Public commenters at the Chicago Police Board’s Feb. 20 meeting urged the board and the Chicago Police Department to increase visible patrols near schools, step up community engagement, and strengthen accountability for officers. At the same meeting, Robin Murphy, general counsel of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, reported January complaint totals and announced the chief administrator’s departure.

Superintendent Larry Snelling opened his report by noting the Chicago Police Department celebrated the graduation of 241 recruits this month and asked residents and business owners to register private security cameras with the department to help investigations. "This does not give CPD direct access to your camera system," Snelling said; registering a camera, he said, allows detectives to contact owners and request footage if a crime occurs. He directed interested parties to chicagopolice.org camera registration.

Robin Murphy, general counsel of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, reported that COPA received 369 complaints and notifications in January; 81 of those matters were within COPA’s jurisdiction and together included 360 allegations. Murphy said 35% of the allegations involved Fourth Amendment improper search and seizure claims. COPA received two officer‑involved shooting notifications in January and concluded one officer‑involved shooting investigation, Murphy said. COPA also released three videos in January under the city's video release policy and held 12 community engagement events. Murphy said Chief Administrator Andrea Kersten announced last week that she would be leaving her position; COPA staff expressed gratitude for Kersten’s leadership and said written remarks from the chief administrator would be shared.

Public commenters made a series of related appeals focused on youth safety, neighborhood policing and accountability. Pastor Sharon Cozzi described a personal traffic‑stop and subsequent health effects, and urged mandatory psychological screening earlier in the hiring process for recruits and more attention to officers with multiple complaints. "I propose that moving forward ... before they even hire police officers, cadets, undergo a basic psychological test," Cozzi said.

Zakiyah Muhammad, who identified herself as an elder activist, described an incident near 30th and Calumet where a 15‑year‑old was accused of stabbing a young person and asked the department to increase visible patrols during school dismissal times. "If we could just have the cars out there during the time that the schools are closing... that should help," Muhammad said.

Melanie Hogan, founder of Shai Love, said some young people "don't respect the police" and urged greater parental support and community partnership to back parents in disciplining children and to reduce violent interactions.

Retiree and longtime law‑enforcement member Dr. Rita Pritchett used her remarks to highlight the life of Dorelle Brandon as the first woman killed in the line of duty, asking the board to remember the department’s history in honoring fallen officers.

Other speakers, including Pastor Doyle and Lena Bivens of the 20th Ward, urged more neighborhood engagement, regular beat presence and programs that bring young people and community leaders into dialogue with law enforcement. Bivens described a recent "hello walk" in which officers went door to door to speak with residents and said such outreach improved community relations.

The board called for written orders and decisions from the day’s formal items to be posted on the police board website and adjourned following public comment.

Ending note: COPA and CPD provided specific operational details (camera registration URL, counts of recruits and complaints) at the meeting; COPA said written statements and posted decisions would follow.