Jun 13, 2007 10:24 am US/Central
Prosecutor, Alleged Victims Discuss Burge Report
Report Said Torture Occurred Under Former Police Commander, But Statute Of Limitations Had Run Out
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
Former Police Cmdr. Jon Burge
CBS
A special prosecutor and two men who claim they were tortured into making false confessions are testifying Wednesday morning at a hearing on former police Commander Jon Burge, who is the subject of widespread allegations of police abuse.
Last July, special prosecutors Robert D. Boyle and Edward J. Egan released a report after their four-year, $6 million investigation. They concluded that torture did happen, but the statute of limitations had run out for any possible state criminal charges.
Boyle is expected to testify at a 10:30 a.m. hearing by the Cook County Board Criminal Justice Committee, along with Darrell Cannon and Madison Hobley. They both claim they were tortured by detectives under Burge's command until they confessed.
The findings of the special prosecutors' report will be discussed at the hearing.
Cannon, who was a member of the El Rukn street gang, was charged with murder in 1983 after allegedly being tortured by detectives at what is now the Calumet Area headquarters on the Far South Side. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Hobley was charged of setting a fire in January 1987 that killed members of his family after alleged torture at the hands of Burge's detectives, and was sentenced to death after being convicted. He was pardoned in January 2003 by then-Gov. George Ryan.
In all, 146 African American men accused Burge and his subordinates of torture, which included beatings, use of cattle prods, suffocations with typewriter covers, and use of a black box to electrically shock genitals, ears, and lips.
Allegations against Burge and other detectives have been a hot-button issue in Chicago for several years. Some have even argued that the torture claims and other allegations against police are so severe as to be a mark against the city for the Olympics.
But Burge's attorney has said the former detective commander never tortured anyone. Burge now lives in Florida.
Earlier this week, the City Council debated a plan for a new organization to investigate claims of police brutality – which activists demanded not only because of the Burge allegations, but also in the wake of the beating of a female bartender, allegedly at the hands of an off-duty Chicago Police officer, and the alleged attack by a group of off-duty officers against four businessmen in a bar.
On Monday, aldermen said a vote on plan for police oversight could come on Wednesday.
Further U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), wants to make police abuse a federal crime, without a statute of limitations.
"Any law enforcement officer will know that it is their duty to serve and protect not torture and disrespect," Davis said.
Cook County Commissioner Earlean Collins (D-1st), who chairs the Criminal Justice Committee, is backing Davis' proposal.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stroger Vetoes Tax Rollback Again 52 mins ago 
Stumble It!
