CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A plan to create a database of Chicago Police misconduct investigations is stalled in the City Council over complaints that it is too watered-down.
The ordinance, co-sponsored by Council Finance Committee Chair Scott Waguespack, would have the Office of the Inspector General maintain a database of misconduct allegations going back to the year 2000.
Mayor Lightfoot supports the measure as a compromise. But during a virtual hearing, several aldermen said they’re concerned that the latest proposal for a police misconduct database would not contain information about all the cases and outcomes; and they wanted other tweaks. There was even more concern that the City’s Inspector General, who would oversee the database, said he couldn’t support the plan.
Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski Garza, among others, said it falls short of what is needed.
"The press is saying that this doesn't attain the main goal. Another paper said this is worse than nothing. The Better Government Association is saying vote 'no' on this thing, but my real big concern here is that the OIG's office, who was tasked to implement this thing is not supported," she said.
For one thing, it would not contain records of cases dropped, because the complainants did not filed sworn affidavits.
Alderman Scott Waguespack, the co-sponsor, said he’s tried to work things out with the Inspector General to no avail.
"We tried to go back and make the changes. The next thing I knew there were op-eds and commentaries basically saying we don't support this at all, before I had a chance to go back and make amendments or try to do another back and forth," he said.
Alderwoman Leslie Hairston said the proposal is a watering down of the plan she supported earlier, and urged colleagues not too settle for it.
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