Oak Park Board Votes 5-2 Against Defund Police Resolution

OAK PARK, IL — The Oak Park Village Board met virtually Tuesday night for nearly two hours during which board members voted against a resolution aimed at defunding the Oak Park Police Department beginning in 2021. In a 5-2 vote, Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, Trustee Dan Moroney, Trustee Deno Andrews, Trustee Simone Boutet and Trustee James Taglia voted no to the resolution brought forward by Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla.

The resolution calls for reducing the amount spent on policing in the village by reducing the number of budgeted sworn in officers during the fiscal year 2021 and "commit to making further reductions in future budget cycles."

In addition, Walker-Peddakotla calls for "Using the dollars from defunding the police to create a non-police response team for mental health crises, homelessness, and domestic disturbances" and "Acknowledging the harm done by policing in Oak Park and across the nation by enacting a Memorial Day for victims of police violence."

The resolution also calls for:

• Rescind Village of Oak Park laws and ordinances that may be used to unfairly target Black and Latinx youth.
• Removing the building of a new police station from the 2021 Capital Improvement Plan.
• Amending Chapter 2, Article 30 of the Village code to create a truly independent,empowered, and transparent Citizen Police Oversight Commission.

During the meeting, Oak Park Village Clerk Vicki Scaman read off several comments submitted by members of the public who were either for or against the resolution.

Board members also shared their thoughts on the resolution.

Related: Board To Discuss Resolution To Defund Police In Oak Park

Buchanan stated that the word defund "conjures up fear," and added that this is not the goal or intent of this resolution.

>> Other items on the agenda

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"I am not criticizing our police department," Buchanan said, adding that she understands the shortcomings to the resolution. However, Buchanan second Walker-Peddakotla, and said she's supporting reallocating fund to social services, and wants Oak Park to be a leader on the issue of reimagining public safety.

Boutet, who said she voted no on the resolution "as it's written," followed. She stated that she doesn't support taking away from the police budget, but suggested maybe using the money from the recently cancelled (now open) school resource office positions for this type of purpose.

She added that she does however want to look into what kind of calls village police receive — by category — and the current response to those calls so that they can educate the public on what that looks like.

"I am interested in looking at ways to strengthen our non-violent response to non-crime," Boutet added.

Boutet noted the recent results of the June 23-July 6 Gallup Panel survey, administered by web in English and conducted as part of the Gallup Center on Black Voices. The results pointed to 81 percent of the Black community wanting either the same or more police in their area.

Boutet advised the public to listen to the Black community first instead of "deciding what's right for them."

Walker-Peddakotla said that this was one of the most productive conversations they've had, and expressed how grateful she was.

She then asked the board what data they think is needed in order to make some of the decisions.

Patch will continue updating this news as more information becomes available.