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Residents urge more patrols, accountability and community engagement at Chicago Police Board meeting
Summary
At the Feb. 20 meeting, multiple public commenters described violent incidents near schools, urged more visible patrols at dismissal times, proposed pre‑employment psychological screening for recruits, and urged community policing and mental‑health responses.
Several residents and community leaders who signed up to speak at the Chicago Police Board meeting on Feb. 20 urged more patrol presence near schools at dismissal times, stronger accountability for officers, and expanded community engagement and prevention efforts.
Pastor Sharon Cozzi described a 2015 traffic stop that resulted in her arrest and long‑term health problems; citing investigative reporting she said the city has paid nearly $500 million in settlements and proposed mandatory psychological testing for recruits and screening for officers with multiple complaints. "I propose that ... newly before they even hire police officers, cadets undergo a basic psychological test and those with multiple complaints" she said.
Zakiyah Muhammad recounted a Feb. 3 incident in which a 15‑year‑old was stabbed near 35th and Rose and urged the department to "put the cars back out there" during school closing times to deter violence and protect bystanders. Melanie Hogan, founder of Shylove, said some youth do not respect police and urged community support for parents and frontline workers, warning against "malicious compliance" where officers show up but do not intervene.
Other speakers included Dr. Rita Pritchett, who paid tribute to Dorelle Brandon (identified in her remarks as the first woman killed in the line of duty), a speaker identified as Jasmine who urged stronger officer accountability and cited wrongful‑conviction cases, Pastor Doyle who called for community conversations and mental‑health supports to prevent youth violence, and Lena Bivens who described a successful "hello walk" in Woodlawn where officers knocked on doors and engaged residents.
Speakers pressed both the department and the board to balance enforcement with community engagement, mental‑health services and parent support; several suggested concrete steps such as increased patrol visibility during school hours, psychological screening for recruits and deeper, sustained neighborhood outreach.
