Chicago Consent Decree Hearing
On August 9, CRS and other community organizations and members shared powerful testimonies at the Public Hearing on Chicago’s Consent Decree policy on investigative stops and pat-downs, also known as “stop and frisks.” The public hearing explored Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers’ harmful routine practice of stop and frisks and the lack of community engagement and input around the proposed stipulation to be added to the 2019 consent decree. Read CRS Executive Director Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton’s testimony, as well as other reports on the hearing, below.
Stop and Frisk Experience with the CPD
“Peace and Greetings to all. Your Honor, I am Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton, Executive Director with Community Renewal Society, a century old faith based non-profit in Chicago with a mission to eradicate racism and poverty towards building a Beloved Community.
Our affiliated congregations and membership represent the Greater Chicago area and its suburbs. Our platforms range from Police Accountability and Chicago’s Consent Decree to Restoring Rights.
CRS is a member of Communities United, a coalition of conscious and concerned organizations committed to equity, justice and accountability. I wish to briefly acknowledge and thank them all.
Just shy of a year ago, I was on my way to a funeral of a beloved friend by way of Ride Share. The driver was a Black man who just spent the morning with his young son. He drove to make extra money and was feeling in his words “blessed” because of the time he shared with his child. He drove a luxury vehicle. At some point on our route, we noticed a police car conspicuously parked off of the main road and partially in an alley. Sadly, we both tensed up a little as we drove by and almost immediately, the blue lights went off and we were stopped. The officers were seemingly irritated because the driver spoke up for himself, emphasizing he was cognizant of his rights and stated he didn’t feel safe. The driver believed he was stopped without justification.
The driver was questioned about his license plate, which clearly indicates he had a license to carry. I believe there was a prejudiced presumption made about a Black man with naturally locked hair, driving a luxury vehicle on the Southside of Chicago with a license to carry.
After being delayed and being intimidated with the two officers walking around the car peering into the windows with their hands on their guns, we left without a clear understanding of why we were stopped. I believe if I was not a passenger in the car with my cell phone out and ready to record – the driver could have experienced more biased harassment.
I gave the driver my card and said to call me if he needed a witness to support any complaints. He said I was his first and now his last customer of the day. He was visibly shaken as he thought about his beautiful morning with his son and how his encounter with the police could have prevented him from returning to his family. He also thought aloud, “What if my baby boy was in the car with me?”
My driver’s fears were warranted due to extensive history in our nation and sadly, in our city where police have stopped, harassed and harmed individuals, disproportionately, Black and Latinx people.
Every citizen has a right to have confidence they will return home safely to their families – both police and civilians. Every citizen has a right to make a living in peace without threat, intimidation, fear or discrimination – both police and civilians.
That day I was burdened by the juxtaposition of preparing to attend a funeral and while innocently en route, feeling threatened and afraid for my own life. Afraid I would witness harm to the driver. I wondered where is the sanctity of life if we cannot live without fear of our law protectors?
The Department of Justice report on the Chicago Police Department illuminates excessive use of force by police and biased practices rooted in racial discrimination and poverty. Independent Monitor Maggie Hickey’s report on these behaviors suggest very few stops turn up illegal guns or drugs and thus to me reflects ineffectiveness.
Stop and Frisk does not reflect a system designed to serve and protect, but instead, creates terror and threatens to criminalize normal daily practices like socializing with friends, sitting on your porch or walking your dog in your own neighborhood.
No longer can we accept police violence during street stops including throwing people against cars or walls.
No longer can we accept police using “loitering” as an excuse to frisk people and search their bags or belongings.
Or as in my case with the ride share driver – we cannot accept police stopping people randomly to ask about guns or in some instances drugs – albeit by foot or car.
My hope for a safer community is for greater transparency with the tactics used by CPD including explanation for its use of stop and frisk tactics.
My hope is for CPD to examine the effectiveness of this practice since few stops actually uncover illegal guns or drugs.
My hope is for CPD to commit to building and nurturing trust with communities they not only serve – but as residents themselves.
My hope is for CPD to stop creating divides that harm the humanity of us all and thus threatens the sanctity of life.
I invite CPD to work collaboratively with grassroots organizations like Community Renewal Society and coalitions like Communities United in our efforts to ensure police accountability with community oversight and through respectful, transparent, culturally sensitive and intentional engagement.
CPD’s policing strategy of conducting tens of thousands of street stops and frisks every year perpetuates violence and fear. With expediency, we call for the end of this practice for the sake of public health, safety, trust, healing and repair.” — Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton
CRS, along with members from ONE Northside, ACLU Illinois, Equip for Equality, Next Steps and Communities United joined together for a virtual watch party on Wednesday to view and reflect on the hearing live. There is not a recording of the public hearing, but you can learn more by reading news articles. Transcripts from the public hearing on August 9 will be available at a later date. If you would like transcripts from the June consent decree hearing, please contact us.
News Articles in English and Spanish
Background on the ACLU-CPD Stop and Frisk Agreement
In 2015, the ACLU of Illinois enacted a stop and frisk agreement between the ACLU of Illinois and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) which called for the CPD to ensure that its policies and practices do not violate the Fourth Amendment or the Illinois Civil Rights Act. This agreement included changes regarding the Fourth Amendment and investigatory stops in an effort to reduce racial disparities that result from “stop and frisks.”
In 2023, this agreement ended and although the amount of pedestrian stops make by CPD officers have decreased, vehicle stops have increased, continuing to disproportionately target Black and Latino drivers. The CPD’s abuse of stop and frisk policies and practices has pushed for more police oversight and accountability.
Read our blog articles to learn more about our police accountability work and join our Police Accountability Issue Team to get involved in creating safer communities throughout Chicago.