Chicago lawyer accused of hiding shooting evidence resigns

There have been intense calls for change at the Chicago Police Department, and now the agency that investigates officer-involved shootings is undergoing a major restructuring.

Sharon Fairley, appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to reform the Independent Police Review Authority, will hold a news conference on Monday to outline “her vision for the agency”.

The agency was formed in 2007 to investigate problems at Chicago’s police force, which has a long history of complaints of abuse and brutality.

Those positions include, hiring Annette Moore, from the University of Chicago Law School, as IPRA’s new chief of staff and Jay Westensee as a new chief investigator.

Rauner’s aggressive stance toward Emanuel added to the mounting public criticism against the mayor and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez for their response to the 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, an African-American, by white Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who has been charged with murder.

She said she would also increase IPRA’s contact with Chicagoans over the changes needed in the police department.

CPS faces a $1 billion budget shortfall, due largely to increasing pension payments. The furor over the shooting shown in the video cast fresh attention on IPRA and police accountability issues in Chicago.

“Rauner told reporters he would sign a bill allowing Chicago voters to recall their mayor from office if it reaches his desk”.

Chang ordered a new trial in reversing a federal jury’s decision in favor of Officers Raoul Mosqueda and Gildardo Sierra.