2025 District Council Priorities

Each year, district councilors can introduce policy priorities for the CCPSA commission to address in the coming year. This year, 10 priorities were introduced.

of those 10, 8 policy initiatives passed with a majority of support from the collective body of district councilors.

Those 8 policy initiatives are listed below and will be among the top priorities addressed by the CCPSA commission in 2025.

Priority 1: Building trust through transparent justice, a proposal to improve crime clearance rates

The proposal calls for prioritizing improvements in crime clearance rates, especially for violent crimes, and increasing public transparency through regular reporting of these rates. It also seeks to reduce disparities in clearance rates between wealthier and underresourced neighborhoods, ensuring equitable law enforcement services across the city.

It focuses on creating transparent, evidence-based standards for closing cases to ensure fairness, accountability, and accuracy within the Chicago Police Department.

This initiative passed by a margin of 47 yes, 11 no, and 3 Abstain. It was introduced by Councilor Dion McGill (District 7).

Priority 2: Proactive Officer Wellness

The proposal calls for public meetings to be held by the commission, in consultation with subject matter experts to gather input on implementing annual, mandatory wellness evaluations for CPD officers.

These evaluations aim to address the significant mental health challenges officers face through proactive measures that prioritize support and early intervention.

In line with the consent decree's focus on transparency, accountability, and officer wellness, this initiative prioritizes confidential support to create a healthier, safer environment for both officers and the communities they serve.

This initiative passed by a margin of 47 yes, 11 no, and 3 abstain. It was introduced by Councilor Angelica Green (district 25)

Priority 3: Building a path for alternative response for appropriate 911 calls.

The proposal seeks to establish an alternative response branch within Chicago's public safety system to address inefficiencies in 911 call response times and improve trust between the community and police.

The initiative focuses on diverting lower-acuity calls—such as noise complaints and mental health crises—from the Chicago police department to specialized responders better equipped to handle these situations.

This initiative passed by a margin of 45 yes, 11 no, and 5 abstain. It was introduced by Councilor Jenny Schaffer (district 19)

Priority 4: Promote and enhance public safety by cooperation between community groups and police districts

The proposal seeks to enhance public safety and strengthen trust between Chicago communities and police districts by fostering collaboration and information sharing.

The initiative proposes organizing biannual meetings in every police district area, allowing district council public safety working group members, community stakeholders, and CPD representatives to address safety concerns, share solutions, and build partnerships.

Meetings would be supplemented with workshops, briefings, and public safety reports summarizing progress. This proposal emphasizes transparency, trust-building, and improved access to resources.

This initiative passed by a margin of 43 yes, 13 no, and 5 abstain. It was introduced by Councilor Lee Bielecki (district 22)

Priority 5: Community mediation process for low level complaints with input from district councilors.

The proposal advocates for the commission to prioritize implementing a community-informed mediation process, that includes district councilors, for low-level complaints in COPA's 2025 goals.

this initiative, mandated by the consent decree, seeks to ensure that district councilors and community members play a significant role in shaping the program.

District councilors would engage the community for input, educate both officers and residents about the program's benefits, and advocate for meaningful community participation in the program's design and evaluation.

This initiative passed by a margin of 41 yes, 10 no, and 10 abstain. It was introduced by Elizabeth Rochford (District 17).

Priority 6: Transfer investigation of officers with ties to hate groups to COPA

The proposal asks the commission to recommend that the investigation of CPD officers with ties to hate groups be transferred from the Bureau of Internal affairs (BIA) over to the civilian office of police accountability (COPA).

The proposal highlights concerns over potential conflict of interest between CPD and the BIA and the need for a more independent and impartial review process.

This initiative passed by a margin of 41 yes, 16 no, and 4 abstain. It was introduced by Councilor Leo Quintero (District 12).

Priority 7: Raise District Councilor visibility and invite district councilors to appropriate local city events, conventions

The proposal seeks to increase the visibility and inclusion of District Councilors in city governance by ensuring their participation in relevant meetings, conventions, and press conferences as representatives of their communities.

To enhance public recognition of district councilors, the proposal includes providing vehicle identification, such as stickers or badges, and access to office spaces for constituent engagement.

The proposal aims to recognize district councilors as elected officials and key stakeholders in local government, fostering inclusivity, improving collaboration with city agencies, and strengthening their ability to represent community interests.

This initiative passed by a margin of 39 yes, 13 no, and 9 abstain. It was introduced by Councilor Joseph Williams (District 7).

Priority 8: End discriminatory pretextual traffic stops for low level violations.

The proposal advocates for the commission to create a policy to prohibit discriminatory pretextual traffic stops for low-level violations, with no reasonable suspicion that the individual being stopped is a threat to public safety.

The proposal calls for the policy to include the following:

(I). End pretextual stops where the primary purpose is unrelated to criminal investigations

(II). Limit stops for minor offenses like expired registrations or objects in windshields

(III). End suspicionless vehicle consent searches.

This initiative passed by a margin of 36 yes, 18 no, and 7 abstain. It was introduced by Councilor David Orlikoff (District 14).