The Chicago Police Department has a policy against excessive use of force, but they also have a reputation for harming citizens throughout our community, especially those in racial and ethnic minority groups. Despite having a policy against using excessive force, the...
Police Misconduct
How can you decrease your chance of getting in an altercation with police?
You have legal rights that do not get thrown to the wayside during a routine traffic stop. The Civil Rights Act guarantees your constitutional right to be free from police brutality and misconduct. Unfortunately, it seems like many police officers no longer care about...
Do Chicago police engage in a pattern of racism?
Weeks after the release of a detailed report finding that the Minneapolis police department engaged in a pattern of racism, we have to ask a similar question in Chicago? Do Chicago police also routinely engage in a pattern of racist conduct? In 2020, four Minneapolis...
Sometimes a police lineup can be a violation of constitutional rights
The Constitution grants us all the fundamental right to a fair trial when we encounter the criminal justice system. However, sometimes police try to use techniques that violate the criminal defendant’s constitutional rights and encroach upon their opportunity to build...
CPD sergeants turn whistleblowers
The Chicago Police Department is no stranger to controversy. The latest incident involves Sergeant Marc Vanek, who turned whistleblower over the alleged misuse of police resources. The sergeant sent a memo to Police Superintendent David Brown and then filed a lawsuit...
What happens when corrections officers murder an inmate?
It began with a relatively minor allegation. The state of Illinois accused a man, Larry Earvin, who suffered from mental illness and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, of stealing less than $300 worth of watches from a hospital gift shop. The...
Cops need reasonable suspicion or probable cause
It seems that not a day goes by without law enforcement forcibly arresting someone during a "routine" traffic stop. These stops are more frequently escalating into armed confrontations that end up with a citizen being seriously injured or killed. Critics argue that...
Understanding the excessive use of force
There is never a time when the police or authorities should use more force than is necessary when making arrests. No one should fear being injured during routine traffic stops, getting pinned to the ground for asking questions or tased for standing up for their...
TEEN WITH KNIFE KILLED BY POLICE, OTHERS WOUNDED IN SHOOTING
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-shootings-violence-20141021-story.html