Deborah Talbert, Supervising Investigator

Deborah Talbert is a seasoned investigator and public service professional with more than 25 years of experience leading complex investigations, managing multidisciplinary teams, and advancing accountability across the law enforcement, education, criminal justice, and social service sectors.

Ms. Talbert currently serves as a Supervising Investigator with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), where she oversees investigations involving allegations of police misconduct, excessive force, civil rights violations, and officer-involved shootings. In this role, she leads and mentors investigative staff, ensures thorough and impartial fact-finding, and trains investigators on conducting effective interviews with Chicago Police Department personnel.

Before joining COPA, Ms. Talbert served as a Lead Title IX Investigator with Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Student Protection, where she helped shape the newly established investigative unit. Her contributions included developing investigative procedures and reporting protocols, advising on parental notification practices during sensitive student interviews, collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, and conducting investigations involving allegations of sexual and physical misconduct.

Ms. Talbert previously spent more than a decade with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, ultimately serving as an Investigator III in the Homicide Task Force Unit. Throughout her tenure, she investigated high-profile felony and homicide cases, contributing to numerous reduced-charge and not-guilty outcomes through diligent fact-finding and witness development.

Throughout her professional journey, Ms. Talbert has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to equity, fairness, accountability, and public trust. Her diverse experiences have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of organizational leadership, investigative excellence, labor relations, and community engagement. She is recognized for her ability to navigate complex issues, foster collaborative relationships with stakeholders, and effectively address challenging conversations with professionalism and integrity.

Ms. Talbert holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Chicago State University. She has earned numerous specialized certifications, of note: Officer Involved Shooting and Use of Force Certification, Lead Homicide Investigator Certification, Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Certification, The Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation Certification, and, from DePaul University, Center for Justice in Capital Cases, a Certification in Criminal Defense Investigations. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Community Psychology from National Louis University with an emphasis on community perceptions of structural violence and its impact on individuals, institutions, and public trust.

She is the mother to two wonderful human beings and three fur babies.