Hiring and discipline recommendations emerge from Elgin police task force
The first set of Elgin police reform recommendations is emerging from a civilian task force on police reform. But obstacles lie ahead before any changes go into place.
The task force spent the past few months split into four subcommittees. Through weekly or biweekly discussions, a consensus is building around several ideas that await review by the overall task force.
One series of recommendations would overhaul the qualifications and preference point system used to hire new police officers. There is a subcommittee consensus to support Police Chief Ana Lalley's plan to allow people with a high school diploma or GED to apply to the department for the first time.
Elgin is one of the few police departments in the area that requires a bachelor's degree or 60 college credit hours with other qualifications. Lalley wants to change the requirement in hopes of bringing more diversity to the department. All applicants must still pass a series of tests, interviews and mental and physical screenings.
The subcommittee on hiring also wants to add new qualifications to the department's hiring preference point system. Having a trade school degree, a diploma in social work or human services, professional experience in community service or involvement or being an Elgin resident would all earn applicants preference points in the hiring process for the first time.
Another major pending recommendation details what a civilian review board to examine and provide recommendations for police officer discipline would look like.
The recommendation calls for a nine-member board with no fewer than five Black members. A variety of ages and neighborhoods would have seats on the board. No current or former law enforcement personnel, their spouses or children, or any current city employee could be appointed to the civilian review board. Members would receive diversity, equity and inclusion training. And the review board would also have subpoena power, under the proposed recommendation.
Before any of that becomes a reality, the full task force and Lalley must provide some feedback. Then, the full city council will consider and vote on any recommendations. And finally, several of the pending changes need to survive a review from the body task force members are most wary about - the Elgin police union.
Negotiations for a new union contract will begin this summer. Several police officers who are members of the union have participated in some of the task force meetings in recent months. But the union organization has not been a formal part of the discussions.
Lalley, however, provided words of encouragement about the department's desire and willingness during her weekly radio show this Friday.
She said the department of 10 or 20 years ago doesn't exist anymore. The leadership, tactics and personnel have all changed. Body-worn cameras provide a new level of objective accountability. And more than 60% of the sworn officers have five years or less of policing experience.
"They are ready for the conversations," Lalley said. "They are in tune with what's going on. It's important that we set the foundation for that new generation to start with a fresh slate."
She said the conversations between the community and police officers will be the most fruitful part of the task force's efforts.
"For this task force to mean anything, we have to have the officers start meeting people," Lalley said. "Give your criticism. I'm not going to get mad. I'm actually going to hear what you're saying. Then you're going to listen to what I'm saying. And then maybe we can meet in the middle. This type of conversation needs to be ongoing, and it should never stop. To disconnect from each other, to put our walls up, nothing gets solved like that."