AG of Ill. Sues Over Pension Board's OK of Benefits to Disgraced Police Commander
After a pension board’s OK last month of a $3,000-a-month pension to a former Chicago police commander accused of playing a leading role in alleged widespread torture of suspects by his officers decades ago, the state attorney general has stepped into the fray.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan sued today to block the pension payments to Jon Burge, 63, contending that they are illegal under state law, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Although Burge was never charged in connection with the claimed torture of suspects, he was criminally convicted in 2008 of perjury and obstruction of justice by a federal jury in Chicago. The crimes concerned Burge’s 2003 testimony in a civil suit concerning torture claims.
“It’s this type of criminal conduct by a public servant that our pension forfeiture laws were designed to discourage,” says Madigan in a written statement. “The public should never have to pay for the retirement of a corrupt public official.”
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Ex-Top Chicago Cop Accused in Widespread Alleged Torture of Suspects Keeps $3K Per Month Pension”
