CCBA Statement on the Killing of Paul O'Neal

The Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), the oldest association of African-American judges, elected officials, lawyers, law professors, law students and legal professionals in the nation, expresses its condolences to the families of Paul O'Neal.  O'Neal, who was unarmed, was fatally shot in the back by Chicago police.  Police were attempting to stop a vehicle that had been reported stolen when the driver of that vehicle sideswiped a Chicago police vehicle and another car.  Two officers opened fire while O'Neal was still in the car; O'Neal attempted to flee on foot when a third officer, whose police vehicle had been struck, chased O'Neal and fatally shot him in the back, according to news reports.  The Chicago Police Department (CPD) use-of-force policy prohibits firing on a moving vehicle if it was the only threat against the officers or others, the Chicago Tribune reports.  The three officers involved in the shooting were using body cameras.  The cameras worn by the officers who fired at O'Neal while he was in the car recorded them shooting at O'Neal, but the camera worn by the officer who fired the fatal shot was not recording.  A police spokesperson has said it is not known why the camera was not recording.  Police dash-cam footage also failed to capture the fatal shooting.  Police superintendent Eddie Johnson has received praise for moving quickly to strip the three officers of their police powers.  However, the officers remain on paid administrative duty.

This latest tragedy again proves the need for police reform and a new focus on accountability.  The implementation of policies meant to protect the public is only the first step.  The CPD must ensure its officers receive adequate initial and follow-up training on appropriate use of force and de-escalation of all police-citizen encounters.  Currently, police officers are expected to activate their body camera when they arrive at the scene of a call for service, according to news reports.  "Lack of experience" is suspected by investigators as a possible factor in the failure of the camera worn by the officer who fatally shot O'Neal to record the incident, the Tribune reports.  The CPD must put the same emphasis on training officers on the use of dash-cam and body cameras as it does when training its officers on other practices that are taught, ingrained, tested, and monitored. 

While the move to relieve the officers involved in this shooting of their police authority is a positive step as it is seen as a punitive measure, unlike assignment to desk duty alone, that too will be as ineffective as the body camera in this case if there is not a swift, fair, and transparent investigation that achieves real justice.  The Tribune reports that the IPRA investigation into O'Neal's shooting will likely take months to complete.  Unnecessary delay in investigating the officers involved in shooting and killing Paul O'Neal will itself be a denial of justice for the community.  The speed of this investigation and the consequences for the officers' actions will be the true demonstration of the new police and IPRA administration's commitment to reform.