Elgin officials reject cop review board to investigate misconduct

Elgin's mayor and police chief rejected calls to form an independent board modeled after one in Chicago that would investigate allegations of misconduct and brutality.

"I don't think it's a particularly good idea," said Mayor Ed Schock Wednesday night. "We already have a number of procedures to investigate complaints and wrongdoing and misconduct. It seems to me that process has worked very well. It's resulted in discipline and dismissal of officers."

Schock's comments came after Marcus Banner, an Elgin resident and president of Our Neighborhoods Empowered, or ONE, presented the city council with about 400 signatures supporting an Independent Police Review Authority like Chicago's.

Banner noted several instances of police misconduct, the most notable being the case of Officer Chris Darr, who pleaded guilty this summer to assaulting a suspect in a Jan. 1 hotel melee in the back seat of a squad car while Darr was off duty.

Darr resigned from the police force before admitting guilt, was fined $500, and given two years' probation. A $5 million lawsuit has been filed against Darr, the city and police department.

"No one was charged in that incident other than the officer who committed the crime," Banner told city leaders. "If it's proper protocol to allow citizens to be beaten and disregard their safety while they're in custody - again - we have a serious problem."

Police Chief Lisa Womack said the department has a full-time officer in the Office of Professional Standards that investigates complaints, which must be accompanied by a sworn affidavit. She added the department works with outside agencies, such as the FBI or Illinois State Police when needed, and that Banner has not made any sworn statements to police regarding any misconduct.

"I believe that we appropriately and completely investigate all complaints of misconduct of police officers," Womack said, adding: "Our process is designed to protect the rights of the citizens as well as protect rights of employees as prescribed by law. We take this all very seriously."

Schock added that the city already has a number of police and fire review boards that help screen potential new officers and investigate complaints.

"The vehicles to solve problems already exist," he said. "I don't see the need to create another group to basically do the things that are already being done."