HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Shielded from Justice: Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States
Chicago
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Torture
Incidents
Office of Professional Standards
Police Administration/Internal Affairs Division
Civil Lawsuits
Criminal Prosecution

In 1968, Chicago became a symbol of police brutality as overzealous police officers attacked protesters outside the Democratic National Convention while a national television audience watched. There was no repeat of that level of violence against protesters during the 1996 Democratic National Convention, but in the intervening years Chicago's police have reportedly committed serious abuses, including torture. In November 1997, police Superintendent Matt Rodriguez resigned after reports surfaced that he had maintained a close friendship with a convicted felon, in violation of department policy.1 A new chief, twenty-nine-year veteran Terry Hillard, was named in February 1998; he told reporters that "misconduct, corruption and brutality will not be tolerated."2



1 Police Department regulations prohibit police employees from fraternizing

with anyone who has been convicted of a crime. Fran Spielman and John Carpenter, "Rodriguez retires as top cop," Chicago Sun-Times, November 14, 1997; Steve Mills and Andrew Martin, "Rodriguez bails out," Chicago Tribune, November 15, 1997; "Chicago police official retires," New York Times, November 15, 1997. It was later reported that police officers' unhappiness with the superintendent's treatment of two officers accused of using excessive force in a racially charged September 1997 case played a part in Rodriguez's decision to resign. Stephanie Banchero, "Brutality case, promotions spur police union vote on Rodriguez," Chicago Tribune, November 4, 1997.

2 Gary Washburn, "Hillard named Chicago's top cop," Chicago Tribune, February 18, 1998 and Dirk Johnson, "Popular detective will head Chicago police," Chicago Tribune, February 19, 1998.

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© June 1998
Human Rights Watch