Police Review Authority Outlines New Policy For Police Shootings
By Kate Shepherd in News on Jan 29, 2016 9:28PM
The new chief of Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) Sharon Fairley promised to make major reforms, and she's already making some changes to how "police-involved shootings"—the term used when an officer shoots a civilian—are handled.
Upon hearing of a shooting, IPRA will immediately "attempt to notify" the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Felony Review Unit of the incident, according to a letter from Fairley to several CPD officials including Chief Eugene Roy of the Bureau of Detectives posted on the Second City Cop blog.
When IPRA personnel arrives at the scene, CPD officers will tell them their account of the events during a "walk-through" of the scene.
The IPRA investigation team will direct evidence collection. Police officers can mark and photograph evidence before IPRA officials arrive on scene but the IPRA deputy chief or supervising investigator on the scene must be present for the process to be completed.
If available, an assistant state's attorney from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Felony Review Unit will go to the scene for witness interviews and the IPRA will advise them on the interviews. The IPRA and attorney will interview civilian witnesses as well.
The changes come after a meeting held on Dec. 21 with Fairley and CPD officials about the Police and Community Relations Improvement Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1.