Austin (15th) Police District Council Candidates

AUSTIN — Seven candidates are seeking the Austin (15th) police district council seats. The district includes parts of Austin and South Austin.

The 15th Police District Credit: Kirk Williamson for the Chicago Reader

Deondre’ Rutues

A community organizer and engagement specialist for NYU’s Policing Project, Rutues helped launch its Chicago Neighborhood Policing Initiative and leads its outreach efforts in the 11th, 15th, and 25th districts. He says his role “is to build and repair the relationship between the Chicago police and the communities they serve” via monthly meetings between CPD and residents and by locating resources to assist public safety efforts.

Candidate questionnaire responses:

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? Yes
Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.
CPD reform: The police need training and some reform.
Mental health crises: Police should not be involved in mental health crisis calls at all.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Other: “To educate, inform and organize the community around police accountability. This entails policy and procedures, laws, and practices that determine how Chicago Police interact with the community. A well educated, informed and organized community will be able to make the best recommendations for the policies that will determine how Chicago Police interacts with the communities they serve. ”

Why are you running for Police District Council?

I’m running because I have had negative and positive experiences when engaging with the Chicago Police. It is as paramount to hold the Chicago Police accountable as it is to work to build relationships between them and the communities they serve. I will continue to advocate for the community by enforcing the powers of the District Council upon those officers and the systems they promote that mistreat the community in any way. Additionally, I will be a bridge to the officers and the systems they promote that want to work in unison with the community to enhance public safety.

Arewa Karen Winters

An administrative coordinator United Congress for Community and Religious Organizations, and an Organizing & Policy Team member for the Community Renewal Society, Winters became active in police reform efforts after CPD shot and killed her 16-year-old great-nephew in 2016. She founded the 411 Movement for Pierre Loury and has worked with Justice For Families, the Pozen Human Rights Lab, and the Chicago Justice Torture Center. She is a member of the NAACP Westside Chapter and the founder of Village Leaders Joint Block Club.

Winters cochaired Mayor Lightfoot’s Use of Force Working Group, which convinced CPD to begin requiring officers to use de-escalation techniques before using force.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? No
Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should be reduced.
CPD reform: The police need significant reform.
Mental health crises: Police should accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Establishing civilian control of the police*
Communicating with the department on behalf of the community

*More than control, I chose to say oversight. It all relates to communication. Each side needs to be able to understand feelings, thoughts and be willing to make necessary adjustments to help ensure that we live, work, and play in the safest neighborhoods possible. This has to be a collaborative effort. I would like to sum this up with a quote by John F. Kennedy: “So let us begin anew-remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems untie us instead of belaboring those problem which divide us.”

Why are you running for Police District Council?

It has been a very teachable experience serving as a Coalition Member with the Chicago Consent Decree Coalition, and I feel this historic work has conditioned me to serve on the more local community level.

I have unique insight into what it takes to engage with the city and CPD and this expertise will have me work with community members and help to ensure that there voices are heard, that some ideas can be implemented in a hope to build public confidence between our police department and the communities they are serving.

My family has been is the 15th District since 1967 and I am just carrying on the legacy that began with my mother, who was a community activist and organizer. I love my neighbor and I deserve the chance to represent us. The police need significant reform.

Oddis “OJ” Johnson

Formerly a member of the 25th District steering committee, Johnson cofounded the Voters for a Change Coalition of Illinois and United Front Anti-Crime. He’s running “to be a spokesperson and ambassador for the people and bring change to the way that the Chicago police serve and protect our communities.” Voters for Changes Coalition of Illinois has endorsed.

Candidate questionnaire responses:

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? No
Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should stay about the same.
CPD reform: The police need significant reform.
Mental health crises: The police need significant reform.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Establishing civilian control of the police department
Communicating with the department on behalf of the community

Why are you running for Police District Council?

To be a spokesperson and ambassador for the people and bring change to the way that the Chicago police serve and protect ours communities in the 15th District.

Darius Newsome

A resident of Austin, Newsome did not respond to requests for comment.

The candidate has not yet responded to our questionnaire.

Constance Melton

An outreach coordinator, Melton attends faith-based meetings led by 15th district police officers. She says, “It’s important to bridge the gap between the community, church, and the police department.”

Candidate questionnaire responses:

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? Yes
Is CPD adequately funded? No: funding should be increased.
CPD reform: The police need training and some reform.
Mental health crises: Police should accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Helping the police do a better job
Communicating with the department on behalf of the community

Why are you running for Police District Council?

I think it’s important to bridge the gap between the community, church, and the police department. All of these components are important to create effective change in the community.

Carmelita Earls

A retired Chicago Fire Department chief, Earls had a 32-year career and commanded the Fire Academy; in that role she worked with CPD, which she says “enhanced our on-scene rapport.” Her duties were to “formulate, implement, and enforce policies of public safety.”

In 2021, she requested a demotion because she had to place two firefighters on no-pay status for vaccine noncompliance. Earls has been a block club captain, precinct captain, aldermanic candidate, ward committeeperson, and president of the Women’s Council of Community Intercession.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Firefighters Local 2 and members of the Women Council of Community Intercession have endorsed.

Candidate questionnaire responses

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? No
Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should stay about the same.
CPD reform: The police need training and some reform.
Mental health crises: Police should accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
Other: Serve as a liaison on behalf of both parties! While ensuring accountability!

Why are you running for Police District Council?

In today’s climate of Community Policing, we must resolve our disputes in order to bridge our cultural differences! Situation Awareness will allow each call to be mitigated on its own merit, therefore the public can be heard without escalation! I have witnessed the public and police behavior [without] any kind of Conflict of Resolution chances. With irreparable result!

As a District Council member, I bring Institutional Knowledge to the table, the knowledge allows for each situation to be view as an opportunity to crest a collaborative solution. Instead of spending the majority of our energy on the problem! I’m excited to act as 1/3 of the Bridge Assembly!

Elena X. Thompson

An advocate for families impacted by the child welfare system, Thompson helps provide food, shelter, clothing, and other resources to residents in Humboldt Park and Austin.

“I currently am assisting two fellow neighbors against police brutality and also working closely to keep our people safe and secure, and I’m certain that I can be a huge attribute for this office,” she told the Reader. “In 2018, I assisted with securing a couple of abandoned properties to slow up the drug trafficking, trespassing and nuisance in the Austin Area especially District 15.”

Candidate questionnaire responses:

Do you have experience as an activist or community organizer? Yes
Do you have experience interacting with CPD? Yes
Do you have experience working or interacting with government? Yes
Should the city hire more police officers? No
Is CPD adequately funded? Yes: funding should stay about the same.
CPD reform: The police need significant reform.
Mental health crises: Police should accompany healthcare workers to mental health crises.

What do you consider the primary role of a police district councilor to be?

Helping the police do a better job
Communicating with the department on behalf of the community
Establishing civilian control of the police department

Why are you running for Police District Council?

I can sit here and paint a pretty picture or outline how perfect my life has been to convey the thought of why one should consider voting for me as a District Council. Sorry, my picture isn’t all that pretty and nor I am not perfect nor have I had such the ideal perfect life.

The chapters in my life up to this point have been a very wide and bold experience for me and has allowed me to be one of the perfect examples of what Change looks like.

Running for office compliments everything I stand for. Development, Commitment, Strength, Listener, Honesty, Great Partner, and Integrity. These attributes will certainly be needed to bridge the gap between the police force and our community. I can assure you my little piece can make a major difference. Vote for me and “It’s Handled!”