Misconduct report on disgraced CPD sergeant’s crew delivered to CPD

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said the agency delivered its findings on Ronald Watt’s crew to Supt. David Brown, who now has 30 days to decide whether to bring administrative charges.

SHARE Misconduct report on disgraced CPD sergeant’s crew delivered to CPD
Former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts is shown at the federal courthouse in 2013.

Former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts is shown at the federal courthouse in 2013.

Sun-Times file photo

The Chicago Police Department’s oversight agency concluded a three-year investigation into current department members who worked on disgraced Sergeant Ronald Watts’s tactical team that shook down residents for years at the former Ida B. Wells homes.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigates allegations of police misconduct, on Monday said the agency delivered its findings to CPD Supt. David Brown, who now has 30 days to decide whether to bring administrative charges against the members investigated in the report. The findings of COPA’s report were not made public.

In March 2017, Chicago’s Office of Inspector General began reviewing complaints of misconduct against former Watts tactical team members, before asking the Independent Police Review Authority to take over the investigation. COPA took over the roll of the IPRA in September that year.

During its investigation, COPA said it interviewed dozens of witnesses, former Wells Homes residents and former Cook County prosecutors for their report. COPA also reviewed thousands of pages of documentary evidence.

Watts was accused of shaking down residents of Ida B. Wells housing development on the South Side. In 2012, Watts pleaded guilty to federal charges after allegedly stealing $5,000 from an undercover informant.

The Latest
Senators tasked with clearing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s appointments are raising concerns over his renomination of Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau after the Sun-Times last year reported an executive assistant accounted for more than $240,000 in billings.
White Sox fans from all over will flock to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday for the team’s home opener against the Tigers.
Fans, some in costume, tailgate in the parking lots of Guaranteed Rate Field hours before the White Sox and Detroit Tigers kick off the 2024 seasons Thursday afternoon. Some weigh in on the proposed South Loop stadium.
Two weeks after the migrant eviction policy went into effect in Chicago, City Council members said not enough information on migrants exiting the shelter system has been provided.