Vol. 3 Issue 29
In this issue: upcoming events, new reporting in Illinois, updates to our national Data Access work, news and awards from our missing persons investigation and You Didn't See Nothin podcast
We are excited to offer two 4-week reading groups for folks to intentionally dive deeper into and discuss together on reporting on Chicago’s missing persons crisis.
We invite those interested to sign-up for either the in-person series (Chicago South and West Side based) or the virtual series. Because we are aiming to keep these reading groups more intimate to invite full participation, we ask that participants only sign up for one or the other. Both reading groups will cover the same material.
Learn more and register →
New Reporting in Illinois
In our latest partnered reporting with IPM Newsroom, Farrah Anderson and Sam Stecklow investigate the detailed disciplinary history of Champaign's Police Chief Timothy Tyler. Tyler's policing history includes a sustained investigation into domestic violence, improper vehicle pursuit, missing currency, and involvement in federal civil rights lawsuits including one accusation of false arrest and conspiring with city officials.
Champaign and its city manager Dorothy Ann David have refused to release Tyler's application materials or provide answers to additional questions - a stark contrast to Tyler's comments in a promotional video for the city touting its transparency.
We previously shared reporting by Farrah Anderson about the first-ever fatal police shootings by Rantoul Police: 21-year-old Azaan Lee in February and 18-year-old Jordan Richardson in June. In new reporting, Farrah details the recommendations from the Use of Force Review Board for several department-level trainings - none of which have yet been implemented by the Rantoul Police Department.
Read the full investigation →
Our expanded partnered reporting outside of Chicago is part of the continued expansion of our data and journalism work to mid-sized cities in Illinois. This work is rooted in expanding the impact of the Kalven v. Chicago (2014) decision, which established that documents related to allegations of police misconduct are public record. In Chicago, our team has made nearly a quarter of a million misconduct files available to the public and supported reporting about police abuse and accountability.
Updates in our Data Access Work
Reporting on Virginia from Sam Stecklow
Sam writes on the continued struggle for police certification records in Virginia for the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism.
Virginia, one of 15 states that refuses to release basic information about certified officers, denies access to this information on the grounds that its officers may be working undercover. Advocates for greater transparency argue that being a police officer is not a private fact and officers undercover will be using their names in public record.
Virginia has legislation that has languished for years that could increase oversight, transparency, and pathways to decertification for officers guilty of misconduct. Virginia's governor has introduced a program to expedite lateral transfers that experts say could allow more officers with misconduct histories to find work in law enforcement - increasing the issue of "wandering officers".
Virginia Is In The Minority Of States Keeping Even The Most Basic Police Data Secret →
Colorado Supreme Court to hear our case
The Colorado Supreme Court will hear our case seeking Colorado's police certification and employment history data. The suit is the latest in a years-long fight to open these records and track Colorado's "second-chance cops".
Read the full article from the Chicago Freedom of Information Coalition →
These stories are part of our work to better understand the legal and political conditions of police data transparency on a national level. In partnership with a host of newsrooms, nonprofits, and media organizations alongside Big Local News, we are pushing to obtain crucial data around officer certification and employment history nationwide.
Missing Persons Reporting Updates
Finalist for Sigma Award
We’re thrilled to announce that our investigation into Chicago police handling of missing persons cases, in partnership with City Bureau, has been named a finalist for the 2024 Sigma Awards.
Our reporting was chosen as a finalist from 591 data journalism projects, submitted by 322 organisations, in 78 countries, and 6 regions. 52 data journalism projects from 22 countries made the shortlist. Winners will be announced in March.
See the full shortlist announcement →
Office of Inspector General Announcement
Chicago’s Office of the Inspector General announced that they are considering opening an investigation into Chicago Police Department’s operational competence on handling missing persons cases, listing it first in their 2024 Public Safety report of potential projects.
Read the Report →
Excerpt in Word in Black
An excerpt of our reporting has been republished in Word in Black - a collaboration of 10 legendary Black news publishers. Word in Black works to confront inequities, elevate solutions, and amplify the Black experience by reporting, collecting, and sharing stories about real people in communities across our country.
Read the excerpt →
You Didn’t See Nothin - Finalist for ASME Award
You Didn’t See Nothin has been named a finalist for The American Society of Magazine Editors 2024 National Magazine Award (“The Ellie Awards”). One of the most prestigious journalism-awards programs in the United States, the National Magazine Awards are sponsored by ASME in association with the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. The first three episodes of You Didn’t See Nothin were named as finalists in the podcasting category. Winners will be announced April 2nd.
See the full announcement →
