The U.S. Department of Justice is poised to announce tomorrow its findings of constitutional violations by the Chicago Police Department after a yearlong investigation, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Sources say it is highly unlikely the DOJ investigation will conclude with a signed-and-completed consent decree outlining mandated changes in police practices. Rather, what is on the table is a deal for the city and the feds to sign an “agreement in principle.” Such a pact, made with community input, would create a federal court-enforceable path forward that addresses the feds’ findings.
Former Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said he is “disappointed” that federal investigators who have been probing the police department’s practices didn’t consult with him. “I was never interviewed, so I can only speculate what is in that report based on what I’ve seen in other cities,” he said. The feds are hustling to complete their probe before Donald Trump becomes president on Jan. 20. Fraternal Order of Police President Dean Angelo said he would be surprised and extremely disappointed if Emanuel signed an agreement in principle with the Justice Department to negotiate anything before a “findings letter” summarizing the federal investigation is released. “No one should agree to anything,” Angelo said of talks between the city and the feds. “At this stage, it’s a report on their findings and their study. It’s not a mandate. It’s nothing that anyone should be jumping to agree to unless they already have it. And if they already have it, how do they have it when no one else has it? Where is the transparency and professionalism related to that? I don’t get it at all.”