In an unprecedented move, the City of Chicago announced today that every officer currently serving in the Chicago Police Department (CPD) will be relieved of duty over the next three months, following the results of a scathing federal investigation uncovering widespread corruption, abuse of power, and internal cover-ups spanning more than a decade.
City officials, flanked by federal investigators and members of the Department of Justice, confirmed that the decision to dismiss the entire department was made to ensure a “total institutional reset” and to restore public trust in law enforcement.
“This is not a decision we made lightly,” said Mayor Celia Ramirez during a packed press conference at City Hall. “But the findings left us no choice. The corruption in CPD is systemic, deeply embedded, and impossible to surgically remove without dismantling the entire structure. Today marks the beginning of a clean slate for the people of Chicago.”
The investigation, led by a federal task force over 18 months, detailed a network of bribery, organized abuse of suspects, evidence tampering, and collusion between officers and criminal organizations. Over 300 current officers were directly implicated, with hundreds more under scrutiny for complicity or failure to report misconduct.
To replace the ousted force, the city has partnered with an independent, civilian-led law enforcement reform agency known as Integrity First Commission (IFC). The IFC has already begun recruiting a new generation of officers—comprising military veterans, justice-focused public service candidates, and police academy graduates from across the country—with the explicit goal of eliminating local bias, long-standing internal networks, and legacy culture.
“Our recruitment strategy is built on transparency, integrity, and diversity,” said IFC Director Marcus Langston, a retired U.S. Army colonel and former DOJ oversight official. “We are bringing in individuals who are committed to ethical policing and human rights—not just law enforcement.”
The replacement force will undergo an intensive six-month training program focused on de-escalation, community relations, constitutional law, and anti-corruption protocols before being sworn in early next year. The new hires will operate under a completely revised code of conduct and oversight system that includes body camera transparency, community accountability boards, and regular psychological evaluations.
For the next three months, current CPD officers will continue their duties under the close supervision of federal monitors. Any officer found obstructing the transition process will face immediate termination and potential legal action.
Reaction among Chicagoans has been mixed. Some hail the move as long overdue, while others express concern about the logistics and safety of policing during the transition.
“I’m relieved something’s finally being done,” said Angela Holloway, a community organizer in Englewood. “But I also want to know who’s going to protect us in the meantime. We need safety and reform, not just headlines.”
Police union officials have blasted the decision as “reckless and vindictive,” vowing to file lawsuits and calling it a “mass punishment” of officers who were never implicated in any wrongdoing.
Despite the backlash, Mayor Ramirez remained resolute.
“If you are serious about justice, you cannot keep dirty foundations,” she said. “We are not burning the system down—we’re rebuilding it from the ground up.”
The full transition to a reformed Chicago Police Department is expected to be complete by the summer of 2026.