouts now in the hundreds of millions are a sign that the city and police department are not serious enough about reform. If they were, Chicagoans would see real accountability, better policies and better outcomes.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 1, 2022

Two Chicago cops face dismissal for allegedly lying about 2010 fatal shooting

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said the officers repeatedly lied about the shooting of 25-year-old William Hope Jr., whose family was awarded $4.6 million in a lawsuit filed against the city.

Chicago Sun-Times · Nov 3, 2022

It sets a bad precedent when cop with Proud Boys ties gets a pass

It’s deeply troubling that the Chicago Police Department overlooked incriminating evidence and didn’t even consider firing Bakker for making inconsistent statements to authorities about his ties to the insurrectionist group.

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 27, 2022

Watchdog: CPD overlooked incriminating evidence while investigating cop’s ties to far right Proud Boys and should have fired him

“This case represents a determination that someone who made ‘false’ and ‘contradicting’ statements about his association with the Proud Boys should continue to wear the uniform of the Chicago Police Department,” the city’s inspector general told the Sun-Times.

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 25, 2022