Chicago Police Board issues rulings in six COPA–CPD disagreement cases
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Summary
The police board announced decisions on six COPA–CPD disagreement cases: several matters will proceed to hearing while other officer-discipline recommendations were found to have been overcome by the superintendent; written opinions will be posted online.
At its February public meeting the Chicago Police Board announced rulings in a set of disagreement cases referred from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) and the Chicago Police Department.
Board members who had been randomly selected to adjudicate each dispute summarized their findings and, where required, directed next steps. The board said it will post written opinions explaining each ruling on its website.
Key outcomes announced:
- Officer Michael Kearns: COPA recommended a 10–15 day suspension for pushing a female teenager at a large public gathering near Millennium Park. The board member who reviewed the matter found the superintendent did not overcome COPA’s recommendation; the case will proceed in the usual disciplinary course and a written decision will be posted.
- Officer Wojciech Kanski (RFR 25RR03): COPA recommended discharge for firing at or into a moving vehicle. The board member concluded a full evidentiary hearing is necessary so parties can present testimony and expert evidence; the case will proceed to hearing.
- Officers Bradley Scuduto, Michael Bocasini and Thomas Johnson (RFRs 26RR010203): COPA recommended 30-day suspensions for each; the reviewing board member concluded the superintendent met his burden of overcoming COPA’s recommendations and proposed no discipline for the three officers.
- Officer Monica Mada (RFR 26RR04): COPA recommended a 90-day suspension related to alleged excessive use of force and a failure to record the entire incident on body-worn camera. The board member concluded the superintendent met his burden and proposed reduced discipline will stand.
- Officers Richard Rodriguez Jr. and Kenneth Sunday (RFRs 26RR06 and 26RR07): COPA recommended a 30–45 day suspension for Rodriguez (improper search and failure to activate body-worn camera) and a two-day suspension for Sunday (use of profanity in violation of bias-based policing rules). The board member ruled the superintendent did not overcome COPA's recommendation regarding Rodriguez (the case will proceed), and did overcome the recommendation for Sunday (two-day suspension agreed).
Board President Kyle Cooper said the rulings are administrative determinations about the disagreement process and do not, by themselves, constitute final adjudication of all underlying factual claims. Written opinions will be posted after the meeting.