5 Roadblocks to Reform in Chicago’s Police Union Contract

Critics say the city’s agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police makes it more difficult to investigate and punish abuses.

In These Times and City Bureau

The collective bargaining agreement between the city of Chicago and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 7 will expire on June 30. With public interest in the upcoming round of negotiations on the rise, In These Times partnered with the civic journalism lab City Bureau, Invisible Institute and Injustice Watch to annotate the FOP contract in plain English. The full annotated contract, which can be viewed here, highlights significant articles and contextualizes them with case studies, expert analysis, media reports and more. Below is a summary of five key provisions that present a roadblock to police reform efforts.

The text is from the poem “QUADRENNIAL” by Golden, reprinted with permission. It was first published in the Poetry Project. Inside front cover photo by Golden.
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