City Council members violated their state constitutional oaths by denying Chicago police officers accused of the most serious wrongdoing the right to bypass the Police Board, risking a costly court challenge the city is destined to lose, an independent arbitrator warned Thursday.
Independent arbitrator Edwin Benn had already affirmed and reaffirmed that state law guarantees Chicago police officers recommended for firing, or for suspensions of over one year, the right to take their cases to an arbitrator who might be more sympathetic and would hold proceedings behind closed doors.
