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Chicago Police Routinely Trampled on Civil Rights, Justice Dept. Says Chicago Police Routinely Trampled on Civil Rights, Justice Dept. Says
(35 minutes later)
CHICAGO — The Chicago police have systemically violated the civil rights of residents by routinely using excessive force, a practice that particularly affects African-Americans and Latinos, the Justice Department said in a scathing report released on Friday, unveiling the findings of a 13-month investigation into the city’s police department. CHICAGO — The Chicago police have systematically violated the civil rights of residents by routinely using excessive force, a practice that particularly affects African-Americans and Latinos, the Justice Department said in a scathing report released on Friday, unveiling the findings of a 13-month investigation into the city’s police department.
The report laid out in chilling detail incidents in which police officers used unnecessary force against Chicago residents, including children. The report, coming in the wake of the city’s highest murder rate in 20 years, laid out in chilling detail incidents in which police officers used unnecessary force against residents, including children.
Among the findings:Among the findings:
■ Officers often engaged in dangerous foot chases that often ended with “officers unreasonably shooting someone — including unarmed individuals.”■ Officers often engaged in dangerous foot chases that often ended with “officers unreasonably shooting someone — including unarmed individuals.”
■ Gang members were taken to a rival gang’s neighborhood as way of scaring them into providing information.■ Gang members were taken to a rival gang’s neighborhood as way of scaring them into providing information.
■ Tasers were used against people who posed no threat.■ Tasers were used against people who posed no threat.
■ Morale was low throughout the department and officers felt abandoned by the public and the city.■ Morale was low throughout the department and officers felt abandoned by the public and the city.
■ The city did not adequately review use of force incidents to determine if they were necessary.■ The city did not adequately review use of force incidents to determine if they were necessary.
In some cases, officers reported that they used force, like punches, to restrain suspects; video evidence reviewed by investigators frequently contradicted the officers’ accounts.In some cases, officers reported that they used force, like punches, to restrain suspects; video evidence reviewed by investigators frequently contradicted the officers’ accounts.
“We found that officers shoot at vehicles without justification and in contradiction to C.P.D. policy,” the report said. “We found further that officers exhibit poor discipline when discharging their weapons and engage in tactics that endanger themselves and public safety, including failing to await backup when they safely could and should; using unsound tactics in approaching vehicles; and using their own vehicles in a manner that is dangerous.”“We found that officers shoot at vehicles without justification and in contradiction to C.P.D. policy,” the report said. “We found further that officers exhibit poor discipline when discharging their weapons and engage in tactics that endanger themselves and public safety, including failing to await backup when they safely could and should; using unsound tactics in approaching vehicles; and using their own vehicles in a manner that is dangerous.”
One officer, receiving a call from a resident that teenagers were trespassing on his property, found them riding their bicycles, the report said. He “pointed his gun at them, used profanity, and threatened to put their heads through a wall and to blow up their homes,” it said. “The boys claim that the officer forced them to kneel and lie facedown, handcuffed together, leaving visible injuries on their knees and wrists.” The officer did not report the use of force; he received a five-day suspension but was not interviewed about the episode.One officer, receiving a call from a resident that teenagers were trespassing on his property, found them riding their bicycles, the report said. He “pointed his gun at them, used profanity, and threatened to put their heads through a wall and to blow up their homes,” it said. “The boys claim that the officer forced them to kneel and lie facedown, handcuffed together, leaving visible injuries on their knees and wrists.” The officer did not report the use of force; he received a five-day suspension but was not interviewed about the episode.
Speaking at a news conference, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said put some of the blame for the problems on “severely deficient training procedures” and “accountability systems.”Speaking at a news conference, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said put some of the blame for the problems on “severely deficient training procedures” and “accountability systems.”
“The systems and policies that fail ordinary citizens also fail the vast majority of Chicago Police Department officers who risk their lives every day to serve and protect the people of Chicago,” said Ms. Lynch, who had raced to complete the investigation before the end of President Obama’s term.“The systems and policies that fail ordinary citizens also fail the vast majority of Chicago Police Department officers who risk their lives every day to serve and protect the people of Chicago,” said Ms. Lynch, who had raced to complete the investigation before the end of President Obama’s term.
