The Civilian Office of Police Accountability

02/01/2023

COPA is at the Faith Leaders Town Hall meeting at New Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in East Garfield Park. Tonight’s town hall is focused on policing and violence prevention in the city.

01/30/2023

COPA is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Quality Management Analyst. If you are interested in applying or learning more, visit https://buff.ly/3jnNjSh

01/27/2023

This evening the Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability- CCPSA presented COPA Chief Andrea Kersten with 2023 goals for the agency. This collaborative effort has led to over 30 goals for COPA in the areas of administration, legal, community engagement and investigations. We look forward to our continued collaboration with the Community Commission to provide Chicago the accountability it deserves

01/25/2023

Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten attended today's ribbon cutting at the new Public Safety Training Center. COPA is excited to partner with first responders by utilizing the Public Safety Training Center for our upcoming Training Academy in the spring of 2023.

01/25/2023

COPA To Host Training Academy in Spring 2023 At Public Safety Training Center

01/23/2023

COPA Provides Update on Off-Duty Officer Involved Shooting Near 1300 W. 90th Street

01/19/2023

COPA Releases Materials Related to an Off-Duty Officer Involved Shooting Near 2800 W. Grace https://chicagocopa.org/case/2022-0005166/

01/11/2023

Next Tuesday COPA’s Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten will be on a panel discussing civilian oversight of police with Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission, Atlanta Citizen Review Board, NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board, Metro Nashville Community Oversight and National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. The panel is January 17 at 5pm CST. Zoom information is located on the flyer

Curious about police oversight? The Citizens Police Oversight Commission () will be hosting our National Police Oversight Townhall on Tuesday, January 17 from 6pm-8pm.

CPOC will be joined by :
Atlanta's Atlanta Citizen Review Board ()
Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability ()
Nashville's Metro Nashville Community Oversight ()
New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board ()
The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement ()

Join us for an insightful discussion of police oversight from around the nation!

01/09/2023

Tomorrow we'll be at the first meeting of the year of The Leaders Network at the Columbus Park Refectory 5701 W Jackson Blvd in South Austin

Join our first monthly meeting of 2023 on Tuesday, January 10 at 9:30 am Central Time at the Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 West Jackson Blvd.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83948983068?pwd=c09mVFVIb3lQYkI0K2t6T1paa2hUdz09

Meeting ID: 839 4898 3068
Passcode: 334749

01/09/2023

COPA is seeking qualified applicants for the following positions:

• Investigator
• Supervising Investigator
• Training Officer
• Digital Forensic Analyst

If you are interested in applying or simply learning more, visit our careers page: https://www.chicagocopa.org/careers2/careers/

01/06/2023

We’re back in Little Village at Piotrowski Park for The Alliance 98’s youth kickback. This event is fully youth-led, planned and executed! We’re here till 6pm, come learn about COPA and the other service providers. Chicago Sky is here for a girl’s basketball clinic, too! Congratulations to TA98’s teens for this awesome event!

01/06/2023

This morning we’re at the Family Winter Fair at the King Community Center in Grand Boulevard / Bronzeville from 11am to 3pm. Come learn about COPA and many other community resources

01/05/2023

This afternoon we'll be joining BUILD Chicago for their youth-led Winter Kickback. Join us from 1pm - 5pm at 5251 W North Ave in the North Austin Community

TOMORROW! Join us for Part 2 of our Winter Kickback series. We’ll be at 5251 W North Ave from 1-5 PM. Come out for good company, music, food, and winter decorations. Everyone is welcome!

01/04/2023

Join us on Friday afternoon in South Lawndale for The Alliance 98 youth-led, youth-created event!

12/28/2022

Careers

COPA is currently seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:

• Investigator
• Training Officer
• Digital Forensic Analyst
• Supervising Investigator

For more information, please visit our careers page:

We are currently accepting applications for the positions listed below. As new positions in COPA become available they will be posted here and on the City of Chicago’s job site. COPA seeks …

12/27/2022

Earlier this month we hosted our COPA Academy Graduation. This is the eighth COPA academy in our five year history. We had special remarks from Alderman Matt Martin - 47th Ward. COPA Academy is an intensive eight week training program designed to provide COPA new-hires hands-on experience in the functions of our agency

12/23/2022

We are at Piotrowski Park in Little Village with The Alliance 98 for this Winter Kickback!

12/23/2022

Wishing everyone a happy and save holiday from our COPA family to you and yours.

As a reminder, our office will be closed on Monday, December 26th, in observance of Christmas. We will reopen on Tuesday, December 27th.

