This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/weather/2015/dec/09/rahm-emanuel-chicago-police-misconduct-laquan-mcdonald-shooting
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Chicago mayor says 'sorry' for police misconduct in Laquan McDonald case | Chicago mayor says 'sorry' for police misconduct in Laquan McDonald case |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel apologized on Wednesday for police misconduct and the fatal shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald, telling the city council: “I take responsibility for what happened because it happened on my watch.” | Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel apologized on Wednesday for police misconduct and the fatal shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald, telling the city council: “I take responsibility for what happened because it happened on my watch.” |
| Emanuel said that Chicago needed to confront its failings and begin rebuilding trust. “The first step on that journey is my step,” he said. “And I’m sorry.” | Emanuel said that Chicago needed to confront its failings and begin rebuilding trust. “The first step on that journey is my step,” he said. “And I’m sorry.” |
| Related: Chicago police inquiry triggers long-awaited change but hard choices ahead | Related: Chicago police inquiry triggers long-awaited change but hard choices ahead |
| The notoriously combative mayor made an unusually emotive address after a week that saw a Justice Department investigation arrive in the city and his worst approval ratings since taking office. Emanuel called for “nothing less than complete and total reform to the system and the culture that it breeds”, and denounced a “code of silence” practiced by police for decades. | The notoriously combative mayor made an unusually emotive address after a week that saw a Justice Department investigation arrive in the city and his worst approval ratings since taking office. Emanuel called for “nothing less than complete and total reform to the system and the culture that it breeds”, and denounced a “code of silence” practiced by police for decades. |
| “No officer should be allowed to behave as if they’re above the law just because they are responsible for upholding the law,” he said. “Permitting and protecting even the smallest acts of abuse, by a tiny fraction of our officers, leads to a culture where extreme acts of abuse are more likely, just like what happened to Laquan McDonald.” | “No officer should be allowed to behave as if they’re above the law just because they are responsible for upholding the law,” he said. “Permitting and protecting even the smallest acts of abuse, by a tiny fraction of our officers, leads to a culture where extreme acts of abuse are more likely, just like what happened to Laquan McDonald.” |
| After the mayor’s address, over a thousand protesters shut down several streets in downtown Chicago, demanding his resignation. Emanuel has struggled with protests and scrutiny since late November, when the police department finally released dashcam footage of the 2014 police killing. The officer in that shooting, Jason Van Dyke, was charged that month with murder for having shot the 17-year-old McDonald 16 times. | |
| The mayor fired the head of Chicago police, Garry McCarthy, after the video’s release but some critics accuse Emanuel of a role in delaying the disclosure for political reasons. | The mayor fired the head of Chicago police, Garry McCarthy, after the video’s release but some critics accuse Emanuel of a role in delaying the disclosure for political reasons. |
| On Wednesday, Emanuel noted that both internal and external reviews of the police have begun, and he pleaded with officers and civilians to confront gun violence. Citing McDonald’s death and the murder of a nine-year-old in a gang-related case, he said: “We have normalized gun violence”. | On Wednesday, Emanuel noted that both internal and external reviews of the police have begun, and he pleaded with officers and civilians to confront gun violence. Citing McDonald’s death and the murder of a nine-year-old in a gang-related case, he said: “We have normalized gun violence”. |
| “We need to reset our norms,” Emanuel said. “I know that personally, that I have a lot of work to do to win the public’s trust and that words are not enough.” | “We need to reset our norms,” Emanuel said. “I know that personally, that I have a lot of work to do to win the public’s trust and that words are not enough.” |
| On Monday, US attorney general Loretta Lynch launched a civil rights investigation into the practices and policies of the department. Last week, Emanuel said that the state attorney general was “misguided” to ask the Justice Department to step in, only to say he welcomed the review after its announcement. | On Monday, US attorney general Loretta Lynch launched a civil rights investigation into the practices and policies of the department. Last week, Emanuel said that the state attorney general was “misguided” to ask the Justice Department to step in, only to say he welcomed the review after its announcement. |
| A day later, the combative mayor further backtracked from his old positions, telling local public television that he was wrong to withhold information from the public for so long, and “built distrust and suspicion” as a result. | A day later, the combative mayor further backtracked from his old positions, telling local public television that he was wrong to withhold information from the public for so long, and “built distrust and suspicion” as a result. |
| Before the city council on Wednesday, the mayor also made an impassioned appeal for communities and police to earn each other’s respect again. “We cannot ask young men to respect officers if officers do not respect them in kind,” he said. | Before the city council on Wednesday, the mayor also made an impassioned appeal for communities and police to earn each other’s respect again. “We cannot ask young men to respect officers if officers do not respect them in kind,” he said. |
| Related: Laquan McDonald shooting puts Rahm Emanuel in battle over the truth | Related: Laquan McDonald shooting puts Rahm Emanuel in battle over the truth |
| Emanuel recalled that he was recently asked by a black man: “Do you think the police would ever treat you the way they treat me?” | Emanuel recalled that he was recently asked by a black man: “Do you think the police would ever treat you the way they treat me?” |
| “The answer is no,” Emanuel said, his voice breaking. “And that is wrong. And that has to change in this city. That has to come to an end, an end now. No citizen is a second-class citizen in the city of Chicago.” | “The answer is no,” Emanuel said, his voice breaking. “And that is wrong. And that has to change in this city. That has to come to an end, an end now. No citizen is a second-class citizen in the city of Chicago.” |
| The mayor also condemned police officers who beat and Tased a mentally ill man in 2012, video of which was released on Monday. The man, 38-year-old Philip Coleman, died due to antipsychotic drugs he received in the hospital, a medical examiner found, but also had more than 50 bruises and abrasions, according to the Chicago Tribune. | The mayor also condemned police officers who beat and Tased a mentally ill man in 2012, video of which was released on Monday. The man, 38-year-old Philip Coleman, died due to antipsychotic drugs he received in the hospital, a medical examiner found, but also had more than 50 bruises and abrasions, according to the Chicago Tribune. |
| The aldermen Emanuel addressed have repeatedly settled with the families of victims of police abuses. In April, the city council approved a $5m pre-emptive settlement with the McDonald family, and in May created a $5.5m fund for the dozens of people tortured by former Chicago police commander Jon Burge and others. | The aldermen Emanuel addressed have repeatedly settled with the families of victims of police abuses. In April, the city council approved a $5m pre-emptive settlement with the McDonald family, and in May created a $5.5m fund for the dozens of people tortured by former Chicago police commander Jon Burge and others. |
| On Wednesday, a state representative introduced a bill that would allow the city to hold a recall election, which is currently not possible. A recall would need at least 88,000 signatures on a petition, among other requirements and hurdles. | |
| Also on Wednesday, the Chicago police board will decide whether to fire Dante Servin, a detective who shot dead a 22-year-old in 2012. McCarthy asked the board to fire Servin before he himself was dismissed. | Also on Wednesday, the Chicago police board will decide whether to fire Dante Servin, a detective who shot dead a 22-year-old in 2012. McCarthy asked the board to fire Servin before he himself was dismissed. |