-
Apr 2, 2007 10:25 pm US/Central
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Police Superintendent Cline Resigns
Announcement Comes In Wake Of Alleged Police Beatings
CBS 2 Political Producer Edward Marshall, Mike Parker, the Associated Press and WBBM 780 contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Chicago Police Supt. Philip Cline announced Monday that he is retiring from his post, in the wake of a scandal involving two alleged beatings by off-duty officers.
Cline's resignation comes in the wake of two beatings caught on videotape that allegedly invovled off-duty Chicago Police officers, one of which has been widely broadcast.
Mayor Richard M. Daley confirmed that Cline submitted his resignation Monday morning, and credited the superintendent and his officers with new initiatives that have successfully reduced crime.
But the mayor said Cline took responsibility for the beating scandal.
"In submitting his resignation, he took responsibility for the police misconduct that occurred recently," and said the police officers involved should have been disciplined sooner, Daley said.
"He acknowledged that these incidents tarnished the entire department," Daley said.
The mayor added that the while the "vast majority" of police officers are hardworking people dedicated to fighting crime, action had to be taken against officers who violate the public trust.
"Like everyone else, I was outraged by the video, which clearly show officers' misconduct …. It's unacceptable. There's not place in the Police Department for officers to brutalize the people who they swore to serve and protect."
Daley added that Cline had broached the idea of retiring a year ago.
"A year ago, he came to me and I asked if he would stay about a year," Daley said. "This was about a year ago, and I asked him to stay on until after the election."
Daley said on Monday, Cline told him he wanted to resign from his office. The mayor said he did not ask for Cline's resignation.
Cline spoke Monday evening at Lewis University, his alma mater. He talked about reducing crime during his three and a half years in the job, and later, talked about leaving the force.
"I'm fine with what's going on here. It's a decision I made and I'm looking forward to having a couple months off during the summer," Cline said.
It is unclear, however, if it was it in fact, his decision.
"He was ready to go. I told you about that," Daley said Monday morning.
"I did not ask for his resignation. I've said that repeatedly," he said.
Daley also said: "I think its time for a change and that's what it was."
Whatever the reason for his resignation was, Cline's goodbye to his officers was emotional.
As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, the announcement came just days after Cline said he was staying on the job.
In announcing his resignation, Cline did not mention the scandal specifically, and characterized his resignation as a retirement.
"The time has come for me to announce my retirement as superintendent of police," Cline said, adding that it was difficult for him to leave during "challenging times."
The decision came only four days after Cline promised Chicago that he planned to stay on the job.
"Personally I don't have any intentions of retiring right now. We still have a lot of work to do," Cline said at a news conference on March 29.
Cline said Monday he will remain in his position while the Police Board conducts a search for a new superintendent.
Cline did not say that he was stepping down because of the storm over two alleged beating incidents that has been thundering across the city. He made only one apparent glancing reference to that, when he thanked Chicago's police officers.
"I encourage all of them to rise above any controversy and stay focused on the mission," Cline said.
"Mayor Daley has given my a once in a lifetime opportunity to lead the best police department in the country, and I thank him for that," Cline said.
He also said: "I've heard many reporters talk about a blue wall or a blue line. Well, let me tell you about the blue line. There is a blue line, and it's the line that Chicago Police officers walk every day," to keep good citizens safe from criminals.
Mark Donahue, the president of Chicago's police union, the Fraternal Order of Police, says he believes the rank and file won't be happy about this.
"Hopefully most of the membership will realize that this is a bump in the road; that this bump, too, shall pass," Donahue said.
One of the beatings caught on videotape allegedly showed Officer Anthony Abbate, 38, a 12-year veteran of the Lincoln Police District, punching and kicking bartender Karolina Obrycka, 24, at a Northwest Side tavern while off duty on Feb.19. Abbate is facing felony aggravated battery charges in the attack, which was caught on an overhead security camera.
Obrycka's lawyer charges that the blame for incidents like that one goes all the way to the top.
"There is no question in my mind that the cover-up of bad police behavior could not exist in this city unless the mayor wanted it to happen," said attorney Terry Ekl.
Less than a week later, four businessmen alleged that in December, they were beaten by six off-duty officers at a Near West Side bar. One of them required facial reconstructive surgery, attorneys for the men alleged.
Word of Cline's sudden resignation surprised an attorney representing the four alleged victims of the police beating at the Jefferson Tap and Grill.
"No I had not heard. You're taking me totally, totally off guard," said attorney Sally Saltzberg when asked about Cline's announcement.
"I have to say in regard to my case only, it was mishandled," Satlzberg said.
Cline has said the department is embarrassed by the incidents, and said he planned to change the way police officers accused of wrongdoing are investigated. He said would like to expedite the process so that the department can move more quickly to take actions against officers when officials believe the allegations are true, department spokeswoman Monique Bond told the Chicago Sun-Times.
A national search will soon be announced to find a new superintendent, Daley said.
He added that during the time before a new superintendent is found, "I've asked superintendent Cline to work with First Deputy Dana Starks to conduct a thorough review of the department's policies" on the handling of police misconduct.
"I want to make it clear that we will not tolerate any type of police misbehavior," the mayor said.
Cline, 57, has been superintendent since October 2003.
He was born in Chicago and grew up on the city's North Side. He began his police career as a cadet in 1968. His first beat was in the tough Cabrini-Green housing projects in 1970, and he was promoted to detective in 1972.
After stints in the narcotics section and organized crime division, he was named chief of detectives in 2001 and first deputy superintendent two years later.
"To my officers, stay safe and make sure that at the end of your tour of duty, you go home safely to your families. Thank you very much," Cline said in ending Monday's brief news conference.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)