Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (AP) ― His name has dogged the city and its police department for years. It was there, like a scab that refused to heal, whenever there were allegations of police brutality or police mistreatment of suspects.

Things are no different from the days of Jon Burge, people said. Even when the city and police talked about changes and reforms, it was there: What about Jon Burge?

On Friday, city officials announced that four former death row inmates would divide a total of $19.8 million to settle lawsuits claiming they'd been tortured by former Lt. Burge and his men -- perhaps a first step in answering those questions and healing the frayed relationship between the community and those whose job it is to protect them.

Aaron Patterson, Madison Hobley, Stanley Howard and Leroy Orange were among scores of black suspects who claimed they were kicked, beaten and shocked into confessions in the 1970s and 80s at the Area 2 detective headquarters, which Lt. Burge headed in the 1980s.

"To have this case settled says the city has stepped up to try to amend what a bad police commander did to the general public," said Alderman Ed Smith (28th). "To bring this thing to fruition says to the general public that mistakes were made and we should try to clear it up and start trying to heal."

A four-year study by two court-appointed special prosecutors released in July 2006 found that the torture occurred, but that the incidents were so old that the statute of limitations had long since run out, making it impossible to bring charges.

Burge was fired by the police department in 1993 after a suspect in the murder of two officers allegedly was abused while in his custody.

"I'm hopeful that this represents on the city's part a willingness to deal with this tough issue and try to figure out how to put systems in place to make sure (mistreatment of suspects) doesn't occur again," said Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (4th).  

Even Monique Bond, spokeswoman for a Chicago Police Department that has been battered in recent months by a spate of allegations of police misconduct, sounded hopeful.

"This represents a positive step moving forward in building and restoring community relations with the public that we serve," she said.

Flint Taylor, Orange's attorney, agreed. But he also said that additional steps are needed, including hearings for the 25-30 black men imprisoned after allegedly being tortured into confessing to crimes they didn't commit.

And, he said, Burge and others must pay.

"There should be indictments and prosecutions of Burge and his men for obstruction of justice, perjury and conspiracy," Taylor said.

The $19.8 million settlement calls for Hobley to receive $7.5 million, Orange $5.5 million, Patterson $5 million and Howard $1.8 million, Smith said.

But Hobley has been identified as a subject of a federal arson and murder investigation and Smith said under the terms of the settlement, he will receive $1 million when it receives final approval and the other $6.5 million at the end of 2009 if he has not been indicted.

The financial settlements still must be approved by the City Council's finance committee, which Smith expected to happen Monday.

The four were part of a story that made international headlines in January 2003 when then-Gov. George Ryan pardoned them and commuted the sentences of every death row inmate in the state in a stinging rebuke of capital punishment.

Hobley and Orange have been out of custody since Ryan ordered them pardoned. Howard remained in prison on unrelated charges. Patterson also was released from prison, but in August was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after being convicted on drug and weapons charges.

Earlier this year, attorneys for Hobley, Orange and Howard said the city had reached a $14.8 million settlement of their lawsuits but that it had failed to pay. At the time, Jennifer Hoyle, spokeswoman for the city's law department, said that no agreement had been reached.

Hoyle did not immediately return calls for comment on Friday. 

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