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Residents press Police Board on investigations, retail crime, parking and community policing at May 21 meeting
Summary
Eleven public speakers raised varied concerns including alleged CPD inaction on incidents involving federal agents, retail crime at a local Jewel‑Osco, church parking enforcement, a beautification proposal for the 3rd District, and calls for better follow‑through at beat meetings.
Eleven members of the public who signed up to speak at the Chicago Police Board's May 21 meeting urged the board and police leadership to address a range of local concerns, from policing investigations to event safety and neighborhood parking.
At the start of public comment Bobby Kennedy urged separate community handbooks for Black and Hispanic community-policing liaisons modeled on the LGBTQ+ liaison handbook and criticized what he called a move toward "progressive segregation" in an affinity police-car program.
Josie Raymond told the board she had filed a FOIA on behalf of two clients and accused the Chicago Police Department of failing to investigate alleged violations by federal agents, citing a review by the Illinois Accountability Commission and pointing to a case she identified as involving "Border Patrol agent Charles Exum" and the shooting of Marimar Martinez. "While the CPD has been sitting on its hands and made excuses," Raymond said, "please stop making excuses and do your job."
Other commenters raised neighborhood and operational concerns: Jennifer Edwards described ongoing retail crime and vehicle dumping in a Jewel‑Osco parking lot at East 95th Street and asked for help relocating a blue-light camera; Charlene Beasley described chronic parking problems around a megachurch and said a Bureau of Internal Affairs complaint was administratively closed; Donna Oliver, speaking for Communities Organized to Win, requested city and police support for a beautification project at the 3rd District ahead of a planned renaming to honor Officer Dorell Brandon and outlined material and volunteer needs; Keith McLemore urged the board to maintain a narrow procedural focus when reviewing complaints and proposed an automated intake form to help route cases; Janet Martin Fox read a resident's statement urging stronger, more responsive leadership for the district community policing office.
Board President Kyle Cooper and department representatives acknowledged condolences for the recently fallen officer and thanked speakers; Cooper reminded the public that written follow-up and status reports are available on the Police Board website. No formal board action was taken directly on the public commenters' requests during the meeting.
