Live reporting by
Ahmad Sayles
Andrea Kersten COPA chief administrator appointment recommended for approval despite Ella French dust-up
Ahmad Sayles
@ahmad_sayles
Good Afternoon! I’ll be live-tweeting today’s Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety meeting for @CHIdocumenters #CHIdocumenters. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Due to COVID-19, the meeting will be held remotely.
12:50 PM Feb 9, 2022 CST
Latest on Andrea Kersten’s nomination as permanent head of Civilian Office of Police Accountability here by @fspielman: chicago.suntimes.com/platform/amp/c…
Chairman Taliaferro calls the meeting to order. He starts with a roll call vote to establish a quorum. 16 members present, a quorum has been reached.
The public comment segment begins. The first speaker Ms. Terry speaks in favor of Andrea Kersten’s nomination to head COPA.
The next speaker Joe D. a former cop speaks about slain officer Ella French’s character and voices his objection to Kersten’s nomination.
The next speaker is Kevin Graham. He's a police officer speaking against the confirmation of Andrea Kersten. He says COPA lacked decency when it recommended suspension for Ella French.
The next public speaker is a Reverend who speaks in favor of Andrea Kersten’s nomination to lead COPA. He says that voting for Kersten is a vote for police accountability.
The next public speaker is Carlos Yanez Sr. He's the father of CPD officer Carlos Yanez Jr. He says that COPA’s recommendation for suspension was a slap in the face to Ella French’s family.
No more public speakers. Approval of Rule 45 Report passes with no questions.
Andrea Kersten begins her remarks by saying she supports police but believes in police reform as well. https://t.co/cWvx8GUlZP
Andrea Kersten apologizes again for the COPA report that included the recommended suspension of slain officer Ella French.
Chairman Taliaferro tries to allow debate on the nomination. Ald. Lopez wants to end the debate and vote right away.
Ald. Tabares (23) demands another apology from Andrea Kersten for the Gold Star families of Chicago. Kersten apologizes again and says that she followed the law.
Ald. Osterman (48) speaks in support of Andrea Kersten to head COPA.
No more hands up to speak. Roll call vote on the appointment begins.
The appointment of Andrea Kersten to head COPA passes the committee with a 9-6 vote.
With no further business, the meeting is adjourned. The next Committee on Public Safety meeting will occur on 2/17 at 2:00 p.m.
Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety meeting ends at 1:56 p.m. This ends my coverage for @CHIdocumenters find more information through Daniel Wolk’s notes at documenters.org