By Angela Rozas and Mary Owens
The Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis issued a new “core values” statement to police officers Tuesday, one of a handful of sweeping changes he has made since taking over the department Feb. 1.
“These core values are on display by many police officers everyday,” Weis said in a statement. “But we want to ensure that every police officer knows, accepts and displays the tenets that define what a Chicago police officer should be.”
The values statement will be taught to new recruits at the training academy and given to officers at roll calls and at police stations.
The statement is intended to set a “new standard of professional and personal growth” and is part of the department’s new Bureau of Professional Standards push to improve officer accountability and professionalism, Weis said.
Peter Brust, Weis’ friend and former colleague at the FBI, was brought in last month to run the division.
The core values follow the acronym POLICE: professionalism, obligation, leadership, integrity, courage and excellence.
The new mission statement gives the department something to measure itself by, said University of Chicago law professor Craig Futterman, who has filed numerous lawsuits alleging misconduct by Chicago officers.
“I actually think stuff like this is incredibly important,” Futterman said. “It’s more than symbolic. That statement is supposed to define who they are and what they do. Everything else revolves around that [mission statement].”
The first part of the mission statement has been referenced by past superintendents in the department’s annual reports for at least 12 years.
The full mission statement is as follows:
“The Chicago Police Department, as part of and empowered by the community, is committed to protect the lives, property and rights of all people, to maintain order, and to enforce the law impartially. We will provide quality police service in partnership with other members of the community. To fulfill our mission, we will strive to attain the highest degree of ethical behavior and professional conduct at all times.
“Professionalism: Our on- and off-duty conduct reflects both the highest standards of police service and personal responsibility.
“Obligation: We will serve citizens equally with fairness, dignity and respect
“Leadership: Our leadership example inspires respect for ourselves and admiration for our department.
“Integrity: We are committed to the highest standards of honesty and ethical conduct.
“Courage: We uphold and follow the law in the face of fear, danger and temptation.
“Excellence: We proudly wear the Chicago Police Department star with excellence as our standard.”
Copyright 2008 The Chicago Tribune