Watchdog agency: Race not a factor in confrontation between cop, Black woman

A surveillance video screen grab of the summer 2021 confrontation. Photo credit image provided to WBBM Newsradio

By Steve Miller

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability says race was not a factor in last year’s confrontation at North Avenue Beach between a white police officer and a Black woman.

Video from the incident went viral: a Chicago police officer telling a Black woman walking her dog to leave the beach just after midnight last August.

That led to a physical confrontation.

The woman, Nikkita Brown, has filed a federal lawsuit against the city and police, and she maintains the incident was racially motivated.

COPA says it could not establish that. The agency says the officer, Bruce Dyker, had told other people, including four white or Hispanic males, to also leave the area.

The officer was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct. COPA recommended the officer be fired or suspended.

He resigned last month.