The Chicago Police Department has relieved four officers of their police powers amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of police mishandling recovered guns.
The officers involved in the alleged mishandling of seized firearms worked out of the Far South Side’s Calumet District, a source familiar with the investigation said.
The officers were placed on desk duty on March 15, the Chicago Police Department said Thursday. They were assigned to the Alternate Response Section, which handles nonemergency calls.
“There is an open investigation into this matter. We will not comment further to protect the integrity of this investigation,” the department said in a statement.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the firearm mishandling allegations, COPA spokesperson Ephraim Eaddy said in a statement Thursday.
“COPA is actively investigating the actions of the involved officers and made a recommendation to the Chicago Police Department to relieve the officers of their police powers,” Eaddy said in the statement.
Both the Police Department and COPA declined to share further details about the investigation.
jsheridan@chicagotribune.com
