Chicago’s police watchdog has cleared two officers in the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Tracey Watson on the West Side, ruling that their decision to open fire in South Austin was a reasonable use of deadly force. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) on Thursday released its final summary report on the May 27, 2024, encounter, after reviewing body-worn camera, in-car, and pod video. COPA closed its administrative investigation while faulting the officers only for waiting too long to switch on their cameras.
What COPA concluded
According to COPA, Officers Cordell Curtis and Darrell Willis fired their weapons after they were flagged down and saw Watson standing over another man and making stabbing motions. The report states the officers “verbally directed [Watson] to drop the knife several times” before shooting, and that deadly force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm.
Discipline and body-camera findings
The watchdog exonerated the officers on allegations that they failed to use other force options, concluding that less-lethal tactics would likely have put them at greater risk. COPA did sustain an allegation that the officers “failed to activate their BWCs in a timely manner” and recommended reprimands for both. COPA’s public entry for the case includes the Final Summary Report along with the body-camera and pod footage it reviewed; see the agency’s materials on COPA.
Video and earlier reporting
COPA first released the related video in July 2024, prompting a new round of scrutiny as local media went through the footage frame by frame. As reported by WTTW, the video shows officers stepping out of their squad car, issuing commands, and then firing as the confrontation unfolds. The man, identified as 35-year-old Tracey Watson, later died at Stroger Hospital.
Family reaction and unanswered questions
Watson’s relatives have pushed back on key parts of the official account, saying they did not hear officers order him to “drop the knife,” CWB Chicago reported. Family members and neighbors have also questioned why a Taser or other less-lethal option was not used instead of live rounds, and some residents say that even with the video release, broader concerns about police tactics in the neighborhood remain far from resolved.
What comes next
COPA approved its final recommendation on Nov. 26, 2025, and posted the Final Summary Report this week, effectively closing the administrative side of the case while again urging stricter compliance with body-camera rules. The recommended reprimands now move into the city’s internal discipline process, even as advocates continue pressing for stronger policies on de-escalation and less-lethal tools. The Chicago Police Department referred questions about the case back to COPA, and city prosecutors have not announced any criminal charges, CBS News Chicago reported.
