The Copwatch Database is a community created repository of local stories concerning Police misconduct and as a database of complaints filed against Chicago Police Officers. It was designed and intended both to promote public safety and to ensure that police officers remain accountable for their actions.

1. If you would like to report an incident for permanent inclusion in the database, please follow these instructions;
2. Gather all the relevant information (names, dates, times, citation numbers, etc.) before you begin;
3. Include as many relevant details as possible;
4. Describe what occurred as precisely as possible;
5. Use a word-processing program or the Chicago Cop Watch Wordpress API to compose any lengthy passages you enter into the database (use your spellchecker), and save those passages on your hard drive.
6. Take your time and be very thorough.  It is a lengthy process, but the details you provide may well make the difference between a believable, effective complaint and a complaint that will be tossed in the trash.  If you want the offending officer to receive more than a slap on the wrist, treat this write up like a college entrance exam.

NOTE: You must create an account with ChicagoCopWatch.org before you can post a report or story- you must also use a valid email address to register.

PRIVACY POLICY: Unless you expressly indicate otherwise, your name, address, phone number, and email address will NOT be made available to the public. If you would like to remain totally anonymous Cop Watch suggests you create a independent Google email account.

IN ORDER TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT YOUR COOKIES BE ACTIVATED.  WE MAKE NO USE OF THE COOKIES IN ANY MANNER OTHER THAN AS A “PLACEHOLDER”, AND YOU MAY DELETE THEM AS SOON AS YOU ARE FINISHED ENTERING YOUR DATA.

How to Contribute

Chicago Cop Watch uses the WordPress API a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability. More simply, WordPress is what you use when you want to work with your blogging software, not fight it. New to blogging? Check out the video below.