During a recent hearing at the Chicago City Council Public Safety Committee, Bridgette Rouse shared her distress over the lack of response from the Chicago Police Department (CPD) regarding her sister Sonya Rouse’s disappearance in 2016. She expressed her frustration, feeling that Black women who go missing in Chicago are purposefully ignored by the CPD. This sentiment was echoed by other community leaders, activists, and journalists who highlighted the shortcomings of CPD in missing persons investigations.
A coalition of Black women alders, including Jeanette Taylor and Stephanie Coleman, along with Mayor Brandon Johnson, advocated for the hearing. The resolution for the hearing was prompted by investigative reports, such as the “Missing in Chicago” series, which shed light on the disparities and challenges faced by Black women and girls who go missing in the city. Advocates, families of missing and murdered women, and policymakers presented their concerns at the hearing, urging city officials to take action.
Rev. Robin Hood, Brenda Myers-Powell, and other advocates called for better investigations and support for families of missing individuals. They highlighted the need for dedicated resources and offices to address the issue of missing and murdered Black women, similar to initiatives in other states like Minnesota. The hearing also revealed significant recordkeeping issues within CPD, including false closure of cases and delays in reporting missing family members.
While Commander Jarrod Smith from CPD acknowledged the need for improvements in investigations and mentioned efforts to digitize missing persons reporting forms, there were still unanswered questions regarding the number of detectives assigned to cases and data collection changes. Alder Taylor emphasized the urgency of the situation and the importance of effective communication between CPD and families of missing individuals.
Journalists like trina reynolds-tyler and Sarah Conway encouraged officials to delve deeper into official records and engage with community members to address the systemic gaps in the system. Despite the testimonies and advocacy efforts, the meeting ended without any concrete action from the committee. However, there are ongoing efforts, such as the Illinois Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women, to further investigate and address the issue.
Overall, the hearing shed light on the challenges faced by Black women and girls who go missing in Chicago and the need for systemic changes to improve missing persons investigations and support for affected families. It is crucial for city officials, law enforcement, and community members to work together to address these issues and ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals in the city.
