[in person] Police District Council 018 - Near North (Lincoln Park, Near North Side, West Town, Logan Square)

Criminal Justice

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
6:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. CDT

1763 N North Park Ave Chicago, IL 60614 (Directions)

Old Town Triangle Association

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Samuel Lisec

The 18th Police District Council meeting covered key points, primarily CCPSA's role in hiring the next COPA Chief Administrator, CCPSA and COPA's 2025 goals, and conversation with acting commander Michael Neckermann.

Samuel Lisec

Hi! I’ll be live-reporting today's 18th Police District Council meeting for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters, an organization created by the Chicago nonprofit newsroom City Bureau.

06:03 PM Mar 25, 2025 CDT

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 2/23

There are 22 total police district councils (or PDCs) in Chicago, each led by three publicly elected members. PDCs meet every month to improve “police oversight, accountability and public safety” by bringing officers and residents together, a city website says.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 3/23

The Chicago City Council voted to create the PDCS in July 2021 and the first PDC election took place in Feb. 2023. Their formation marks years/decades of work from grassroots orgs like the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, The Tribe reported.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 4/23

If you live in Lincoln Park, West Town, Logan Square or the Near North Side, you’re probably in the 18th Police District. It’s bordered by Fullerton Ave to the north, and the river to the west and south. Its reps are Brad Kessler, Karen Kane and Robert Johnson.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 5/23

Today's agenda states there’ll be a discussion from CPD Commander Michael Neckermann, alongside “District Safety Updates." It started at 6 p.m. on March 25 in the St. James Lutheran Church on Fremont. There’s about 35 people in attendance, including a few uniformed officers.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 6/23

No takers for the public comment section. Now PDC member Karen Kane is discussing the city's Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, namely the CCPSA's upcoming search for a new chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA).

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 7/23

The chief of COPA - the organization tasked with investigating all officer involved shootings - resigned on Feb. 13 amid allegations of bias before the CCPSA could complete its own internal investigation, Kane said. The CCPSA must now find a new chief for city council to approve.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 8/23

On a different note, the CCPSA is also developing a new policy for CPD traffic stops and is asking for public input on whether there should be more restrictions or less for officers to be able to conduct a traffic stop.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 9/23

PDC member Bob Johnson, a former police officer, spoke out that he hopes the CCPSA does not move to put additional restrictions on CPD officers. PDC member Brad Kessler then discussed how COPA is developing its policy on how CPD interacts with the media amid open investigations.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 10/23

Now CPD officer Michael Neckermann, who has 27 years of experience on the force, is addressing the audience as he was just recently appointed the commander of the 18th police district.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 11/23

“I like to think that I am a part of this community,” Neckermann said, detailing how his dentist is in the 18th district, he shops at the Trader Joes on Clybourn, attends a local gym, has friends who teach at Latin and his mother goes to the Shakespeare Theater.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 12/23

Kane asked Neckermann what some of his public safety priorities are for the 18th district. His answer: preventing burglaries, thefts and robberies. That’s because the 18th is “where the money’s at” with wealthy individuals and many high-end shops.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 13/23

Kane then referenced a public survey that showed people want a more visible police presence in the 18th. Neckermann said he’d like more foot patrols, though those officers can’t respond to calls for service as quickly as officers in cars.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 14/23

That said, Neckermann said he thinks it's important that officers get out of their cars and interact with the community when responding to calls. Furthermore, he said the CPD needs to do a better job retaining officers in the 18th rather than it being a "stepping stone."

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 15/23

Moving on to the public Q&A section, a local named Dave asked ifNeckermann will continue the previous commander’s commitment to have a patrol presence around Wells and Division. Neckermann agreed he'll have a police presence there, describing Clark and Division as an “epicenter.”

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 16/23

Another local named Bill expressed concern about the CPD’s policy in curtailing fentanyl-related deaths. Kessler indicated that may be a bigger conversation for another day.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 17/23

A Streeterville resident named Lucas said he’s concerned about problematic “teen trends” in the upcoming summer months - specifically teens congregating around the AMC. Neckermann said CPD is “moving some resources” to that area to enforce curfews and monitor social media.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 18/23

Three more speakers: One expressing general support for traffic stops, another asking about a carcrash that Neckermann said he can discuss after the meeting, the last reiterating concern that officers are just sitting in their cars on their phones in the 18th district.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 19/23

Regarding officers in their cars/on their phones, Neckermann said "I agree it's an issue" and suggested he could switch up more patrols with bike officers in the 18th as it's more difficult to use your phone on a bicycle.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 20/23

With the Q&A over, Kessler led a round of applause for Neckermann. All in all, today’s 18th PDC meeting primarily served to introduce the new commander to the public as he now replaces Michael Barz, the previous 18th District Commander.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 21/23

The public can speak with Neckermann more during an upcoming “Coffee with the Commander” session on Thursday, March 27. Those interested in participating in an online survey about the previously mentioned CCPSA’s traffic stop policy deliberations can try this QR code.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 22/23

The next 18th PDC meeting — which is set for Tuesday, April 22 — does not yet have a determined location but will feature Kevin Ryan, the Vice President of Security for the Chicago Transit Authority, as a guest speaker.

Samuel Lisec @smllisec 23/23

With all that said, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Commander Neckermann is pictured here (third from the right), immediately followed by 18th PDC members Johnson, Kane and Kessler. For more coverage of Chicago public meetings, check out . documenters.org

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Note-taking by Laura Caride

View notes

Attachments

4 attachments

Audio recording of the March 25, 18th PDC meeting

By Samuel Lisec ⋅ March 25th, 2025

This recording starts just after the PDC members said hello to the …

Photo of QR code for public survey on CPD traffic stop policy

By Samuel Lisec ⋅ March 25th, 2025

The public can scan this QR code to offer their thoughts to …

Photo of uniformed officers in attendance of the March 25, 18th PDC meeting

By Samuel Lisec ⋅ March 25th, 2025

18th PDC Commander Michael Neckermann is pictured third from the right, with …

Notice-and-Agenda--018--2025--03--25--Regular meeting.pdf

By Cynthia, Chicago - IL Documenters Team ⋅ March 25th, 2025

Agency Information

Chicago Police District Councils

See meeting notes for details

www.chicago.gov

See Documenters reporting

Each of the 22 District Councils is made up of three people elected by residents of the police district in regular municipal elections every four years, though anyone can participate in District Council work, and the more people who participate, the more effective the District Councils can be. The first District Council elections occurred in February 2023. Just as Chicagoans vote for a mayor and a local ward Alderperson, they also vote for up to three people to serve on the District Council.

The District Councils have several key roles:

Building stronger connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer. They can work with the police to address problems and set priorities.
Collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives.
Holding monthly public meetings, where residents can work on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities. They can also raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, and increase accountability.
Working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices. Working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district.
Ensuring that the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability gets input from the community, so that the Commission’s work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.
Nominating members of the Community Commission. Anyone who serves on the Community Commission must first have the support of elected District Council members.

(Source: Municipal Code of Chicago, 2-80-070(a) and (e))

For a map of police districts, visit https://www.chicagocityscape.com/maps/index.php#/?places_type=chipolicedistrict.