CPD Ethics & Accountability 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under CPD General Orders, an officer who becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest in an investigation they are assigned to should:
- Complete the investigation but note the conflict in the report
- Immediately disclose the conflict to their supervisor and request reassignment (Correct answer)
- Recuse themselves without informing anyone to avoid embarrassment
- Continue the investigation if the conflict is minor
Correct answer: Immediately disclose the conflict to their supervisor and request reassignment
Officers must promptly disclose conflicts of interest to supervisors so that appropriate reassignment can occur to protect investigative integrity.
Question 2: A CPD officer is testifying in court and realizes that their written report contains a factual error that could affect the outcome of the case. The officer should:
- Testify consistently with the report to avoid contradicting official documents
- Correct the error truthfully while on the stand and report the discrepancy afterward (Correct answer)
- Ask for a recess and quietly notify the prosecutor only
- Avoid mentioning the error unless directly asked
Correct answer: Correct the error truthfully while on the stand and report the discrepancy afterward
Officers have an absolute duty to testify truthfully; knowingly testifying to false information constitutes perjury and a serious ethics violation.
Question 3: The CPD 'duty to intervene' policy requires officers to take action when they observe another officer using excessive force. The first step should be:
- File a complaint with COPA after the incident concludes
- Physically and verbally intervene to stop the excessive force (Correct answer)
- Notify a supervisor by radio before taking any action
- Document the incident on a body camera without intervening
Correct answer: Physically and verbally intervene to stop the excessive force
The duty to intervene is an active obligation; officers must immediately act to stop excessive force, not merely observe and report later.
Question 4: According to CPD ethics standards, 'de-policing'—deliberately avoiding enforcement activity to evade accountability—is considered:
- An acceptable personal safety strategy
- A violation of an officer's duty and oath of office (Correct answer)
- A protected labor action during contract disputes
- Acceptable only when an officer feels personally unsafe
Correct answer: A violation of an officer's duty and oath of office
Deliberately withdrawing from lawful duty violates an officer's oath and CPD General Orders requiring diligent performance of duties.
Question 5: When a CPD officer uses social media, they must be aware that posts made on personal accounts can be subject to discipline if they:
- Discuss general policing topics without naming specific cases
- Undermine public trust, reveal confidential information, or violate department policy (Correct answer)
- Are made while off-duty and not in uniform
- Are made anonymously without identifying the officer
Correct answer: Undermine public trust, reveal confidential information, or violate department policy
CPD's social media policy applies to off-duty personal accounts if content damages the department's reputation, reveals sensitive information, or violates policy.
Question 6: Under Chicago's Freedom of Information Act obligations, CPD disciplinary records including sustained complaints are:
- Permanently confidential under Illinois law
- Generally subject to public disclosure following an Illinois Supreme Court ruling (Correct answer)
- Only available to the officer named in the complaint
- Shared only with the Chicago Police Board
Correct answer: Generally subject to public disclosure following an Illinois Supreme Court ruling
The Illinois Supreme Court's 2014 ruling in Kalven v. City of Chicago held that sustained disciplinary records are public documents subject to FOIA.
Question 7: An officer is approached by a defense attorney who offers to share information about an upcoming operation in exchange for testimony favorable to their client. This situation represents:
- A legitimate information exchange protected by the First Amendment
- Bribery and an ethics violation requiring immediate reporting (Correct answer)
- An acceptable off-the-record conversation if no money changes hands
- A judgment call best handled by consulting the union representative
Correct answer: Bribery and an ethics violation requiring immediate reporting
Offering or receiving anything of value in exchange for testimony or official action constitutes bribery, a criminal offense and serious ethics violation.
CPD Ethics & Accountability 3
Under CPD General Orders, an officer who becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest in an investigation they are assigned to should: