The Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus on Wednesday echoed the call of community and civil rights organizations for a comprehensive community engagement process around police accountability ahead of the passage of legislation designed to reform the Chicago Police Department, the Independent Police Review Authority and other segments of the criminal justice system under City control.

“The challenges of police reform cannot be confronted from the top down,” said Ald. Leslie Hairston (5). “We must pursue a thorough community engagement process that elevates the voices of our constituents who are most impacted by excessive use of force and other common issues.” The Progressive Caucus encouraged the Emanuel administration to work with community organizations, civil rights groups and aldermen to map out a community engagement process that will be perceived by the public as legitimate and methodical.

“We must meet with Chicagoans on every side of the city to make sure the needs and concerns of every community are accounted for,” said Progressive Caucus Chair Ald. Scott Waguespack (32). “Rushing through legislation this important at this critical juncture in our city’s history without full community engagement would be a serious error,” said Ald. Ricardo Muñoz (22). “A series of public meetings in various parts of the city, where we can hear from constituents as well as subject matter experts, is a vital component in this process that cannot be skipped over.”

The Progressive Reform Caucus includes Ald. Leslie Hairston (5); Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6); Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10); Ald. Toni Foulkes (16); Ald. David Moore (17); Ald. Ricardo Muñoz (22); Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29); Ald. Scott Waguespack (32); Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35); Ald. Nick Sposato (38); and Ald. John Arena (45).