Following release of the Police Accountability Task Force report in April 2016, several foundations came together to support a critical next step in the reform effort – the community engagement process that would shape a recommendation for a community oversight board.

The Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) conducted an extensive community engagement process in developing its proposal for the community safety oversight system envisioned in the 2016 Task Force report. It held more than 100 meetings and other forums that were attended by thousands of Chicago residents in neighborhoods across the city. It studied police accountability systems in other major U.S. cities and consulted with national experts, to ensure that Chicago learns from the experience of others.

The foundations supporting GAPA’s community engagement process made the following comment on the group’s proposal:

“The principles of increased public safety and greater trust between police officers and Chicago residents guided GAPA’s process and are embodied in the proposal that now becomes the focus of public discussion and debate about how best to achieve those goals. We hope that GAPA’s thoughtful recommendations serve as the starting point for a robust and productive citywide debate about the best way forward.”

The following were acknowledged in the GAPA report as providing financial support:

Alvin H. Baum Family Fund

Borealis Philanthropy

The Chicago Community Trust

The Field Foundation of Illinois

Irving Harris Foundation

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The Joyce Foundation

Polk Bros. Foundation

Robert R. McCormick Foundation

Woods Fund Chicago

This is a post related to the Police Reform and Community Relations strategy of the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities.