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  We asked viewers what you think of Chicago Police Officer Anthony Abbate's probation sentence for the videotaped beating of a female bartender. Here are your responses:

The FIX was in. The police-which after this verdict, have shown they are the biggest, best armed and best connected gang in the city. Immune to punishment. Instead of aresting Abbate, the responding officers tried to cover it up and make it go away. Just becuase Abbate did not show his badge, does not mean the patrons he threatend did not know he was a member of the police gang, capabile of carring out his threats. If there ad been no Video, he would still be on the streets, carring a gun... He is a threat to public safety - a symbol to other police gang memebers they can get away with just about anything. --pmur

Because Abbate was a policeman he was charged with aggravated battery(a felony)ANYBODY else would have been charged with battery(a misdeaminor).Right there by it`s self was in my opinion wrong,he hadn`t announced his office or flashed his credentials.Abbate has rights also,just like everyone else. The news media really beat him up because he was a cop, unlike what they would do to any civilian who would have perpetraited this.This type of crime I`m sure happens alot all over the city,but because it is perpetraited by non policemen it get`s no media attention.Abbate did not use ANY type weapon to batter his victim,therefore the charge of agg battery was not correct or justifiable,the charge was to harsh simply because he was a cop.I realize my belief is an unpopular one but there is still NO denying it. Also I don`t understand why everyone is so upset with the judge,he was simply doing his job in following sentencing guidelines.When the media jump on you (which they wouldn`t had not been a cop)you don`t stand a chance.All the media care about are ratings which turns into profits and that is bottom line. The media and Illinois politians have a lot in common. Abbate will loose his job and his very nice pension, he will also loose his ability to EVER get a good job,he`s lost his right to vote.The feds will probably go after him for civil rights violations and his victim has already filed a lawsuit against him,all because he got drunk and did something very stupid like commit a simple battery.In years to come this thought will hound him worse and worse,causing him to become depressed and he will probably take his own life because of it.Abbate has no future,all because he stupidly got drunk,and stupidly committed a simple battery.He has wrecked his life!!! I wonder do any members of news media ever mess up(besides Amy)would it get reported on with the same vigor as Abbate`s case? I DOUBT IT!!! Have a nice day,I can`t wait for your reply to me IF ANY!!! --Nick Leberis


VIA TWITTER:
The sentence this officer received is un-acceptable. --LockportMom

It's wrong. He should have a stronger punishment for what he did. --JimniKricket

I always assume the most corrupt outcome and work backwards from there.IE Parking meters/Daleys trips/Blago etc --coffeygrinds

it makes me sick there is such a double standard--Alison Chandler

I was SHOCKED & DISMAYED by the Abbate sentence. I wonder if he was an average Joe what his sentence would've been. --VaughnChicago

He should have gotten jail time I think it sends out the message that officers are "above" the law this sentance is a joke. --Mrs. Gecko

Abbate should serve the full sentence as well as be fired from the Police Department immediately. --CLbuzzard

I think that's messed up. He should be getting prison time. I feel sorry for the next bartender whose bar he visits next time. --Natasha 1981

It's a joke, right? Right? Because if not, I don't feel safe on the Chicago streets. Oh, wait. Never mind. --Gabrielized

I fear for all the bartenders in Chicagoland. --Bruddah

I suppose its ok to hit to hit a lady & have a really good lawyer!!!! --Louie Kapoohy

That is wrong for the police officer to get probation, it sends the wrong message that the Cook County Courts can tolerate this. --kylecarroll5

He shoulda been sentenced 2 prison 4 hitting a woman period! In uniform or not.. Send him away 4 good. Same way for Chris Brown!!! --Louie Kapoohy

VIA FACEBOOK:
I think it was a grave injustice. What a disservice the courts did because he was a cop. I hope the victim sues the crap out of that guy! --Lisa Wilcox

I am too discouraged to comment intelligently. This is just not right! --Tracy McCarthy

It's beyond an injustice. If it was anyone else they would be in jail. I would say the great mayor had something to do with it. Next they will give him his job back with a promotion. --Ted Peszynski

at least the police department should do the right thing and fire that piece of garbage. --Keith Phillips

Good Lord, the man was caught red-handed. I don't get it! Argh! --Donna Peterson-Preisler

