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A Motion to Accept Pivot Consulting Group’s Phase 5 Report Regarding Police Oversight Recommendations
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Introduction
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This item is a motion to accept Pivot Consulting Group’s Phase 5 Report which includes recommendations for modernizing the Village’s citizen police oversight function.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the motion.
Prior Board Action
The Board has taken the following prior action(s):
• On September 9, 2025, the Board of Trustees discussed Pivot Consulting Group’s findings and recommendations with regard to citizen police oversight.
• On November 19, 2024, the Board of Trustees approved a Professional Services Agreement with Pivot Consulting Group to conduct a review of the Village’s Citizen Police Oversight Function.
Background
On November 19, 2024, the Board of Trustees approved a Professional Services Agreement with Pivot Consulting Group (“Pivot”) for the purpose of conducting a review of the Village’s Citizen Police Oversight function. This agreement followed an RFP, which was issued pursuant to the Village Board’s Goal: Community Health & Safety, Priority 3(g) “Evaluate Citizens Police Oversight Committee (policies, procedures, protocols) and make recommendations for enhancements to the current model.”
Pivot has been engaged with the Village since the beginning of the year, conducting five phases of the project, including: 1) Conducting a needs assessment, 2) Identifying Best Practices, 3) Consultation & Collaboration, 4) Recommendation Development, and 5) Reporting & Presentation. This process had significant stakeholder engagement that included discussions with elected officials, members of the Citizens Police Oversight Committee (“CPOC”), Village staff, Oak Park Police Department staff, and community members. Pivot gathered significant qualitative and quantitative data through interviews, observation, document review, surveys, and presentations.
On September 9, 2025, Pivot presented their Phase 5 Report Findings and Recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Key enhancements include:
1) Comprehensive updates to the CPOC’s enabling ordinance and procedural rules to clarify its mission, expand oversight authority, and ensure consistency between policy and practice.
2) Adoption of formal bylaws for internal operations, communication protocols and interagency relationships of the CPOC.
3) Expansion of the CPOC’s authority and operational framework to support end-to-end complaint oversight and enable proactive, evidence-based evaluation of systemic policing practices.
4) Expansion of the scope of the CPOC to include formal review and guidance on future proposed police surveillance technologies by amending the Village’s adopted Law Enforcement Surveillance Oversight Ordinance.
5) Investment in professional staffing, training for CPOC members, and reformation of the appointment and onboarding process.
6) Modernization of the Police Department’s data infrastructure and establishing structured, consistent protocols for information access.
7) Development of a strategy for increased community engagement, education, communication, and recognition around police oversight matters.
8) Implementation of a formal framework for assessing the effectiveness of oversight and ongoing review of CPOC’s ability to meet community needs
Timing Considerations
If the Board accepts Pivot’s police oversight recommendations, additional resources, staffing, in particular, should be considered through the FY26 Budget Process which is ongoing throughout Q3 and Q4.
Budget Impact
Staff estimate the costs of an Analyst-level position to operationalize police oversight within the Village of Oak Park to be approximately $90,000 plus benefits on a recurring basis.
Staffing Impact
There is a recommendation to allocate 1 FTE (full-time equivalent) for the purpose of operationalizing police oversight within the Village. This position would be a member of staff, and responsive to the Police Oversight ordinance, procedural rules, and bylaws adopted by the Board of Trustees, and support the CPOC in data, trend and policy analysis. This role would help stand up the modernized police oversight function, serve as a point of contact with complainants from end to end of the complaint process, coordinate with the police department, and support community engagement strategies.
DEI Impact
One of the purposes of reviewing the policies, procedures, and protocols of the Village’s police oversight program is to modernize and align oversight with the current needs of the community, ensuring fairness, accessibility, and representation of all community members. The Village remains committed to diversity of the CPOC’s composition, equity in complaint handling and investigations, transparency and accountability in oversight operations, and policy and protocol modernization with the goal of building community trust and relationships, in particular with historically marginalized communities in Oak Park.
Community Input
Pivot Consulting Group engaged regularly with the Citizens Police Oversight Committee (CPOC) throughout Phases 1-3 by attending CPOC meetings, holding multiple interviews with CPOC members, and conducting surveys that included CPOC members. Pivot also held a Community Education and Engagement Session on Citizens Police Oversight on May 8, 2025. Approximately 10 community members attended the session to learn more about police oversight and provide feedback to the facilitators.
The CPOC also held a special meeting on September 3, 2025 to discuss the report findings.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board accept the Phase 5 Oversight Report and Recommendations
Alternatives
The Board could request additional modifications or changes to the Plan.
Anticipated Future Actions
Staff will bring forward updated ordinance language and revised procedural rules, pending the Board’s discussion.
Prepared By: Kira Tchang, Assistant Village Manager/HR Director
Reviewed By: Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Pivot Presentation
2. Phase 5 Report with Appendices
3. Oversight Functions Comparison Handout