Formal Complaint Review Process
The University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) operates under strict rules and regulations that provide for professional conduct. Occasionally, however, a situation may arise that leads to a formal complaint against the police. Complaints are taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly.
Once the investigation has been concluded, the complainant(s) will receive a written response from Associate Vice President for Safety & Security Eric M. Heath explaining the findings and any disciplinary actions taken by the department as a result of a sustained complaint.
For complaints relating directly or indirectly to issues of excessive force, violation of rights, abusive language, and dereliction of duty, the investigative report is submitted to the Independent Review Committee for review.
The University of Chicago Police Department welcomes and encourages the public's feedback. Click here to learn how to file a complaint.
Independent Review Committee
As specified above, the Independent Review Committee examines complaints against the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD). The committee consists of three faculty members, three students, two staff members, and three community members. Committee members are appointed by the provost. Read more on the committee’s charge.
The committee meets as needed to review individual complaints as well as UCPD reports and related policy, procedural, and communication issues. The committee annually reports its findings and recommendations for policy and procedure changes to the provost, president, vice president and general counsel, and vice president for civic engagement. These annual reports, which include a list of committee members, are available below.
Members of the Independent Review Committee for the UCPD, 2026 - 2027
Erika Zunkel — Faculty, Law School and IRC Chair
Kevin Guo — College Student
Nathan Held — Harris Student
Deidre McGraw — Community Member
Caitlin Mensah — Law Student
Sankar Muthu — Faculty, Associate Professor of Political Science
Peter Cassel — Community Member
Hsiao-Wen Chen — Faculty, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Rashad Buckingham — Community Member
Elizabeth Shanin — Staff, Senior Associate General Counsel, Office of Legal Counsel
Belinda Vazquez — Staff, Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs and Director, UChicago HELP
Ingrid Gould — Senior Associate Provost, ex officio
Tamara Smith — Assistant Director, ex officio
Reports of the Independent Review Committee for the University of Chicago Police Department