12/20/2022

Today, COPA’s Public Affairs team discussed the agency’s role in police accountability in Humboldt Park at the Nobel Neighbors Community Meeting. If you are interested in our agency speaking to your community or group, please email [email protected]

12/20/2022

Careers

COPA is currently seeking qualified candidates for the following positions:

• Investigator
• Training Officer
• Digital Forensic Analyst

For more information, please visit our careers page:

We are currently accepting applications for the positions listed below. As new positions in COPA become available they will be posted here and on the City of Chicago’s job site. COPA seeks …

12/15/2022

COPA Releases Video & Other Materials Related to An Officer Involved Shooting Near 1800 N. Monticello https://chicagocopa.org/case/2022-0004681/

12/13/2022

COPA Provides Update on Officer Involved Shooting Near 9900 S. Wentworth

12/13/2022

This morning we joined The Leaders Network monthly meeting at the Columbus Park Refectory in the South Austin neighborhood. The meeting included a discussion of police accountability from Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez 25th Ward Office and City of Chicago Office of Inspector General. We are proud partners of The Leaders Network

12/13/2022

Chief Administrator Kersten presented draft goals for 2023 at this evening’s Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability meeting. The CCPSA meets monthly and begins with public comment. You can find more about the commission here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/ccpsa.html

12/12/2022

Careers

COPA is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Senior Information Analyst. For more information, please visit our careers page:

We are currently accepting applications for the positions listed below. As new positions in COPA become available they will be posted here and on the City of Chicago’s job site. COPA seeks …

12/10/2022

Today we’re in Logan Square at the Welcome to My World Senior Bash hosted by State Senator Omar Aquino and State Representative Delia Ramirez. There is free breakfast, resource tables, raffles and a DJ! We’re here till 1pm, come learn more about us!

12/06/2022

Today COPA is in the South Chicago neighborhood at Centro Comunitario Juan Diego Resource Fair talking to the public about our role in police oversight.

12/01/2022

COPA is seeking public input on its new draft policy regarding Civil and Criminal Complaint Review.

The draft policy can be viewed on our website here: https://www.chicagocopa.org/community-outreach/public-comment-policy-review/

11/23/2022

COPA will be closed tomorrow, November 24th, in observation of Thanksgiving Day. We will reopen for standard operations on Friday, November 25.

11/23/2022

Public Comment & Policy Review

COPA is seeking public input on its new draft policy regarding Civil and Criminal Complaint Review.

The draft policy can be viewed on our website here:

Thank you for your interest in providing public comment on COPA policies. As accountability takes all of us, we invite you to review drafts of our policies and post any …

11/20/2022

Thank you to our partners at the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance for allowing us to co-sponsor and volunteer at today’s Thanksgiving meal for our new arrivals. Five hundred new Chicagoans experienced their first Thanksgiving meal with turkey, mashed potatoes and all the other traditional Thanksgiving goodies!

Gracias a nuestros socios de la Alianza Venezolana de Illinois por permitirnos copatrocinar y ser voluntarios en la comida de Acción de Gracias de hoy para nuestros recién llegados. ¡Quinientos nuevos habitantes de Chicago experimentaron su primera comida de Acción de Gracias con pavo, puré de papas y todas las demás golosinas tradicionales de Acción de Gracias!

11/16/2022

COPA Provides Update on Officer Involved Shooting Near 600 N. Central Park Avenue

11/15/2022

Today COPA discussed the agency’s role in police reform at the Nobel Neighbors Community Meeting. If you are interested in our agency speaking to your community or group, please email [email protected]

11/15/2022

Careers

COPA is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Research Associate.

For more information, please visit our careers page:

We are currently accepting applications for the positions listed below. As new positions in COPA become available they will be posted here and on the City of Chicago’s job site. COPA seeks …

11/14/2022

Last week COPA was at the Chicago Police Department’s Police Academy participating in two days of training as part of COPA Academy. COPA Academy is an intensive eight week training program designed to provide COPA new-hires hands-on experience in the functions of our agency. Day two included training in the VirTra simulator.

11/09/2022

COPA Releases Video & Other Materials Related to an Officer Involved Shooting Near 5000 W. Lawrence https://chicagocopa.org/case/2022-0004050/

11/09/2022

Today COPA visited TASC Chatham parole office and discussed the importance of police oversight to a group of returning citizens learning about effective ways to overcome barriers to re-entry.

11/09/2022

Yesterday COPA attended the Leaders Network Community Meeting comprised of leaders working together to improve the quality of life for west side residents. If you’re interested in our Public Affairs team speaking to your community group email [email protected]

11/08/2022

COPA is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Chief Investigative Law Officer.

For more information, please visit our careers page: https://www.chicagocopa.org/about-copa/careers/

11/05/2022

Thank you for the invite UIC College Prep, A Noble School! It was great to connect with so many families this evening at your Family Resource Fair