In a move that is causing ripples through the City's law enforcement community, Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) has recommended the termination of a police officer involved in a fatal shooting of a domestic abuse victim. Officer Alberto Covarrubias is facing backlash for his actions, which resulted in the death of Michael Craig in October 2021, a man who had called for help against his wife's threats during a domestic quarrel, CBS News Chicago reported.
Craig's call to 911, where he described being threatened with a knife by his wife, ended tragically when Covarrubias shot him twice, acting on the mistaken belief that Craig was the aggressor. Despite warnings that Craig was, in fact, the victim, "Within seconds of entering the apartment, body camera footage shows Officer Covarrubias drawing a Taser and, a gun," according to the Chicago Tribune. COPA further criticized Covarrubias for not providing medical aid to Craig after the shooting.
The recommendation from COPA comes alongside a broader critique from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) leadership towards the agency. CPD Supt. Larry Snelling offered a harsh critique of COPA, accusing it of relying on personal opinion and speculation, potentially leading to unfair disciplinary measures toward officers. Snelling argued that although infractions might be sustained, the penalties being recommended, such as 30 to 90-day suspensions, were excessive and "punitive," the Chicago Tribune detailed.
The contentious exchange between the two city departments surfaced publicly during a police board meeting where Andrea Kersten, COPA's chief administrator, defended the wave of recent disciplinary recommendations. “We were given, as was the Bureau of Internal Affairs, a 45-day window after the collective bargaining agreement governing the Fraternal Order of Police was signed in December, to conclude every investigation that’s over 18 months old, otherwise perhaps forfeit the entirety of that case,” Kersten explained in a meeting documented by the Tribune.
The developing situation also casts light on the ongoing legal contention over police discipline. This follows the city's settlement of an $8.75 million lawsuit with Craig's family, where aldermen expressed shock over the details surrounding the fatal incident. Ald. Jeanette Taylor voiced her incredulity at the fact that officers were aware of Craig's victim status but shot him anyway, leading to the multimillion-dollar settlement approved by the City Council, as described in the earlier reports by CBS News Chicago.
This case, among others, will likely be subject to the scrutiny of the police board, which decides on severe instances of alleged police misconduct. Pending the verdict, Covarrubias could face termination depending on the outcome of a full evidentiary hearing, with the power of final decision resting in the hands of the Police Board and potential appeals in the Cook County Circuit Court. This repeated clash between COPA's measures for accountability and the CPD's pushback highlights the ongoing struggle to balance oversight with fairness in law enforcement discipline.
