Roadblocks to Police Accountability
Kallie Cox
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I investigated police misconduct and scoured public records across the country along with a team of other college and professional journalists. We produced a project titled "Roadblocks to Police Accountability." Our work was published by the Associated Press and the Gateway journalism Review. It was recognized with two awards by Editor & Publisher magazine, and I received the Sally Brown Boyden Student Journalism award for my contribution.
Police Misconduct Records Secret, Difficult to Access & Analysis of Police Misconduct Record Laws in All 50 States
These articles form a comprehensive database providing insight into open record laws in every state and how they pertain to police accountability.
Records Show Illinois Fails to Hold Police Accountable for Misconduct
Eighty-one Chicago police officers lost their badges over the past 20 years, but only after being investigated for 1,706 previous offenses – an average of 21 accusations per officer.
One third (28) of these Chicago officers were investigated for domestic altercations or sexual misconduct. Two murdered their wives.
New Illinois Police Reform Bill Makes State Police Misconduct Database Secret
The new law requires the Illinois Law Enforcement and Training Standards Board to maintain a statewide database of police misconduct. But the same law that requires the statewide database then closes it.
