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SUPERVISING INVESTIGATOR-COPA

City of Chicago
$109,140 Annually
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Jun 15, 2026
SUPERVISING INVESTIGATOR-COPA Job Number: 416421
Description

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Supervising Investigator - COPA

Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA)

General Investigations Unit and Special Victims Unit

Number of Positions: 3

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $109,140

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 06/30/2026

Supervises and directs the work of investigative staff engaged in investigating allegations of misconduct against members of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). The Supervising Investigator manages caseloads, and monitors and reviews the investigative process to ensure investigations of misconduct against members of the Chicago Police Department are performed with integrity and timeliness, and performs related duties as required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

* Reviews incoming complaints, allegations and notifications and assigns cases to investigative

staff based on complexity of investigation, investigative staff competencies, and operational

efficiencies

* Monitors and reviews investigatory activities of assigned team members to ensure investigations are conducted in a timely manner and are consistent with internal policies, procedures and applicable law

* Reviews case files prior to the closing of cases to ensure that all appropriate investigatory steps have been taken and that the investigatory findings are consistent with the evidence gathered

* Supervises and reviews the drafting of investigative reports to ensure accuracy and timeliness

* Trains investigative staff on investigative techniques, reporting methods and internal policies and procedures

* Provides guidance to investigative team members on complex issues that arise in investigations

* Provides testimony at criminal, administrative and arbitration proceedings as needed

* Supervises and reviews the drafting of summary reports

* Reviews and contributes to preliminary disciplinary recommendations

* Uses case management tools to ensure that case files of team members are maintained properly, and to ensure that operational timeliness goals are met consistently

* Supervises investigators and collaborates with Data Analysts on pattern or practice investigations to ensure thoroughness, accuracy and timeliness

* Conducts monthly case reviews of investigative team members

* Evaluates investigative team members pursuant to COPA's performance evaluation system

* Participates in the on-call rotation for reporting to the scene of officer-involved weapons discharge incidents or police custody incidents

* Recommends revisions to police collective bargaining agreements for the purpose of improving the quality, efficiency and transparency of investigations

* Consults with attorneys to review disciplinary charges prior to being presented to department members to ensure accuracy and consistency with investigatory findings

* Maintains contact with CPD detectives to stay apprised of investigative developments in related criminal investigations

* Identifies and reports on opportunities for pattern and practice investigations; conducts pattern and practice investigations

* Testifies in court, arbitration hearings and before the Police Board as needed

* Collaborates with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and the U. S. Attorney's Office to prepare cases for criminal proceedings

* Identifies areas of improvement to police department tactics and training based on information

obtained through investigations

* Makes recommendations to the Chief Administrator regarding the appropriate discipline or other remedial measures based on the investigatory findings

Additional duties may be required for this position

Location: COPA

Address: 1615 W Chicago Avenue

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (with on-call rotation availability)

Availability to work weekends is required

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, plus five (5)

years of experience conducting civil, criminal or factual investigations that involve gathering,

analyzing and evaluating evidence; conducting in-depth research, analysis and report writing;

and conducting interviews with witnesses; OR

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree or higher, plus

four (4) years of experience conducting civil, criminal or factual investigations that involve

gathering, analyzing and evaluating evidence; conducting in-depth research, analysis and report

writing; and conducting interviews with witnesses; OR

Graduation from an accredited law school, plus two (2) years of experience conducting civil,

criminal or factual investigations that involve gathering, analyzing and evaluating evidence;

conducting in-depth research, analysis and report writing; and conducting interviews with

witnesses

Licensure, Certification, or Other Qualifications

* A valid State of Illinois driver's license is required

* Availability to work any duty watch is required

* Availability to participate in the on-call rotation in response to incidents requiring immediate investigation by the agency

Certification:

* Certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board as a Lead Homicide

Investigator, or similar training approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training

Standards Board or the Department of State Police, or similar training provided at an

Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board certified school, OR

* Is willing to undergo such training within six months of hire in order to maintain position

as a Supervising Investigator - COPA

NOTE: Candidates must pass a background investigation, drug screen, and other pre- employment procedures as

determined by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a written exercise and/or a skills assessment test as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

  • Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school

  • Post-graduate degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Social Science, Government or Law

  • Previous work experience in a supervisory or managerial role

  • Previous employment, on a full-time basis, by a local, state, or federal government oversight agency

  • Previous employment, on a full-time basis, with a law enforcement agency as a sworn law enforcement officer

  • Previous work experience prosecuting or defending felony criminal cases

  • Previous experience in providing advocacy to victims of domestic and/or sexual violence or prosecuting or investigating allegations of domestic violence and/or sexual misconduct

  • Five (5) or more years of work experience as an investigator

NOTE: Per City of Chicago Municipal Ordinance #2-78-120, no investigator employed by the COPA Office shall be a current or former sworn member of the Chicago Police Department within the last five (5) years.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

City of Chicago :: Classification and Pay Plan

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Job Posting : Jun 15, 2026, 3:20:59 PM | Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External : Jul 1, 2026, 4:59:00 AM
Salary : $109,140 Annually Pay Basis : Yearly
Applied = 0

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