If you have experienced, witnessed or have information regarding an incident involving police misconduct,

contact us to file a complaint clicking on one of the icons below.

 

By Phone
Online
By Mail
Visit

If you wish to file a complaint but have limited proficiency in English, translation services are available upon request. Google Translate, which may be helpful when filing an online complaint, is also available below.

If you would like to receive an update on a current investigation, please call 312-746-3609 and press option #4 to speak with a case liaison or email COPA-PublicAffairs@chicagocopa.org to receive a response from our Public Affairs staff.

If you have additional information about a complaint you previously filed, email copa-info@chicagocopa.org. Information can include videos and photos of incidents you have witnessed or seen in the media. Be sure to add your complaint log number, if known, as well as date, time and location of the incident and contact information.

What Comes Next

  1. After filing a complaint, a letter will be mailed within five (5) business days detailing whether COPA or the Chicago Police Department’s (CPD) Bureau of Internal Affairs (BIA) will be in charge of investigating the incident of police conduct. To learn about which cases are assigned to COPA or BIA, please visit our Investigative Process page.
  2. If COPA retains the case, you and other complainants or witnesses will be contacted by COPA about the complaint.
  3. After concluding our investigation, you and the involved CPD member(s) will receive letters from COPA reflecting our investigative finding(s), if any. If discipline or other actions are recommended, the case will then be reviewed by the CPD Superintendent and, if applicable, the Chicago Police Board as part of the review process.
  4. At the conclusion of the review process, you and the involved CPD member(s) will receive a letter reflecting the final findings and the final action taken in the case.

Your Experience

Upon submission of a complaint, you may receive a text message at the phone number provided asking you to complete a survey about your experience with COPA. This message is sent by an independent company contracted by COPA and your response is confidential. Participation in the survey or any results submitted will not impact any investigation into your complaint. Your responses are very important to us and will be used to train members of COPA staff who interact with complainants, their families and other representatives.