Joseph Vecchio racked up more complaints than any other officer in his six years on the Chicago Police Department, many of them stemming from his work on a tactical team that\u2019s developed a notorious reputation.<\/p>\n
Vecchio was stripped of his policing powers late last year after the city\u2019s police oversight boss told Supt. Larry Snelling about the \u201cconcerning number of complaints\u201d he faced. He had been the subject of 76 investigations since he joined the department in October 2019, wrote LaKenya White, the interim chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. At the time, he faced allegations of domestic abuse, civil rights violations and providing false statements about traffic stops involving guns.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen COPA\u2019s Policy, Research, and Development Unit conducted an analysis of complaint data since 2019, it revealed that Officer Vecchio has the highest number of log number investigations in the entire Department,\u201d White wrote to Snelling on Oct. 6, 2025. \u201cAlthough many of these cases are still under investigation, the increasing number of complaints against Officer Vecchio suggests the need for immediate intervention by CPD.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most of the complaints came as Vecchio worked on a Near North District tactical team that has come under intense scrutiny, White said. The tactical team\u2019s pattern of misconduct has previously been reported by ABC Chicago and WTTW, which reported that Vecchio and other members of the team had been relieved of their powers.<\/p>\n
In December 2024, a COPA supervisor told Michael Barz, the district commander at the time, that officers on the team had accrued 50 complaints over the past year \u201crelated to traffic stops, street stops, searches and unprofessional conduct.\u201d Many of the closed investigations against the officers resulted in sustained allegations, COPA Director of Investigations Steffany Hreno told Barz. Over 90% of the complaints involved officers stopping African Americans, according to Hreno. The district \u2014 which covers parts of the Near North Side, West Town, Lincoln Park and Logan Square \u2014 has a Black population of just 6%.<\/p>\n
The department has been reforming its traffic stop practices after Dexter Reed was killed in a shootout with members of the Harrison District tactical team in March 2024.<\/p>\n
Chicago police officers surround Dexter Reed\u2019s SUV in March 2024.
\nCivilian Office of Police Accountablity<\/p>\n
Still, Hreno said officers in Vecchio\u2019s unit were accused of using stops as a pretext to probe for other crimes and often used profanities, insults and threats of violence \u2014 even when a sergeant was present. They also failed to complete necessary paperwork and turn on their body cameras in a timely manner, she said.<\/p>\n
Hreno asked Barz to ensure the officers follow the rules, act respectfully and \u201cengage in constitutional policing that is consistent with the mission and values of the Chicago Police Department.\u201d A month before the letter was sent, Barz smiled alongside Vecchio when he was awarded the 2024 First Responder of the Year award by the River North Residents Association. Barz retired last May after being demoted and was placed on the city\u2019s do-not-hire list.<\/p>\n
At the time of White\u2019s letter, Vecchio had been suspended 15 days over a \u201cdomestic incident\u201d and had earned a two-day suspension and a reprimand for reporting violations. He also had sustained eight other complaints that were either being reviewed or grieved, and ten violations for lesser misconduct.<\/p>\n
Vecchio has been named in at least 15 lawsuits, four of which have been settled, according to federal court records. Two of those cases alone have cost city taxpayers $100,000, according to the Chicago Law Department. Rodney Ipaye alleged in a lawsuit that he was the victim of \u201cracial profiling\u201d during a series of stops by Vecchio and other cops. Some of the officers called Ipaye a racial slur and other \u201cderogatory language,\u201d while Vecchio and another cop \u201cunjustifiably drew their firearms,\u201d the lawsuit states. The case was settled for $80,000 last April.<\/p>\n
The case of Joseph Vecchio highlights the need for increased accountability and reform within the Chicago Police Department. The high number of complaints against Vecchio and the tactical team he was a part of raises serious concerns about racial disparities and misconduct. The department must take steps to address these issues and ensure that officers are held accountable for their actions.<\/p>\n
Q: How many complaints were filed against Officer Vecchio?
\nA: Officer Vecchio was the subject of 76 investigations since he joined the department in October 2019.
\nQ: What was the nature of the complaints against Vecchio?
\nA: The complaints against Vecchio included allegations of domestic abuse, civil rights violations, and providing false statements about traffic stops involving guns.
\nQ: What actions were taken against Vecchio?
\nA: Vecchio was stripped of his policing powers and had been suspended 15 days over a \u201cdomestic incident\u201d and had earned a two-day suspension and a reprimand for reporting violations.
\nQ: How many lawsuits have been filed against Vecchio?
\nA: Vecchio has been named in at least 15 lawsuits, four of which have been settled.
\nQ: What is the total cost of the settled lawsuits against Vecchio?
\nA: Two of the settled cases alone have cost city taxpayers $100,000, according to the Chicago Law Department.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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