One word...RIDICULOUS!!!!!! --Harlin Neal

It just figures, there is no justice system, if your in law enforcement I guess the laws do not apply to you. So sad. --Lorri Patton Lunak

Its a JOKE...Any regular JOE would have gotten time....The Judge was wrong. What is wrong with our system.......??? --Jr Stronczak

This city is a JOKE!!! Jody Weis is a JOKE!! an KING RICHARD is an even bigger JOKE!!! --Dominic Torres

I agree with Dominic, it is embarrassing to say I am from Chicago anymore. --Lorri Patton Lunak

It's a sad day for the citizens of Chicago. Even sadder for the cops who are decent and really want to "protect and serve". --Norma Jones

Bad. Lousy. Injustice. Business as usual in Chicago. Almost proud to be an American, less and less proud to be from Chicago. --Ray Moore

what more did he have to do to that poor women to get jail time? --Julie Doyle

Was the Fix in? Or is it the good old boys club of protecting their own?
It's an insult to all women and the citizens of Chicago. --Jim Polaski

Wow! Are youi kidding...he beat a bartender...on tape...and only gets probation? There's something horribly wrong with this picture! I hope she sues him & the city... --Theresa Wallace Lloyd

well what a surprise.another one under the mayors get out of jail free.he must pay a pretty penny for this plan it has a lot of members getting away.well, well, well.taxes will go up there is another law suit --Lillian Valdes Cubano

Is he qualified to be a judge....vote him out of office --Ed White

What would happen to a bartender that beats the crap out of a cop????? Probation????? Not in THIS lifetime..... They had the guy DEAD TO RIGHTS, and he STILL got away with it....And people wonder why everyone hates cops & judges... I think the cop AND the judge should go to the slammer.......... --Bill Voinovich

Anthony Abbate had absolutely positively no business assaulting that female bar tendeer in the first place. Didn't his mother ever teach him that he is not to strike a woman? Doesn't Abbate have any common decency at all? --Michael Voisinet

ED!!! Do you really have to ask? What kind of "man" pulls that kind of low-life move? Grave injustice is what happens when 5 year-old girls are sold into marriage, his mother had nothing to do with it, decency was not on his agenda that evening... none of us can adequately sum up how wrong it is.
NO ONE SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW! Especially the police men who are charged with enforcing it. --Traci Bismonte

So long as he loses his badge I'm satisfied. --Joe Cunningham

This is, in itself a crime. Battered women all across the country are now just a little more fearful. --Norma Jones

That's all that animal got? --Len O'Kelly

If it was you or I, we would have received jail time. No more special treatment for the Chicago PD. --Andrew Skwara

He should spend his 2 years probation as a volunteer in a battered womens shelter. --Dave Burns

ed, it was caught on film. not that he shouldn't get drilled if it was not caught on film, but we got him. it just seems like some wink-wink, nudge-nudge going on, and it seems really dirty. i feel for the woman, and for all women. good call by norma, if he can get away with this, women everywhere will be scared. --Paul Johnson

if it was a non-police officer who committed the offense, the sentence would have been different. there should be something more. --Jennifer Yochem

Well, at least they finally let everyone know what will happen if you behave like this...not much. So, nice lesson for our kids. --Shelley McGill Johnson

Not surprised considering all the dirty Illinois politics of late...police protect their own...not right, not fair and very scary --Deb Stipp Evans

As a retired police officer, I think he should have been sentenced to jail time. --Jeffery S. Weiner Sr.

my dad is an active police officer, and we both feel he should be. thanks for your service, jeffery! --Paul Johnson

Yes. Anyone else would have ! --Dorothy Hendrickson

Anything so brutal caught on camera could have been portrayed so differently. As long as he loses his badge I'll do my best to consider that as a punishment. --Joe Cunningham

As if Illinois needs another black eye with our politicians and now our court system! Abbate needs to go to the slammer. I feel most sorry for the poor bartender who was on the receiving end of his brutality. --Renee Guagenti

States attorney has conflict of interest here. Just because he was an ex-cop perhaps the probation was suggested. However, if you are hired to serve and protect and abuse others liberties in this way, you deserve to do time - to sett an example for other dirty cops. This is a disgrace! --Jose A. Resto

He should have gotten two years jail, then a year on probation. She was totally overpowered, and it was on tape. Favoritism big time on this one. --Mike Smith

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