CHICAGO — A new interim Chief Administrator for Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) has been appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
On Thursday, Johnson appointed LaKeyna White, who previously served as COPA’s Director of Investigations for Intake, as the acting interim Chief Administrator.
By law, Mayor Johnson has the power to select an interim chief administrator to lead office until a permanent pick is selected, confirmed and takes office, but the decision for a permanent replacement remains in the hands of the Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), which did not exist at the time previous chief administrator was brought on board.
White, a Chicago native, has worked with COPA since its inception in 2017 and held the position of Major Case Specialist prior to her role as Director of Investigations for intake, which she assumed in 2023.
As a Director of Intake, White oversaw the Intake Unit and all of the incoming complaints to make jurisdictional decisions.
Lakeyna white, who previously served as copa’s director of investigations for intake, has been appointed as the acting interim chief administrator.
White’s career in police oversight began in 2000 when she began working as an Intake Aide with the Office of Professional Standards.
After the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) was established in 2007, White transitioned into a role as an Investigator and later handled officer-involved shootings while serving as a Shooting Specialist before taking on the role with COPA in 2017.
In 2021, White was promoted to COPA’s Supervising Investigator and managed a team of five, ensuring thorough case investigations.
White’s appointment comes a little over a month after a string of leadership changes rattled City Hall, just days after the mayor reportedly warned of plans to clean house.
COPA’s previous Chief Administrator, Andrea Kersten, who had been appointed by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, was among those who announced their resignation. She had spent four years at the helm of the office.
During a CCPSA meeting in late February to discuss the search for the next chief administrator, commissioners said they would gather public comment from the community on the qualities they would like to see from the new chief and what priorities they should focus on.
Commissioners also said that they would be gathering 10 potential candidates for the role through a nationwide search.
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