West Sider Named Chair of Citywide Police Oversight Commission

A longtime West Side community advocate, Remel Terry, was sworn in as chair of the city’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) on Oct. 30, marking a major milestone in the city’s ongoing effort to strengthen civilian oversight of policing.

Terry, who also serves as First Vice President and Political Action Committee Chair of the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP, addressed members of the branch during its monthly meeting on Nov. 1 at the Sankofa Cultural Arts & Business Center, 5820 W. Chicago Ave. in Austin, where she thanked fellow members who showed up for her during what she described as a grueling selection process.

“If you are one of those folks who talk about what people should be doing and that we need more out of officials, well those officials also need you to show up for them,” Terry told attendees. “It’s very important that my people showed up for me.”

Terry explained some of the commission’s responsibilities, including its “authority to request certain research or investigation of the Office of Inspector General’s Public Safety section.”

Role and Responsibilities of the CCPSA

Terry’s appointment comes as the commission begins the critical process of selecting a new chief administrator for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), the agency responsible for investigating serious allegations of police misconduct. According to an Oct. 31 report by WTTW, the commission has narrowed the field of 24 applicants to five finalists in its search.

Her predecessor, Anthony Driver Jr., stepped down from the role earlier this year to launch a campaign to succeed longtime Congressman Danny K. Davis in the U.S. Congress (7th District).

The CCPSA was established in 2021 under the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance, which created a seven-member civilian body charged with oversight of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), the Police Board, and COPA.

Among its duties, the commission:

• Reviews and approves CPD policy changes
• Sets goals for CPD, COPA, and the Police Board
• Recommends candidates for police superintendent and COPA administrator
• Hear public feedback on policing
• Monitors reform efforts tied to the federal consent decree

Local Oversight: The District Councils

Complementing the city-wide commission are 22 elected district councils, each representing one police district. These three-member councils serve as the neighborhood-level link between residents and police, hosting public meetings, gathering community input, and advising the CCPSA.

On the West Side, the councils include:

• 10th District Council — covering North Lawndale and Little Village
• 11th District Council — covering East and West Garfield Park, and Humboldt Park
• 15th District Council — covering Austin

Each district council meets monthly, and residents can view upcoming agendas and meeting details on the CCPSA calendar.

When CCSPA Meets

The CCPSA typically meets on the last Thursday of every month, with November and December meetings adjusted for the holidays. The December meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at JLM Life Center, 2622 W. Jackson Blvd. in East Garfield Park — part of the commission’s effort to rotate locations across the city to encourage participation.

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How to Get Involved

Residents can attend commission and district council meetings, submit public comments, or review policies under consideration by visiting chicago.gov/ccpsa.