Police union endorses Burke
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WGN TV…
While many in the political world, and mayor’s race in particular, are trying to distance themselves from the alderman, The FOP is standing by [Ald. Ed Burke], but a spokesman would not comment on why the organization was endorsing Burke amidst his legal troubles.
Burke is accused of trying to force owners of a Burger King in his ward to hire his law firm for property tax work in exchange for building permits.
Earlier this month, Burke stepped down as chair of the city’s finance committee but announced he would continue in the alderman’s
* You dance with the one that brung you, I suppose…
“We are supporting Ed Burke because he has supported us and because we, unlike the Tribune and Sun Times, believe a man is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty,” Martin Preib, the FOP’s second vice-president, wrote in a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Furthermore, we believe that people should be tried in courts, not in [the] court of public opinion, as the acquittal of three officers last week and likely vote for a payout to the Englewood Four this week demonstrates.” […]
Burke was one of only a few City Council votes the FOP could count on. He could not be reached for comment.
“It’s not surprising, given his longstanding relationship with the police. In the wake of the Laquan McDonald video unleashing, he still had the audacity to say on the Council floor that there were no institutional issues at the Chicago Police Department,” said Jaime Guzman, one of two serious challengers vying to end Burke’s 50-year reign as 14th Ward alderman.
Burke makes judges and some of those judges go on to do things like ignore clear Illinois Supreme Court precedent and go light on sentencing of a convicted cop. It’s all one thing.
* Meanwhile, who wants this endorsement?…
* Related…
* Chicago mayor’s race: Tusk donates to Mendoza; Brown knocked off ballot - Also taking place on a busy day in the race for mayor: Bill Daley gets endorsed by Howard Dean and Toni Preckwinkle vows to slash vehicle sticker, boot and related fees and fines.
- A guy - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:57 pm:
Police union endorses Burke…And rain is wet.
- In 630 - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:01 pm:
Sometimes I wish there was a Chicago FOP parody twitter account but they’re their own parody.
- Hyperbolic Chamber - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:07 pm:
Here is the ACTUAL quote of Martin Preib, the FOP’s second vice-president:
“We are supporting Ed Burke because he has supported us and because we, unlike the Tribune and Sun Times, believe a POLICEman is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty. Even then he is innocent.”
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
So the police are endorsing a guy who is under federal indictmeent (aka alleged criminal).
- Perrid - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
“as the acquittal of three officers last week”
Please. A judge bent over backwards to try and convince herself that her eyes were lying to her.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:09 pm:
–The financial backing came from former Deputy Gov. Bradley Tusk,–
Who was Tusk deputy governor under?
I kid. But it’s an odd omission by Hinz not to mention Blago when writing about the self-described “Fixer.”
- BC - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:09 pm:
Speaking of the mayoral race and Burke, maybe this happened and I missed it, but why hasn’t a reporter asked the candidates if they had a phone conversation with Burke anytime between May of 2017 and January of 2018? Follow up: What was the conversation about? What was your reaction when you learned the conversation was likely recorded by the feds?
- Anonni - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:11 pm:
The irony of Chicago police endorsing the presumption of innocence is so incredibly rich.
- njt - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:12 pm:
===because we, unlike the Tribune and Sun Times, believe a man is presumed innocent until he is proven guilty===
Sure would be nice to see that logic applied before shooting folks in the back. Water is wet indeed.
- Duopoly - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:23 pm:
=The irony of Chicago police endorsing the presumption of innocence is so incredibly rich.=
The FOP statement combined with the headline is Onion material.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:34 pm:
I like Dorothy Brown’s statement of the obvious: “. . . what the electoral board decided today is a decision that they made . . .”
- ShyBoy - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:35 pm:
And in regards to Jon Burge, the presumption of innocence extends beyond the ruling of the court of law too…
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:36 pm:
“law and order”
- The Captain - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:39 pm:
They should have also endorsed Dorothy Brown, just to be consistent.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:47 pm:
The police union endorsed Burke!? Stop the presses!
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:49 pm:
81 months would have been allowable for aggravated battery with a firearm, where the minimum is 6 years.
The only difference between sentencing Van Dyke on Second Degree murder versus agg battery is whether he can get out after doing 50% or 85%
- City Zen - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:52 pm:
==Preckwinkle vows to slash vehicle sticker, boot and related fees and fines.==
Chicago City Vehicle Sticker FAQs:
“Revenue from the Chicago City Vehicle Sticker Sales Program funds the repair and maintenance of more than 4,000 miles of Chicago streets.”
A truly progressive candidate would quadruple the sticker fees for cars registered in wealthy neighborhoods rather than eliminate a revenue source.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:56 pm:
===The only difference===
No.
He was convicted of just one count of 2nd Degree Murder. He was convicted of 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
- Grand Avenue - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 3:01 pm:
Wrong, the Supreme Court case you cited says nothing about whether the 16 shots are one act, it only says 2nd degree merges into agg battery not the other way around. So 81 months is appropriate, only difference is if he gets out after 41 or 69 months.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 3:14 pm:
===the Supreme Court case you cited says nothing ===
Correct. But the judge could’ve sentenced him on each charge. So, take a breath.
- Just learning - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 4:17 pm:
The FOP seem to be giving a mixed message with this endorsement, or maybe just a middle finger. How utterly not ironic.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 4:48 pm:
Toni may slash them for a minute, but will probably bring them back as she did with the Todd Stronger sales tax
- PC - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 5:02 pm:
Consecutive sentencing is mandatory for a class x or class 1 conviction that results in severe bodily injury. 730 ILCS 5/5-8-4(d)(1). Since at least one of Van Dyke’s shots caused severe bodily injury (death), the minimum possible legal sentence here was two consecutive terms of 6 years, at 85%. The sentence imposed by Gaugan is thus illegal for this reason as well. What he did is an embarrassment to our legal system.
- wondering - Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 5:21 pm:
The Chicago Police Department is an embarassment to Chicago and Illinois. I continue to advocate disbandment. Call in the guard and start over.