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Quote of the Week

“I'm really puzzled why and how someone with that kind of a record can be put in charge as the commander of the area – detective, even.”

— Sally, a community member urging 14th Police District Council members to take a vote of no confidence in Area 5 Cmdr. John Foster.

[14th Police District Council, August 2, 2025]

No confidence

A Northwest Side police district council led the charge in taking a symbolic no confidence vote against a high-ranking local police official. 

Members of the 14th Police District Council logged the vote at its most recent meeting, part of growing criticism against Area 5 Cmdr. John Foster. 

Community members raised serious concerns about Foster and his ties to a 2001 wrongful conviction for murder. Kevin Jackson, who long maintained his innocence in the case, was released from prison in October 2024. Foster and the second detective investigating the case have since been accused of pressuring witnesses to close cases, the Tribune reported. An independent review of Jackson’s case showed witnesses recanted statements identifying him as the shooter at his 2003 trial, again claiming the detectives had coerced them. 

Foster, who has been a CPD officer since 1991, also has 69 complaints filed against him, three of which were sustained, records show. As commander of the Area 5 detectives, Foster oversees the investigations into the most serious crimes across the Northwest Side.

Council members Ashley Vargas and David Orlikoff supported the no confidence vote. Christopher Laurent abstained, saying he had insufficient time to research and didn’t feel educated enough on the issue.

What you can do:

Find your Police District Council and attend a meeting:

1. Find your local police district here.

2. Head to chicago.gov and select your district’s specific page.

3. Get acquainted with your district council members. Check out theChicago Reader’s deep dive into each of the police district council candidates.

A version of this story was first published in the August 6, 2025 issue of the Newswire, an email newsletter that is your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what we can do to make our city great. You can sign up for the weekly newsletter here.

Have thoughts on what you'd like to see in this feature? Email Civic Editor Dawn Rhodes at dawn@citybureau.org.