Civilian Office of Police Accountability employee charged with making false threat of mass shooting
Chicago IL January 6 2019
An employee of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability has been charged with sending a false threat of violence to her own office, police said.
Alison Yohanna, 35, was charged with official misconduct and disorderly conduct for falsely reporting an offense, Chicago police said.
Yohanna sent a false email to the Office of the Inspector General stating that another COPA employee would be conducting a mass shooting at the COPA offices, police said.
Yohanna, who lives in the Buena Park neighborhood on the North Side, turned herself into police on Thursday, police said. She was due for a bail hearing on Saturday.
“COPA takes all violations of law seriously,” COPA Chief Administrator Sydney Roberts said in a statement. “The waste of City resources in response to a false threat, the unnecessary alarm to our staff, other building occupants and the larger Chicago community was egregious.
“COPA staff members are held accountable for their actions, and we appreciate CPD’s prompt and professional work in assessing and investigating the anonymous threat.”
Ephraim Eaddy, a COPA spokesman, noted Yohanna has been working for the office for more than a year as an investigator and has been placed on leave.
The COPA office is located at 1615 W. Chicago Ave. in the West Town neighborhood.
