Issue date: 7/31/08 Section: City

Formation of the new Citizens' Police Advisory Committee is still in progress after approval was granted last month by the Evanston City Council.

According to the mayor's office, the Human Services Committee is in the process of assembling the panel, whose official purpose is to review all formal and informal complaints against Evanston police.

Last month's approval by the Council came more than one year after a group of residents first went to the Human Services Committee about police harassment. Residents sought to become part of holding EPD accountable for the growing number of complaints over officer misconduct.

In February, Richard Eddington, Evanston's chief of police, announced the creation of the Citizens' Police Advisory Committee to review the behavior and actions of police officers.

The proposal originally stated that the panel would be comprised of no less than four but not more than nine residents. After submission to the Council at the June 9 meeting, aldermen stipulated that the committee should have nine members, with just one from each ward. The aldermen asked that interested residents contact them quickly so that recommendations might be made to Mayor Lorraine Morton, who will appoint members.

It was emphasized by Ald. Steven J. Bernstein (4th) that the committee would not have the authority to make decisions. Chief Eddington would have final authority after hearing the findings and advice of the panel. He also said that this committee would show the community that there is fairness in the Police Department, since they will be heard by appointed residents of their respective wards.

All applicants must be a resident or an employee in Evanston to be considered.

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