City Council Committee approves $1.75M settlement for family of Army vet who died by suicide in CPD custody

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council Finance Committee on Monday approved a $1.75 million settlement for the family of Iris Chavez, a woman who died while in police custody in 2021.

All but one committee member voted in favor of the settlement. Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward) was the lone ‘no’ vote, saying he worried about the precedent the settlement was setting.

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City Council will vote next Wednesday, May 22, to finalize compensation for the family of Chavez, who died by suicide in a holding cell in the early morning hours of Dec. 18, 2021, shortly after being locked up.

Police arrested the 33-year-old Army veteran after getting into a fight with a security guard at a bar in the city’s South Shore neighborhood the night prior.

Following her death, Chavez’s family argued that the Army veteran was experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and begged for help, but Chicago police officers ignored her.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Family of jailed woman who died of suicide suing city of Chicago, police

A lawsuit filed on behalf of the family alleged that police denied Chavez basic medical care and failed to recognize she had been experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988.

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