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* Cringe-inducing…
The torture and false confessions coerced by Jon Burge's “midnight crew” cost Chicago more than ~$120M in legal feels, lawsuits and settlements (and we’re still paying for it). Chicago’s police union, however, is sticking by him. pic.twitter.com/dkwjv7E4hM
— Kim Bellware (@bellwak) September 19, 2018
Former FOP President speaks about hearing that Jon Burge has died. Dean Angelo says Burge “put a lot of bad guys in jail” and “he didn’t get a fair shake.” Burge was convicted for lying about torturing suspects into false confessions. pic.twitter.com/71PoSLq0ka
— Leah Hope (@leahhopeABC7) September 19, 2018
* A little background…
Whenever Chicago Police commander Jon Burge needed a confession, he would walk into the interrogation room and set down a little black box, his alleged victims would later tell prosecutors. The box had two wires and a crank. Burge, they alleged, would attach one wire to the suspect’s handcuffed ankles and the other to his manacled hands. Then, they said, Burge would place a plastic bag over the suspect’s head. Finally, he would crank his little black box and listen to the screams of pain as electricity coursed through the suspect’s body.
“When he hit me with the voltage, that’s when I started gritting, crying, hollering. … It [felt] like a thousand needles going through my body,” Anthony Holmes told prosecutors during a 2006 investigation into Burge. “And then after that, it just [felt] like, you know—it [felt] like something just burning me from the inside, and, um, I shook, I gritted, I hollered, then I passed out.”
Holmes, who eventually gave what he says was a false confession and was convicted of murder in 1973, is one of as many as 120 African-American men on Chicago’s South Side who were allegedly tortured by Burge between 1972 and 1991.
Lots more articles are here.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:09 pm
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And FOP wonders why they are viewed by many as a cancer on the community. Constantly defending the indefensible. It’s disgusting.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:11 pm
Ugh, sickening. I couldn’t even read all the headlines. And Colin Kaepernick is the bad guy?
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:18 pm
Most police officers are good people. Perhaps they could address this then.
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:19 pm
Cue the “just a few bad apples” talking point when calls for reform come. Until police officers start calling out their brethren for their abuses of power, they are just complicit as those perpetrating the abusive acts themselves. These people will fight to the death against even the most modest reforms because God forbid we stop the murder of unarmed minorities at their hands.
Comment by Stark Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:20 pm
Not a good look when Jason Van Dyke is standing trial for shooting some one 16 times. Completely tone deaf.
Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:21 pm
FOP could learn a few things from HRO, for starters cutting dead weight.
Comment by Papa Mikey Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:21 pm
FOP should put a new slogan on their building and letterhead:
We have me the enemy and he is us.
Eeejits.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:27 pm
The sergeants’, lieutenants’ and captains’ unions (none of which are FOP) should have a little sit-down with FOP and teach them how to think before speaking. Sentiments like that don’t help anyone, especially not the police themselves.
Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:36 pm
The FOP continues to help my argument that one of the worst enemies that police departments have is the police unions.
Comment by Anonish Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:37 pm
CPD is hopeless. Call in the guard, disband this scum and start over.
Comment by wondering Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:40 pm
Archpundit, in this particular instance, why do you see a need to mention other officers?
I see nothing here calling all police bad. This only addresses one particular bad person.
Comment by Mr.Black Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:53 pm
An utterly tone-deaf statement. For FOP, loyalty toward fellow officers comes at what price?
Comment by People Over Parties Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:55 pm
There is always the option to say nothing. My god.
Comment by lakeside Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:56 pm
I get that some unions feel the need to defend even the most criminal or criminally incompetent among their members, but he’s dead. You can stop now, FOP.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:12 pm
====Archpundit, in this particular instance, why do you see a need to mention other officers?
Because the police union made a statement. Are you following this?
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:17 pm
===I get that some unions feel the need to defend even the most criminal or criminally incompetent among their members,
That’s the thing–a lot don’t go this far. It’s like when teacher unions fight to defend a sex predator. Yeah, you have to make sure the process is followed, but in some cases you can help make sure the process works.
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:19 pm
Archpundit: name one, just one when a teacher’s union defended a sex predator….come on…just one
Comment by wondering Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:23 pm
Makes me hope my Sunday school teacher was right about Hell.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:33 pm
At least Jeff Fort’s mayhem was not on the taxpayers’ dime.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:40 pm
====name one, just one when a teacher’s union defended a sex predator….come on…just one
First, my apologies–I definitely do not think that teachers’ unions are anywhere near as bad as some police unions in covering up problems. Second, there are a few cases such as one in Michigan where the union filed a grievance for a convicted sex predator who had been fired for what he had done. It’s probably fair to say that isn’t a dead on comparison so, again, not saying they are the same–it was just a bad comparison.
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:46 pm
How would Dean Angelo know if Burge put a lot of bad guys in jail or not if the confessions were false and Burge lied?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:49 pm
Arch, ok, I’m still wondering why you think other officers should be mentioned.
