Chicago Police Oversight Chief Resigns Amid Leadership Concerns
Andrea Kersten steps down from COPA following accusations of mismanagement and a pending no-confidence vote by the city's civilian oversight commission.
- Andrea Kersten resigned as chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) after four years in the role, citing a challenging political environment.
- The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) had initiated a process for a no-confidence vote, citing complaints about COPA’s workplace culture, investigative quality, and Kersten's leadership.
- Specific allegations included mishandling evidence and witness statements in high-profile cases, as well as fostering a toxic work environment at COPA.
- Kersten criticized the CCPSA's inquiry as 'inherently unfair,' claiming it lacked due process and investigative rigor while denying the allegations against her.
- COPA, created in 2017 to oversee police accountability in Chicago, remains under scrutiny as the city continues its efforts to reform police oversight under a federal consent decree.
Chicago Sun Times 
Chicago Tribune 