5 Pictures: Members of Bipartisan Congressional Policing Strategies Working Group Visit Chicago

Washington, D.C. -- Members of the bipartisan Policing Strategies Working Group traveled to Chicago, Illinois this week to meet with local community leaders and law enforcement to discuss police accountability, aggression towards law enforcement, and public safety concerns related to these issues. Members who traveled to Chicago are House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Representative Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and Representative Val Demings (D-Fla.). Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Nadler made the following statement on the trip to Chicago: “Members of the Policing Strategies Working Group had a very informative and productive trip to Chicago. We held very candid conversations with local law enforcement, youth and community leaders about the challenges that impact the relationship between law enforcement and local communities, and ideas for improvement. There must be a healthy partnership between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.  We recognize that much work remains to be done to address these issues in Chicago and we look forward to continuing this important dialogue.” Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who helped coordinate the visit, said the following: “As Congress continues to examine ways to advance strategies, legislation and funding mechanisms that actively rebuild police-community trust, we need to hear from community stakeholders and local law enforcement. That’s why I worked so hard to bring the bipartisan Policing Strategies Working Group to Chicagoland. Chicagoland has its own set of unique challenges and opportunities and what we learn here can and will shape better policies moving forward.” Below are five pictures from the trip.

On July 8th, Rep. Robin Kelly hosted a dinner meeting with researchers and academics to provide an overview of police and community relations in Chicago. Policing Strategies Working Group members were joined at the dinner by Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL).

On July 9th, Members of the working group met with community advocates and local leaders. This meeting included representatives from the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, American Civil Liberties Union, Kids Off the Block, Inner City Muslim Action Network, University of Chicago Police Accountability Task Force, National Alliance Mental Illness, among others.

After the roundtable with community stakeholders, the Congressional delegation met with Chicago youth.

Following the roundtable with youth, the Members held a press conference. Watch the press conference on Facebook.

To conclude the trip to Chicago, Members met with law enforcement, including: Lieutenant John Thompson, Illinois State Police; Hazel Crest Chief of Police Mitchell Davis; Richton Park Chief of Police Elvia P. Williams; South Holland Chief of Police Shawn Staples; John Lausch, Jr., U.S. Attorney, Northern District, Federal Bureau of Investigation; as well as additional representatives from the Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

  Background: The Policing Strategies Working Group was established in July 2016 and examines police accountability, aggression towards law enforcement, and public safety concerns related to these issues. The bipartisan working group has held a series of roundtables – including visits to Detroit, Atlanta, and Houston – to discuss the issues fueling excessive force used by law enforcement and attacks against police officers. Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Nadler lead the working group. Members of the working group are: Representatives Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Dave Reichert (R-Wash.), Susan Brooks (R-Ind.), Will Hurd (R-Texas), John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Cedric Richmond (D-La.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), and Val Demings (D-Fla.).

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