Update on arbitration of police disciplinary cases

As noted at the past several Police Board meetings, the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents Chicago police officers below the rank of sergeant, has filed an appeal of two rulings that are part of the March 21 Cook County Circuit Court decision that allows officers to choose to have the most serious police disciplinary cases heard by an arbitrator rather than the Police Board. The union is challenging the rulings that arbitration proceedings be open to the public and that accused officers may be suspended without pay while the arbitration case is pending.

The FOP filed its opening brief with the Illinois Appellate Court in late July. The due date for the City's brief is later this month. It appears that it will be some time before the Illinois Appellate Court decides the appeal.

There are no new developments in the 13 cases currently before the Police Board in which the accused officer has requested arbitration. The Board has received no information from the parties as to whether the City and the FOP have agreed on an arbitration process that is open to the public. These 13 cases remain on hold-there will be no arbitration hearings until the establishment of a public arbitration process, and there will be no Police Board hearings without the consent of the accused officer.

No new disciplinary cases against FOP members have been filed with the Police Board since the March 21 Circuit Court decision. One new case against a CPD sergeant has been filed with the Board thus far in 2024.