Role of Chicago Police Board, its meetings misunderstood

In the Aug. 19 editorial "Police secrecy is just a copout," there is a fundamental misunderstanding about the role and responsibility of the Chicago Police Board and its public meetings. It is important that we clarify our role as well as the purpose of our monthly public meetings.

The Chicago Police Board consists of nine civilian members and has two primary functions. The first is to hear and adjudicate cases of police misconduct initiated by the Office of Professional Standards or the Police Department's Office of Internal Affairs. The second is to select and recommend three…