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UPDATE: Chicago victims of torture at the hands of police will receive financial compensation for their mistreatment. The City Council has approved a historic reparations package that will pay $5.5 million and provide other benefits to people who were tortured by fallen former police commander Jon Burge over the course of nearly two decades, with the incidents happening from 1972 through 1991. There were more than 100 victims, most of whom were African-American men.
Although the statute of limitations ran out on the alleged crimes committed by Burge, he was convicted in 2010 of perjury in civil proceedings for lying about torture he oversaw. Burge, who received 4½ years in prison, completes his sentence this year. Despite this, Burge continues to receive a police pension, reports USA Today.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel says it was important that the package was approved.
“This stain cannot be removed from our city’s history, but it can be used as a lesson of what not to do,” he said.
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ORIGINAL POST FROM APRIL 16, 2015
Police brutality is going to cost the city of Chicago $5.5 million. Chicago will offer a multi-million-dollar “reparations” package to people who were tortured at the hands of the Chicago Police Department.
And there is a lot more than money involved. “Victims of police torture under former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge would share $5.5 million, receive an apology and see their story taught in school under a reparations package proposed Tuesday that city leaders hope will help close one of the most shameful chapters in Chicago’s history,” reports TheGrio.
Most of the victims were African American. Burge, 67, was actually fired from the Chicago Police Department in 1993, though never criminally charged with torture. He was however convicted in 2010 of lying about torture in a civil case and spent 4 1/2 years in federal custody.
There were more than 100 people who accused Burge and police officers under his command of a variety of horrifying torture tactics — from shocking them with cattle prods to using bags to suffocate them until they gave false confessions. And this went on for nearly 20 years, finally ending in 1991.
Some of the victims previously settled with the city for thousands or millions of dollars. Those who are left may get up to $100,000. The settlement still has to be approved but it is expected to pass when it goes to the council next month for a vote.
“While it is not perfect, it is a form of closure that each person would be able to get $100,000 and that is a meaningful settlement,” said Howard Brookins, chairman of the council’s Black caucus.
Already Chicago has paid out more than $100 million due to court-ordered judgments, settlements of lawsuits and legal fees due to police brutality.
“My goal is to both close this book — the Burge book — on the city’s history, close it and bring closure for the victims and make sure that we take this as a city and learn from it about what we have to do going forward because a police department is about public safety, community policing and building trust,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.
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