Chicago taxpayers have been forced to pay out $384.2 million in court costs for a pattern of police misconduct over the past five years, according to analysis of citywide data by WTTW News on Monday, Aug. 12. Data revealed that of the 1,300 officers involved in the lawsuits, 200 officers were involved in more than one incident, accounting for 43% of the total expenses in court costs.
One Chicago Police Department sergeant is reportedly responsible for $1.4 million in taxpayer costs alone. An instance of reported misconduct involved an $850,000 payout to a man the sergeant allegedly slammed to the ground after stopping him for drinking. A suspension was recommended for the sergeant. However, the sergeant is said to have received a promotion and a raise the next year instead of facing discipline.
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The analysis found that the sergeant has had 22 complaints of misconduct throughout his career with the department.
The findings come as the city promises to crack down on repeat offenders among law enforcement. The Chicago Police Department has even recommended the city review settlements and judgements to identify patterns of behavior among officers. The department added that it will reduce both costs for the city and misconduct among officers.
Meanwhile, a system designed to catch officers with multiple complaints could have reportedly been rolled out citywide in 2021. However, the Chicago Police Department disclosed that it is still reviewing and assessing the program to “ensure that it’s being utilized effectively ahead of a citywide rollout.”
A new legal case management system was also scheduled to launch in March, but it is not ready. City officials said that they do not expect to have it ready until later in 2024.
The Chicago Police Department is also under a federal court order to change the way it disciplines and supervises police officers. In over four years, the department has reportedly complied with just 7% of the requirements since the agreement in 2019.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, D, responded to the findings by saying that it is his “top priority” to comply with the federal agreement’s requirements.
Tags: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, Civil court, Crime, Police, Police officers, Police violence, Taxes, taxpayer funds
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
A PATTERN OF POLICE MISCONDUCT IS FORCING CHICAGO TAXPAYERS TO PAYOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COURT COSTS FOR OFFENDING OFFICERS.
THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW ANALYSIS OF CITY DATA– W-T-T-W LOOKED AT RECORDS FROM 20-19 TO 20-23.
THEY FOUND THE COST TO RESOLVE MISCONDUCT LAWSUITS COST THE CITY NEARLY 400 MILLION DOLLARS.
THESE LAWSUITS ALLEGED SOME 13-HUNDRED OFFICERS WERE INVOLVED IN MISCONDUCT.
200 OF THOSE OFFICERS WERE INVOLVED IN MORE THAN ONE SUIT – AND ACCOUNTED FOR MORE THAN 40-PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE CITY.
AND ONE SERGEANT IS REPORTEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR 1-POINT-4 MILLION-DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER FUNDED SETTLEMENTS ALONE.
ONE INSTANCE INVOLVED A PAYOUT OF 850-THOUSAND DOLLARS– IN WHICH HE INJURED A MAN AFTER SLAMMING HIM TO THE PAVEMENT.
A SUSPENSION WAS RECOMMENDED AGAINST THE SERGEANT– BUT INSTEAD HE GOT A PROMOTION THE NEXT YEAR.
HE HAS A TOTAL OF 22 MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS DURING HIS CAREER.
THE FINDINGS COME AS THE CITY PROMISES TO CRACKDOWN ON REPEAT OFFENDERS.
THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED THE CITY BETTER REVIEW SETTLEMENTS AND JUDGEMENTS TO IDENTIFY PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR– SAYING IT WILL REDUCE BOTH COSTS AND MISCONDUCT.
THE CITY HAD PLANNED TO ROLL OUT A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO CATCH OFFICERS WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN 2021.
BUT LAST YEAR THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT’S STILL REVIEWING AND ASSESSING THE PROGRAM… TO ENSURE IT’S BEING UTILIZED EFFECTIVELY AHEAD OF A CITYWIDE ROLLOUT.”
A SYSTEM TO MANAGE LEGAL CASES AGAINST OFFICERS WAS SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN MARCH.
BUT STILL ISN’T READY.
ASKED WHEN IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED– OFFICIALS SAID THEY DON’T EXPECT TO HAVE IT READY UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR.
C–P-D IS ALSO UNDER A FEDERAL COURT ORDER– TO CHANGE THE WAY IT DISCIPLINES AND SUPERVISES OFFICERS.
MORE THAN FOUR YEARS OF DATA SHOWS THE DEPARTMENT COMPLIED WITH JUST SEVEN PERCENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS SINCE THE AGREEMENT IN 2019.
CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON RESPONDED TO THE FINDINGS SAYING IT’S A “TOP PRIORITY” TO COMPLY WITH THE COURT AGREEMENT.
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
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