Last summer, after a decades-long struggle for robust police accountability, the people of Chicago secured a major step forward with the passage of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance, which created what is arguably the most democratic and progressive system of civilian oversight in the United States.
The “People’s Ordinance,” as it came to be called, garnered the support of more than 100 community organizations and thousands of local residents, many of whom were galvanized to action in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. In July 2021, the ECPS ordinance passed through City Council with a 36-vote supermajority and the signature of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, ushering in a new era for policing in Chicago.
