CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mayor Lori Lightfoot is defending her choice to head the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the police oversight agency, despite criticism from several aldermen and others.
Lightfoot said Andrea Kersten’s the most qualified candidate to be chief administrator of the COPA.
But about 20 Chicago City Council members are opposed, angry that COPA released a report listing murdered police officer Ella French among those who faced discipline for the botched 2019 raid on social worker Anjanette Young’s home.
The report was completed months before French was killed but released publicly only recently.
The mayor said Kersten deserved a hearing and that she deserved to be judged on her work at the COPA, and how she handless herself at a confirmation hearing for the permanent top job not just one incident.
But several council members have signed a letter saying that incident should disqualify her.
Lightfoot indicated she would not back down from Kersten’s appointment.
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