Impacted Community Members Address the Failings of the Chicago Police Department’s New Foot Pursuit Policy

CONTACT: Arewa Karen Winters arewa_neo@yahoo.com  cell: 312-813-6882

WHEN: Wednesday, June 9, 2021 – 10:00am

WHERE: Chicago Police Department (CPD) Headquarters, 3510 S. Michigan Avenue

WHAT: People affected by police violence and reform advocates will gather in front of CPD headquarters to address the glaring inadequacies of the Department’s new interim foot pursuit policy. The policy does not state that foot pursuits carry a significant risk of danger and death. It also permits foot pursuits for many minor offenses and fails to give clear easy-to-understand guidance to officers. The policy was developed without input from Black and brown Chicagoans impacted by reckless and dangerous foot pursuits, who have stood ready to work with the City on a policy to restrict foot chases. Instead, the City engaged only in an ‘internal’ process. Additionally, the Monitor enforcing the Chicago Police consent decree found in her most recent report that the City relegates community engagement to the late stages of policy development and fails to incorporate community engagement which often prevents meaningful community participation.

WHO: Consent Decree Coalition Members, Use of Force Working Group Members, Community Activist and Organizers and Families Impacted by CPD Foot Pursuits.

Community Renewal Society is a member of both the Consent Decree Coalition and of the Use of Force Working Group.