Anthony Driver Jr., one of seven commissioners for the city’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), is stepping down from his role as president of the civilian oversight body. Driver, who has served as president of the CCPSA for nearly three years, shared the news during a monthly meeting on Aug. 28.
“The work of the Commission has always been bigger than one person,” Driver wrote in a press release. “It has been an honor to serve as the first President, and I look forward to continuing to serve as Commissioner alongside my colleagues as we continue to build on this important foundation.”
Driver will remain a member of the commission and carry out his duties. The commission is required to select a President and Vice President from among its members. When a vacancy occurs, an election is held during a regularly scheduled meeting.
Vice President Remel Terry will assume leadership duties until a new president is elected. Commissioners can nominate a candidate or candidates to serve as president and then vote to elect a president at the subsequent meeting.
CCPSA commissioners elected Driver to serve as president in 2022, following the establishment of the interim commission. He was elected president by the commissioners for a second term when they took office in June 2024.
On Aug. 4, Driver launched his campaign for Congress in the 7th district. The seat will be open after U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7) said in late July that he would not seek a 16th term.
The CCPSA was born out of a decades-long campaign for civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department. The approved Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance created two bodies: a city-wide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) and the police District Councils.
The CCPSA, during its three-year existence, has assumed several key responsibilities, including addressing community concerns about public safety, conducting outreach, and providing recommendations on police policy.
The next CCPSA monthly meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 and will be hosted at Kennedy-King College.
