Deborah Talbert, Supervising Investigator
Deborah Talbert brings over 20 years of investigatory experience to COPA. Currently she serves as COPA’s Supervising Investigator to a General Squad, a unit focused on investigating allegations of officer perpetuated excessive force, 4th Amendment violations and search warrants.
In advance of her time at COPA, Ms. Talbert served in a variety of roles at the Cook County Public Defender Office initially conducting investigations for misdemeanor and felony cases, one of which proved successful for an individual found not guilty with an initial sentence of Natural Life. Later in her career as a Homicide Investigator, Ms. Talbert performed investigations for several high-profile cases, cold-cases, Miller cases and the lead investigator resulting in several individuals being found not guilty of murder.
Ms. Talbert also worked for Chicago Public Schools as a Title IX Investigator conducting investigations into allegations of sexual abuse involving students and staff on student misconduct. Ms. Talbert’s early beginnings were as Social Service Supervisor working with medically complex minors and reintegrating minors being released from juvenile detention facilities back to their community.
Ms. Talbert’s community involvement includes Community Empowerment Coalition (currently); past member of AFSCME 31 – Local 1767 as secretary, steward, Negotiation and Labor Management Committee Member; past avid attendee at Cook County Board Hearings; past secretary for Saint’s Track Club in which she was also a track mom, later a boxing mom (Letz’s Boxing – Mt. Greenwood); past Chicago Vocational High School (CVS) band mom and past LSC secretary at Robert A. Black Elementary.
Ms. Talbert is a proud mom and member of the 34th ward – Washington Heights. Ms. Talbert holds a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Chicago State University.