Use of Force Reform Timeline

Policy Development on Use of Force

CPD has developed multiple policies that govern department members’ actions related to use-of-force incidents, firearm-pointing incidents, and foot pursuits. CPD develops these policies in collaboration with several stakeholders, including members of the community, the independent monitoring team, the Illinois Office of the Attorney General, and department members.

The Chicago Police Department’s Research and Development Division (R&D)—Policy and Procedures Section prepares, updates, and issues department-level directives concerning department policy and procedures, including those related to the use of force, firearm-pointing incidents, and foot pursuits. R&D’s responsibilities include researching recommendations regarding department policy, revising department policy to be consistent with the consent decree and other CPD priorities, soliciting and analyzing community feedback on policy, conducting internal focus groups, and maintaining and updating the Department Directives System, which contains official department policy and forms. The consent decree requires:

“CPD will conduct an annual review of its use of force policies consistent with accreditation requirements of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (“CALEA”). In addition, every two years, CPD will conduct a comprehensive review of its use of force policies to assess whether CPD’s use of force policies meet the requirements of this Agreement, incorporate best practices, address observed trends and practices, as necessary, and reflect developments in applicable law. CPD will establish and maintain clear channels through which community members can provide input regarding CPD’s use of force policies and propose revisions or additions to those policies. CPD will regularly review the input received, including during the biennial review process.”

Paragraph 159 of the chicago police consent decree

Timeline

Since 2017, CPD has developed improved policies, new reporting systems, advanced review processes, and improved data collection and analysis. CPD is constantly evolving and improving in these endeavors to engage in best practices and effectively respond to evolving community expectations.

Throughout 2022, R&D conducted a review of its use of force policy suite to ensure these policies address current CPD practices, reflect national best practices, and promote trust between CPD and the community. R&D conducts a review and evaluation of its use of force policies in many ways. For example, R&D reviews data published quarterly and annually by the Tactical Review and Evaluation Division and in this Annual Use of Force Report. R&D also seeks feedback from community members on CPD’s use of force policies and how they are working in the community. Finally, R&D continues to collaborate with its partners from the Independent Monitoring Team and the Illinois Office of the Attorney General to ensure the department’s policies comply with the consent decree agreement.

In 2023, CPD completed revisions to its use of force policy and published the revised policy suite at the end of June. These revisions enhanced the policy suite based on community and department member feedback as well as an analysis of CPD’s use of force. Some of the highlights of these revisions include, but are not limited to:

• adding a reference to CPD’s First Amendment rights policy specifically in regard to the department’s response to noncompliant groups or crowds engaged in a First Amendment assembly;
• providing additional guidance from Illinois law on the scope of an imminent threat;
• adding requirements to provide medical aid in accordance with CPD’s Law Enforcement Medical and Rescue Training (LEMART);
• incorporating requirements to provide meaningful opportunity for policy review and comment by the community and community-based organizations, as well as department members; adding a requirement to provide warning and exercise persuasion and advise prior to using force, whenever possible;
• incorporating into policy the use of a debriefing dashboard to enhance after-action support to department members involved in a use of force incident; and
• providing additional guidance to department members on the use of department-authorized weapons (e.g., Taser and OC spray)

Policies Suite

The department’s collection of policies on the use of force falls under General Order G03-02, De-Escalation, Response to Resistance, and Use of Force. This is the department’s “parent” policy on the use of force. Eight sub-policies fall under the umbrella of this parent policy, each addressing specific use of force topics:

G03-02, De-Escalation, Response to Resistance, and Use of Force (Parent Policy)

1. G03-02-01, Response to Resistance and Force Options
2. G03-02-02, Incidents Requiring the Completion of a Tactical Response Report
3. G03-02-03, Firearm Discharge Incidents—Authorized Use and Post-Discharge Administrative Procedures
4. G03-02-04, Taser Use Incidents
5. G03-02-05, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Devices and Other Chemical Agent Use Incidents
6. G03-02-06, Canine Use Incidents
7. G03-02-07, Baton Use Incidents
8. G03-02-08, Department Review of Use of Force

You can view General Order 03-02, de-escalation, Response to Resistance, and Use of Force on the Department’s Directives portal.

Core Components of CPD’s Use of Force Policy

he Chicago Police Department seeks to gain the voluntary compliance of persons, when consistent with personal safety. The Department expects its members to develop and display the skills and abilities to act in a manner to eliminate the need to use force and resolve situations without resorting to force. Department members will only resort to the use of force when required under the circumstances to serve a lawful purpose.

• All Department members will act in accordance with the Constitution of the United States of America, including the Fourth Amendment, and will comply with the law and Department policy.
• All Department members will treat all persons with courtesy and dignity which is inherently due every person and will act, speak, and conduct themselves in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner.
• Department members will not exhibit a condescending attitude or direct any derogatory terms toward any person in any manner. Department members will refrain from using language or taking action intended to taunt or denigrate an individual, including using racist or derogatory language.

Use of Force Dashboard

The department uses information collected in TRRs to publish an online dashboard that provides public access to CPD use of force data. Data points include frequency of use of force, trends over time, location, demographics, and force options. Members of the public can access this dashboard by visiting the Use of Force Dashboard site. The dashboard contains tabs that allow the user to navigate between data points. Additionally, there are filter functions that allow a user to search for more specific time frames and locations.