Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling says he is moving to fire Officer Chavez Siler after an oversight probe concluded the veteran cop brought a gun into Westinghouse College Prep during a scuffle with a student in November 2021. The clash, captured on a cellphone video that tore through social media, has once again put Siler’s lengthy disciplinary history under the microscope. Snelling’s move sends a high-profile case toward the Chicago Police Board, where any push to discharge an officer can trigger a formal hearing and months of legal back‑and‑forth.
What COPA found
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability sustained 10 of 21 misconduct allegations stemming from the Nov. 16, 2021, hallway confrontation and recommended penalties ranging from a 365‑day suspension up to firing. Investigators noted that a video posted online appeared to show Siler briefly pointing his handgun and saying, "I'll shoot," though COPA ultimately declined to sustain that specific allegation. The findings and recommended discipline were outlined by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Video and school response
A widely shared cellphone clip shows Siler pulling 17‑year‑old student Sharod Grafton into a hallway while holding a handgun. In the video, several Westinghouse teachers and staff rush in and try to separate the two as other students look on. After the incident, Westinghouse administrators removed Siler from his school post and Chicago Public Schools opened an investigation into what happened. The officer’s removal and the initial video were first reported by Block Club Chicago.
Record of force
Siler’s history includes an earlier, unrelated arrest in March 2017, when he was accused of pistol‑whipping a man and urging another officer to use a Taser. That case did not end his career but instead led to administrative proceedings and a suspension imposed by the Police Board. The 2017 episode has resurfaced in multiple oversight reviews, which critics argue reveal a pattern of force complaints against the officer. Coverage of that arrest and its fallout was detailed by Fox 32 Chicago.
What's next
Superintendent Snelling has said he will seek Siler’s dismissal, a step that would put formal charges in front of the independent Chicago Police Board and set up a public hearing. Court records show that the student involved, Sharod Grafton, filed a federal civil‑rights lawsuit in November 2022, and Chicago Public Schools’ public agenda lists an $85,000 settlement for Grafton dated Feb. 8, 2025. The Police Board will now set a schedule for hearings, and both the city and Siler should be braced for a lengthy process. Those legal filings and settlement details are reflected in Justia and the Chicago Board of Education agenda, with broader context reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Legal implications
If the superintendent follows through with charges seeking discharge or a suspension longer than 365 days, the Chicago Police Board typically holds an evidentiary hearing and then issues a binding decision. In limited circumstances, officers may instead pursue arbitration. Past high‑profile cases have shown that the three‑way dynamic among COPA, the city’s Law Department and the Police Board can produce contested and drawn‑out outcomes, underscoring how complicated accountability can be in practice. For COPA’s public files and final summary reports, see COPA's case portal, and for legal analysis of Police Board procedures, see FindLaw.
