Jun 11, 2007 8:20 pm US/Central
City Considers New Police Brutality Oversight
Chicago Congressman Also Trying To Make Police Abuse A Federal Crime
by Mike Flannery
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
Ald. James Balcer of Bridgeport believes claims of police torture that are found to have no merit should be stricken from officers' records.
CBS
The fight against police misconduct in Chicago continues. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports the City Council could vote Wednesday for a new agency to investigate allegations of brutality.
Before that committee vote was taken, aldermen and witnesses debated issues involving police oversight that have been hot in Chicago since the 1960s, including what to do when a complaint against an officer is found to be not merited.
"Why should it be in the record book? If it was proven to be false, take it out," said Ald. James Balcer (11th). "Why should they be held accountable? A policeman should be given the same rights as everyone else."
Strongly disagreeing was University of Chicago clinical professor of law Craig Futterman. City Hall now keeps records for seven years. He urged the Council to retain records of all abuse complaints ever filed against Chicago police.
"We'd never know about the patterns that develop over time," said Futterman said. "There are officers with 50 or more complaints, none of them sustained. They never would be flagged, never address those problems."
Critics testified that, as proposed by Mayor Richard M. Daley, the new police oversight agency was not nearly independent enough.
"It may not be perfect to everybody, but look what we had in the past and what's represented today," said Ald. Ike Carothers of the West Side's 29th Ward.
And a congressman in Chicago wants to make police abuse a federal crime, without a statute of limitations.
Rep. Danny Davis is sponsoring a law to help victims of torture win justice.
He was with some advocates and Cook County Commissioner Earlean Collins Monday at a news conference.
They blasted a report from a special prosecutor on police brutality charges from the 1980s, accusing Commander Jon Burge and his South Side crew.
The investigation did find evidence of abuse, but determined that time ran out to prosecute.
"Any law enforcement officer will know that it is their duty to serve and protect not torture and disrespect," Davis said.
On Wednesday, Commissioner Collins is holding a public hearing on the special prosecutors report at the county level.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Recall Of 2.1 Million Cribs Announced 5 mins ago 
E2 Victims' Families Demand Federal Investigation 6 mins ago
Stumble It!
