Investigation of possible sexual misconduct between a CPD officer and a migrant is closed

After two months of investigation and no victim nor corroborating witnesses found, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability closed its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a Chicago Police officer and a 17-year-old female migrant who was housed at the Ogden District station on the city’s West Side.

The investigation was opened in early July after a text message, circulated among police officers and other city employees, alleged that a 29-year-old CPD field training officer assigned to the Ogden District had engaged in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female migrant who was housed at the police station, located at 3315 W. Ogden Ave.

Less than two weeks later, on July 18, COPA’s chief administrator, Andrea Kersten, called a news conference to announce that the office had not, so far, located any victims or witnesses to corroborate any allegations. However, Kersten did note that COPA started investigating another allegation of a CPD officer engaging in sexual misconduct with a migrant housed at the Town Hall District station on the North Side.

On Friday, COPA announced that the agency’s two investigations were both closed.

“Since receiving notification of this allegation, COPA has been working to substantiate whether these allegations in fact occurred, as well as to identify the source of the initial allegation,” Kersten said in July. “Anytime you’re investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct … (there) are incredibly powerful barriers to people feeling they can trust a system and come forward and share their experiences.”

The Tribune obtained a copy of the text message that spurred the Ogden District investigation and confirmed that the named officer, a field training officer, was assigned to the district — which covers the Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods — at the time the allegation was lodged.

Court records show that the accused officer was part of at least one arrest and one traffic stop in the Ogden District in the weeks after COPA’s investigation was announced. An attorney who previously represented the officer in civil court did not respond to several requests for comment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.