Justice Department investigations can be powerful tools for overhauling police departments, and the Obama administration has made expansive use of them amid a wrenching national debate over race and policing. Chicago is among nearly two dozen cities — including Baltimore; Ferguson, Mo.; Seattle; and Cleveland — where the Justice Department has pushed for wholesale changes in policing. The Obama administration has made expansive use of Justice Department investigations amid a wrenching national debate over race and policing. Chicago is among nearly two dozen cities — including Baltimore; Ferguson, Mo.; Seattle; and Cleveland — where the Justice Department has pushed for wholesale changes in policing.
By negotiating an agreement with Chicago to fix the problems, the Justice Department has laid the groundwork for change regardless of what happens under President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump’s attorney general nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, has said he believes that many of the police department overhauls sought by the Obama administration went too far and unfairly maligned officers. He has also spoken out against the court-enforced settlements, known as consent decrees, that usually result from investigations like the one in Chicago.By negotiating an agreement with Chicago to fix the problems, the Justice Department has laid the groundwork for change regardless of what happens under President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump’s attorney general nominee, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, has said he believes that many of the police department overhauls sought by the Obama administration went too far and unfairly maligned officers. He has also spoken out against the court-enforced settlements, known as consent decrees, that usually result from investigations like the one in Chicago.
With the statement announced on Friday, the Justice Department has put the city’s problems on the record and set in motion a process — albeit one that may be less easy to enforce — for change, even if the Trump administration does not seek a consent decree with Chicago.With the statement announced on Friday, the Justice Department has put the city’s problems on the record and set in motion a process — albeit one that may be less easy to enforce — for change, even if the Trump administration does not seek a consent decree with Chicago.
Ms. Lynch said the negotiations would go forward “regardless of who sits atop the Justice Department,” a statement echoed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who said the city was committed to reaching a consent agreement. Ms. Lynch said the negotiations would go forward “regardless of who sits atop the Justice Department,” a statement echoed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who said the city was committed to correcting the problems regardless of who is in the White House or leading the Justice Department.
Mr. Emanuel, calling the report “sobering,” did not contradict its findings. He said that city officials wanted to correct the problems found by investigators regardless of who is in the White House or leading the Justice Department. Mr. Emanuel, midway through his second term, has been dogged by the dual problems of police misconduct and violent crime. He has long faced skepticism, and at times stiff opposition, from minority residents, and he is likely to face a serious challenge if he seeks a third term in 2019.
“We’re going to negotiate,” he said. “I can’t negotiate, assuming Jeff Sessions gets confirmed, I can’t negotiate for him. But we’re going to be at the table.” By proceeding with an overhaul of policing, backed by the Obama Justice Department, Mr. Emanuel may buy himself some time and maneuvering room to argue he is bringing the problem under control. A former chief of staff to Mr. Obama, Mr. Emanuel has often highlighted his relationship with the first black president to woo voters on the city level.
Mr. Emanuel and Ms. Lynch also announced steps the city has committed to take to remedy the problems. But the agreement between city and federal officials could also resonate nationally: Mr. Trump has often criticized Chicago for its violent crime rate, holding it up as proof of the need for more aggressive police tactics. “Chicago murder rate is record setting — 4,331 shooting victims with 762 murders in 2016,” Mr. Trump said on Twitter this month. “If Mayor can’t do it he must ask for federal help!”
Chicago’s police superintendent, Eddie Johnson, said that some of the findings were “difficult to read,” and that he wanted to expand training and mentoring for officers. “While I’m optimistic and hopeful about the direction that we’re heading in,” Mr. Johnson said, “I’m realistic about the fact that there is much, much, much more work that needs to be done.”Chicago’s police superintendent, Eddie Johnson, said that some of the findings were “difficult to read,” and that he wanted to expand training and mentoring for officers. “While I’m optimistic and hopeful about the direction that we’re heading in,” Mr. Johnson said, “I’m realistic about the fact that there is much, much, much more work that needs to be done.”
Chicago’s announcement came only a day after the Justice Department and city leaders in Baltimore announced an agreement that called for greater oversight of the police department there, as well as improved training and safety technology. The consent decree came in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, 25, who died of a spinal cord injury in 2015 that he sustained while in the custody of the Baltimore police. Chicago’s announcement came only a day after the Justice Department and city leaders in Baltimore announced an agreement that called for greater oversight of the police department there, as well as improved training and safety technology.
