Committee places three Evanston police complaints on file; one finding sustained with shift-level counseling

The Evanston Human Services Committee on May 12 accepted and placed on file the Office of Professional Standards' report covering three complaints against Evanston Police Department personnel.

Sergeant Cole, Office of Professional Standards, summarized each case for the committee. The commission reviewed the investigations and voted 5–0 to move the complaints to the Human Services Committee for final review; the chief of police concurred with the investigators' findings.

Complaint 24007: The complainant alleged racial profiling during a traffic stop on Feb. 5, 2024, and that a watch was damaged while in police custody. Sergeant Cole said body-worn camera footage shows officers removed the complainant's watch while placing him in handcuffs, inventoried it, and later returned the watch in an envelope. The complaint was later cited for fleeing and eluding and other traffic offenses. After investigation the commission classified allegations under rules 1, 2, 30 and 74 as unfounded; the chief concurred.

Complaint 240049: The complainant alleged an Evanston officer parked in a handicapped space and then reprimanded the complainant for parking in a no-parking area on May 19. Sergeant Cole said body-worn camera footage exists; after review the commission moved the complaint to the committee and the chief found the rules alleged (rules 1, 2 and 18) unfounded.

Complaint 240050: The complainant reported on March 31 seeing several vehicles without front license plates in Lot 6 and alleged an EPD patrol sergeant refused to investigate the matter in person. Sergeant Cole said investigators determined the accused sergeant did not accompany the complainant to the lot; after review the chief of police and deputies concluded Rule 20 was violated and classified that rule as sustained with shift-level counseling; other alleged rules were not sustained.

A committee member asked for clarification of "shift-level counseling," and Sergeant Cole explained it is a form of progressive corrective guidance delivered verbally to the officer ("a sort of progressive discipline, but it's more on suggesting how to do things better in the future as opposed to being punitive").

The committee voted by roll call to accept the report and place it on file; the roll call recorded "Aye" from Council member Rogers, Council member Burns, Council member Harris and Council member Ayers.

Why it matters: The report documents internal investigations and management responses to citizen complaints, including one sustained Rule 20 finding that resulted in non-punitive counseling rather than formal discipline.

The committee concluded its review and placed the report on file.