“Because FOP made a statement” doesn’t answer the question.
Comment by Mr.Black Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:51 pm
–Arch, ok, I’m still wondering why you think other officers should be mentioned.–
The way I read that, I thought arch was suggesting that perhaps the FOP’s rank and file should speak up with displeasure about their union still defending this criminal beyond the grave.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:56 pm
To do this is reprehensible. And to think their contract is up for negotiation. How does this help?
I always wondered why the Black Caucus doesn’t float some restrictive amendments to the police collective bargaining act as a way to curtail this type of nonsense.
Comment by Original Rambler Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:00 pm
Arch, good enuf, thx
Comment by wondering Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:00 pm
Well, I guess you all missed 8th grade. It’s the first amendment . They have a right to say what they want. Just like all the radical groups do. Only when the FOP exercises their rights you want it
erased. It does not work like that.
Comment by I said it Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:12 pm
WTH, people? You holding a fundraiser for Ron Watts next?
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:16 pm
===“Because FOP made a statement” doesn’t answer the question.
Yes, yes it does. The representative body of the rank and file released a statement supporting a man who tortured other human beings. If one is a member of that organization with a conscience one might do something about that. Unions are democratically controlled. Officers should demonstrate it instead of going along with this kind of garbage.
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:19 pm
===They have a right to say what they want.
That doesn’t mean they don’t get to be criticized for it. That’s also part of the first amendment.
Comment by Archpundit Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:20 pm
Dean Angelo and officers like him are the problem. If they don’t even respect their own profession, why should they expect others to? This is beyond tone deaf. It’s just idiotic.
Comment by Left Leaner Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 5:31 pm
A private note of sympathy from the Lodge to Burge’s family on their loss would probably have been a better idea, FOP. Jeez.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 6:11 pm
Wow! I think it’s pretty sad that the FOP still will defend this guy. My condolences to his Family…but defending his career is beyond the pale. Best of luck to the next Mayor,whoever it may be.
Comment by Druid Eye Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 6:49 pm
To the prior comment, it’s not the First Amendment because the government isn’t disputing their right to say it. Just decent people are questioning their choice to say it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 7:07 pm
–Most police officers are good people. Perhaps they could address this then.–
What Arch said.
Burge was on the level of Mad Sam DeStefano. Cop or gangster, they were in it for the freak sadism.
Angelo spouts that lunacy, and wonders why some citizens don’t want to cooperate with cops?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 9:29 pm
==I always wondered why the Black Caucus doesn’t float some restrictive amendments to the police collective bargaining act ==
I always wondered why white people think it’s fine to treat the Black Caucus as some moral majority when it’s most expedient, and try to coopt or ignore it when it’s not.
Comment by Crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 9:31 pm
Cool Jesuit education, though. “Men and Women with and for Others…Doing the Dirty Work”
Comment by Crazybleedingheart Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 9:37 pm
Ron. It is the first amendment through Citizens United. And if the government can’t stop the speech or its content. And neither can you unless you think you are better than the Republic and it’s people.
They have the right to say it. And you have the right to comment. Maybe instead of giving your opinion. Go to the police academy, become a cop. Join the FOP , run for office and change their policy . Otherwise this is just a futile discourse.
Comment by I said it Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 10:38 pm
Why is FOP always led by a dese, dem, and dose type guy with no neck?
Comment by striketoo Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 11:25 pm
To people that howl and get all mad and scream about the taking the knee stuff:
Read about Burge then shut up.
Comment by btowntruthfromforgottonia Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 12:01 am
==. Only when the FOP exercises their rights you want it erased.==
People said they disagreed. Who said anything about erasing someone’s rights? Why you need hyperbole to make your point?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 5:57 am
==Maybe instead of giving your opinion. Go to the police academy,==
Wait, opinions are bad now? I thought you were a first amendment guy.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 6:00 am
“Why is FOP always led by a dese, dem, and dose type guy with no neck?”
Because its leadership is elected by the FOP’s members?
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 7:46 am
Cringe worthy yet unsurprising.
Doesnt Rauner have an ad w a cop? I mean look dese types aint touchy feely so sympathy for Burge and support of Repubs is typical.
Comment by low level Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 8:09 am
==Hopefully that story will be told in the coming years.==
So what’s keeping the mystery author from telling the story? He/she is not in that big of a hurry, I guess, since Burge started torturing people in 1972.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Thursday, Sep 20, 18 @ 8:44 am
Jon Burge was a great Police Officer and Commander an American hero there should be a monument built in his honor for all the dangerous criminals he sent to jail. Burge never tortured anyone never convicted of torture crazy allegations made up by disgruntled black detectives who were not promoted Burge was good friends worked with the black Superintendent at the time all a bunch of lies no torture.
Comment by Jaloc Monday, Sep 24, 18 @ 10:41 pm