Dismissal of Two Oversight Officials Following Allegations of Anti-Police Bias
Two officials from the Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) were dismissed from their positions at the end of last month. The dismissals occurred shortly after the two officials reported alleged bias against police to the Inspector General.
Matt Haynam, the deputy chief administrator for COPA, was dismissed suddenly during a virtual meeting with COPA Chief Andrea Kersten and general counsel Robin Murphy. The information was reported by Law Enforcement Today, which cited the Chicago Sun Times as its source. Haynam, who earned an annual salary of $163,068, was given no reason for his immediate termination. COPA employees arrived at his home to collect his city-issued car, computer, and phone within 90 minutes of the meeting.
Haynam received a text from supervising investigator Garrett Schaaf, who had also been dismissed. Schaaf, who earns $117,792 annually, declined to comment on the situation.
Allegations of Retaliation and Bias
Haynam stated, "I recently made a complaint to the [inspector general] directly and was let go today effective immediately and given no justification." He further alleged that his dismissal was a retaliation by Kersten, stating, "There's not a performance issue or an issue with my skill level or technical ability, nor was I told there was. I've worked there for seven years and been promoted four times. Yet after I make a complaint against Andrea, I'm fired without explanation?"
Haynam also claimed that there were other employees at COPA who would agree with his allegations of bias. He stated, "We have employees inside with spreadsheets tracking bias."
Responses to the Allegations
The report by Law Enforcement Today also mentioned that Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has criticized COPA investigations as being unfair and "outcome-based." Haynam agreed with this criticism and expressed distrust in the process.
However, Ephraim Eaddy, COPA’s first deputy chief administrator, refuted these claims of anti-police bias. He pointed out that only 14 percent of 2023 investigations resulted in sustained misconduct findings. Eaddy also emphasized COPA's commitment to its responsibility in investigating complaints and serving the city.
Earlier this year, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) sued COPA Chief Andrea Kersten and her aides. They accused them of conducting biased investigations and imposing excessively severe discipline on officers. FOP President John Catanzara argued that COPA had deviated from its mission, pushing a far-left agenda and unfairly targeting police officers.
Bottom Line
The sudden dismissal of two oversight officials following their allegations of anti-police bias raises questions about the fairness and transparency of COPA's investigations. While some argue that the dismissals are a form of retaliation, others maintain that COPA is committed to its responsibility of investigating complaints and serving the city. What are your thoughts on this issue? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Also, remember to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which takes place every day at 6pm.