Chicago officials have been bracing for the findings after more than a year of tense public debate about the police and their long, troubled history of community relations, particularly with African-American and Latino residents. Announced in December 2015, the investigation came in a year of cascading violence for the city. Shootings and murders rose significantly. In 2016, there were 762 homicides in Chicago, more than New York City and Los Angeles combined and more than this city has experienced in 20 years. Chicago officials have been bracing for the findings after more than a year of tense public debate about the police and their long, troubled history of community relations, particularly with African-American and Latino residents. Announced in December 2015, the investigation came in a year of cascading violence for the city. . In 2016, there were 762 criminal homicides in Chicago, more than New York City and Los Angeles combined.
The inquiry was spurred by the city’s reluctant release of a chilling video that showed a white police officer shooting a young black man, Laquan McDonald, 16 times. For months, the city had fought to keep the dashboard camera footage from being made public, but a judge ultimately ordered its released. Residents were outraged by the images, some marching in protest and demanding that Mr. Emanuel resign.The inquiry was spurred by the city’s reluctant release of a chilling video that showed a white police officer shooting a young black man, Laquan McDonald, 16 times. For months, the city had fought to keep the dashboard camera footage from being made public, but a judge ultimately ordered its released. Residents were outraged by the images, some marching in protest and demanding that Mr. Emanuel resign.
Long before the Justice Department’s findings, the critiques of the Chicago police were stark. Two years ago, the city announced reparations and an apology to black men who had for years said they were tortured and abused at the hands of a “Midnight Crew” of officers overseen by a notorious police commander in the 1970s and 1980s. Last year, a task force appointed by Mr. Emanuel issued a blistering report that concluded that racism had contributed to a long pattern of institutional failures by the police.Long before the Justice Department’s findings, the critiques of the Chicago police were stark. Two years ago, the city announced reparations and an apology to black men who had for years said they were tortured and abused at the hands of a “Midnight Crew” of officers overseen by a notorious police commander in the 1970s and 1980s. Last year, a task force appointed by Mr. Emanuel issued a blistering report that concluded that racism had contributed to a long pattern of institutional failures by the police.
“C.P.D.’s own data gives validity to the widely held belief the police have no regard for the sanctity of life when it comes to people of color,” the task force wrote. “Stopped without justification, verbally and physically abused, and in some instances arrested, and then detained without counsel — that is what we heard about over and over again.”“C.P.D.’s own data gives validity to the widely held belief the police have no regard for the sanctity of life when it comes to people of color,” the task force wrote. “Stopped without justification, verbally and physically abused, and in some instances arrested, and then detained without counsel — that is what we heard about over and over again.”
As Chicago awaited the Justice Department’s announcement, city officials said that they were already making substantive changes at the department — separate from whatever the Justice Department would announce. Mr. Emanuel’s aides pointed to changes the mayor has called for in improved training and equipment. All Chicago patrol officers are to have body cameras by the end of 2017. As Chicago awaited the Justice Department’s announcement, city officials said that they were already making substantive changes at the department. Mr. Emanuel’s aides pointed to changes the mayor has called for in improved training and equipment. All Chicago patrol officers are to have body cameras by the end of 2017.
“As you can see from our actions over the past year, we are committed to continuing to make significant and much-needed reforms, providing officers with the tools and certainty they need to do their tough jobs well,” said Adam Collins, a spokesman for Mr. Emanuel.
But controversial police shootings have persisted, and some say the mayor’s changes have not come fast enough. Just weeks after the Justice Department began its investigation, an officer shot and killed two people: a teenager said to be wielding a bat, and an elderly neighbor hit by a stray bullet. That officer later sued the estate of the teenager he killed, claiming emotional trauma.But controversial police shootings have persisted, and some say the mayor’s changes have not come fast enough. Just weeks after the Justice Department began its investigation, an officer shot and killed two people: a teenager said to be wielding a bat, and an elderly neighbor hit by a stray bullet. That officer later sued the estate of the teenager he killed, claiming emotional trauma.
Last summer, another officer fatally shot an unarmed teenager in the back as he was running away.Last summer, another officer fatally shot an unarmed teenager in the back as he was running away.