Ex-Chicago Police Commander Accused of Torturing Suspects Gets 4.5 Years for Perjury
“[A]s unrepentant during his sentencing hearing as he was during his trial,” a former Chicago police commander notorious for his claimed role in widespread torture of minority suspects that led to multiple wrongful convictions decades ago was sentenced today for perjury, writes columnist Mary Mitchell of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Jon Burge got four and a half years for perjury and obstruction from U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow concerning his testimony in civil litigation. The statute of limitations has expired concerning the alleged torture of suspects in his command and he will never be tried on such charges.
While Burge apologized for bringing the police department into “disrepute,” he didn’t acknowledge or apologize for his leading role in the alleged abuse that has created distrust of the police, to this day, among African-Americans in Chicago and cost the city millions in settlements of claims against the department, Mitchell writes.
“He should have,” she says.
Additional and related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Former Chicago Police Lt. Accused of Suspect Torture Is Convicted of Perjury and Obstruction”
Associated Press: “Federal judge won’t step down from Burge case”
Chicago Tribune: “Witnesses rail at Burge at first day of sentencing”
Reuters: “Ex-Chicago policeman jailed for lying about torture”
