New COPA head announced – Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced late Tuesday that he planned to name Sydney Roberts to lead the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Roberts, the director of Secretary of State Department of Police, was the unanimous choice of the search committee formed by Emanuel after Sharon Fairley resigned to run for Illinois Attorney General, according to a statement from the mayor’s office.
Roberts’ appointment came the same day as the Tribune and Sun-Times reported that Police Supt. Eddie Johnson disagreed with COPA’s finding that officer who shot and killed Bettie Jones and Quintonio LeGrier in December 2015 should be fired. Johnson found shooting was justified and consistent with department policy, the newspapers reported. Also being introduced today: the ordinance sponsored by Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6) and Harry Osterman (48) establishing a civilian oversight body with the power to appoint COPA’s next head.