ACLU Chicago Police Suit: Cop Union Moves To Dismiss Underrepresentation Case

A motion filed Thursday by Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police aims to stall an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against the city, which alleges that emergency call response times are significantly faster in white-majority areas than in high-crime neighborhoods with higher minority populations.

The FOP's legal motion argues that police redeployment, a possible side effect if the ACLU wins in court, should follow discussions between police, aldermen and the community instead of a judicial ruling or mandate, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The union also alleges that Sidley Austin LLP, the law firm representing the ACLU, has conflicts of interest that should preclude them from involvement: a partner at the firm is on the Chicago Police Board, and Sidley Austin has worked with Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the past, an alliance they claim could beget ulterior motives.

The initial ACLU lawsuit requested a court order requiring the city to develop and submit a new officer deployment plan that distributes emergency services more equitably, according to a release by the nonprofit's Illinois chapter.

FOP President Michael Shields characterized the suit's possible outcome differently at a November speech hosted by the City Club of Chicago, arguing that the suit could leave police beat remapping decisions up to the ACLU "and a single Cook County judge" and announcing plans to intervene before entering a courtroom the Chicago Tribune reported.