Part 2/8:
The Citizens Police Data Project serves as a crucial tool in unveiling these stories. Every data point within this project narrates a story of abuse and systemic failure. It reveals that less than 2% of police misconduct cases lead to meaningful discipline, such as suspension or termination, from 2000 to 2016. Despite more than 8,700 reports of excessive force during that period, only a tiny fraction resulted in accountability.
Probing deeper, the data shows stark racial disparities: 61% of complaints come from Black Chicagoans, yet these complaints are only proven in about 25% of cases. Black officers, too, are disproportionately found guilty of misconduct and receive harsher punishments, illustrating systemic biases within the department.