For six years, the Southwest Organizing Project, along with a number of member institutions worked tirelessly to pass the Empowered Community for Public Safety (ECPS). This ordinance puts the power of police accountability into the hands of communities . In July 2021, the Chicago City Council voted on and passed the ECPS ordinance creating a new model for police oversight, accountability, and public safety in Chicago. The ordinance created two bodies: a citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), with power to advance systemic reform, and the District Councils, which will be elected in each police district and work to improve policing and public safety in the district. The Commission and District Councils brings police officers and Chicago residents together to plan, prioritize, and build mutual trust; strengthen the police accountability system; give Chicagoans a meaningful new role in oversight; and, explore and advance alternative effective approaches to public safety.

Since its inception, the Interim Commission has worked on many different initiatives, working with the Chicago Police Department, the District Council, and the community to address issues throughout the city related to policing. Though there are still many issues to tackle, the current commissioners will soon be ending their terms and will be replaced with new individuals . The deadline for interested community members to apply was on February 7th, 2024, so it will only be a matter of time before the new commission members are announced. For more information on the responsibilities and goals of the CCPSA, check out this page: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/ccpsa/supp_info/serving-on-a-community-commission.html

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