The next steps for our community

It has been a long, difficult 16 months since the city of Elgin experienced its first officer-involved fatal shooting in more than 20 years. On March 12, 2018, the Elgin Police Department spent several hours responding to an incident on I-90 that tragically resulted in the death of Decynthia Clements after Lt. Jensen discharged his firearm.

There have been pain, heartache and questions from all - the family of Decynthia Clements, the family of Lt. Chris Jensen, elected city officials and staff, community leaders and all who make up the fabric of our community.

On July 5, the independent investigation conducted by Hillard Heintze, LLC determined that Lt. Jensen complied with the Elgin Police Department's use of force policies during the complex incident in which there was loss of life. This comes after the Cook County State's Attorney's findings cleared Lt. Jensen of any criminal charges in February 2019.

I, along with other city leadership, have consistently held two distinct principles from the beginning. First, be transparent and forthcoming with information. And second, maintain the integrity of the investigation by withholding comment until all investigations are concluded. There was great difficulty in following these dual paths as many questions were left unanswered.

We are now able to move forward in the process of healing as a community.

On July 20 at 9 a.m., Hillard Heintze will present their findings during a special city council meeting, giving the city council and the public the opportunity to learn about the process and ask questions about the reports. This review is typically conducted in closed, executive session, but city leadership have brought it forward to the public because of its significance. We will be streaming the meeting online for those unable to attend.

Elgin's strength and resiliency have always made me proud. In the face of our biggest challenges, our history shows that we come together and have tough conversations in the pursuit of being better for future generations.

As we begin the healing process, there will be several scheduled opportunities to learn more about the facts of the case and the policies and laws that govern our decisions. There will also be opportunities to talk with one another about the questions that still feel unanswered and what our collective responsibilities are in making Elgin a community for all. These dates will be announced soon.

I invite you to attend these meetings and participate in as many discussions as possible, even with those who hold different values and opinions. We cannot stop listening and learning from one another, especially in the face of difficulty.

Thank you, Elgin, for continuing to be the community that so many want to call home. Our resolve to be "better tomorrow than we are today" continues to be the common thread that brings us all together. I look forward to working with each of you as we write our next chapter.

David Kaptain is mayor of Elgin.