Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Former Chicago Police Detective Cmdr. Jon Burge pleaded not guilty to obstruction and perjury charges Monday morning.

An attorney for Burge entered the not guilty plea to charges of obstruction of justice and perjury on his behalf. U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow set a trial date of May 11.

As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports Burge left Chicago 16 years ago with a send-off from thousands of friends and admirers. He returned today welcomed by a hundred angry demonstrators facing charges he's faced and fended off before - perhaps weary of a battle to clear his name that's lasted for 20 years.

For decades, Burge has been at the center of allegations that detectives tortured suspects into confessing under his watch. Prosecutors claim Burge lied under oath on written answers in a civil rights lawsuit five years ago.

He was arrested last week at his home near Tampa, Fla.

CBS 2's Mike Parker reports Burge arrived at the Dirksen Federal Building at 7:05 a.m. Monday, just after it opened and two hours before his scheduled hearing. If he had hoped to avoid news cameras at that hour, he didn't succeed. Just minutes after Burge went upstairs, dozens of demonstrators showed up to witness the court hearing for themselves, among them some alleged Burge victims.

Burge moved slowly through security and used a cane because of painful arthritis. In court he said only, "Good morning, your honor."

"I think there's absolute confidence on his part that they're baseless," said Burge's attorney Rick Beuke.

"I mean Commander Burge is anxious to go to trial, have his day in court and be exonerated of these charges," said Burge attorney Bill Gamboney.
The two attorneys representing Burge were provided by the Fraternal Order of Police, whose Board will decide next week whether to fund a defense some experts believe could cost as much as a million dollars.

"It is well past time for the FOP to stop spending their rank and file money to defend someone indicted as a police torturer," said Flint Taylor, alleged victims' attorney.

It'll be a tough call for the FOP. Back in 1992, the union hosted a huge fundraiser and farewell party for Burge, who remained a cult hero among the rank and file even after the charges surfaced. But the city has since settled tens of millions of dollars in civil suits against Burge. Today, the alleged victim in the lone remaining case came to court hoping to see him.

"If I could speak to him, I would first say, how you doin'? How do you feel now that the shoe is on the other foot? You're standing in front of a judge like I have many times," Darrell Cannon said.

Burge was whisked out of the courthouse via a secret route. U.S. marshals were apparently worried about this crowd of demonstrators just outside the courthouse. Given the intense feelings this case has aroused, there was concern for Burge's safety.

The noisy crowd gathered at the courthouse exit demanded Burge's conviction and more.

"This man and all of his henchmen, everybody that was involved in this, got to go to jail," said Ald. Ed Smith.

"Jon Burge was the one who tortured me. I'll never forget him. I can't forgive him," said alleged victim Anthony Holmes.

Burge was fired from the department in 1993 after the Chicago Police Board found he tortured accused police killer Andrew Wilson into giving a confession.

Two court-appointed special prosecutors found two years ago that scores of black suspects had been seriously abused at Area 2 in the 1970s and 1980s to force them to confess but that it had been so long ago criminal charges were no longer possible.

Burge was never charged with a crime, and moved to Florida soon after his firing. But prosecutors have said charging him with lying about the alleged torture is better than nothing at all.

Burge will not have to appear at his next court hearing, November 19. His lawyers told the judge it would be too expensive for him to fly back to Chicago from his home in Florida. Burge is free on $250,000 bond.

In order to prove that Burge lied about torture, the feds will have to prove that there was, in fact, torture. It is not impossible that some of those who claim they were victims will end up testifying in the Burge trial.

While Burge remains a visible symbol of alleged abuse of criminal suspects back in the '80s, he's not alone in the sights of those seeking justice for the alleged victims.

"I just want to thank God that they finally got this man, and hope they get the rest of them, so I can sleep and we can have peace," said Carol Johnson, victim's mother.

At this point, only Burge has been indicted. But sources say many of the officers who served with and under him have also been paraded before a federal grand jury, and more indictments are expected.

CBS 2's Jay Levine, Mike Parker and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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