2 Chicago police officers accepted $13K in bribes in alleged ‘kickback’ scheme

By Vincent Caruso

09/10/2018

The officers are facing federal charges for their alleged role in a kickback scheme involving an attorney referral service seeking information on traffic crashes.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, corruption, CPD: Chicago Police Department

Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood

By Vincent Caruso

08/09/2018

In what critics have decried as an inappropriate use of scarce public safety resources, Chicago police officials parked a “bait truck” reportedly filled with boxes of Nike sneakers in the city’s Englewood neighborhood.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform

Amid heavy ticketing, challenge to Chicago food truck regulations heads to Illinois Supreme Court

By Vincent Caruso, Joe Barnas

05/31/2018

Chicago’s regulatory roadblocks have derailed opportunity for the city’s food truck entrepreneurs. As a challenge to those restrictions reaches Illinois’ high court, the outcome of the case could be felt statewide.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, food trucks, Illinois Supreme Court, regulations

Bad record keeping allows police misconduct to go unpunished

By Brendan Bakala

11/10/2017

ProPublica Illinois and the Chicago Tribune’s groundbreaking report shows how disciplinary actions for Chicago police officers fall through the cracks.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department

Jury awards record $44.7M in Chicago police misconduct case

By Brendan Bakala

10/30/2017

This latest amount broke the previous city payout record of $25 million for a wrongful conviction suit in 2012.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, police misconduct

Chicago Police Department audit reveals millions lost in overtime abuse and waste

By Brendan Bakala

10/04/2017

The city’s police department has gone over budget for overtime every year for the past six years, costing Chicago taxpayers $575 million in spending for overtime pay.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, police, police misconduct

Rahm’s 2017 budget: No significant reforms to help Chicago taxpayers

By Chris Lentino

10/13/2016

In his annual budget address, Mayor Rahm Emanuel provided an optimistic outlook on city finances, but no major reforms to give taxpayers reason to smile.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, CPD: Chicago Police Department, Rahm Emanuel, Scott Waguespack

Chicago Police Department cannot avoid requests for private emails under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act

By Joe Tabor

08/31/2016

According to a ruling from Illinois’ attorney general, government employees cannot conceal work-related communication on private email, despite the Chicago Police Department’s arguments for it.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, police

Cost of police misconduct highlights need for risk management

By Bryant Jackson-Green

07/16/2016

The city of Chicago paid over $146 million in police misconduct and public safety claims in 2013 and 2014, according to the city inspector general’s report.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, Laquan McDonald, police, police body cameras, police misconduct, Rahm Emanuel

Chicago cops retire to dodge punishment, collect 6-figure pensions

By Austin Berg

02/04/2016

Since Chicago officials received a city watchdog investigation recommending six officers be disciplined for their roles surrounding the killing of David Koschman by a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, three have retired.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, pensions

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy at least $550 million per year. But the size and scope of government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved...

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2019 Illinois corruption tracker

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Al Lashbrook

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students