Jon Burge
{{Short description|Chicago police chief charged with misconduct (1947–2018)}}
{{For|the Canadian composer|John Burge}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jon Burge
| image = Police Office Jon Burge.jpg
| caption = Burge in 2010
| birth_name = Jon Graham Burge
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|12|20}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|09|19|1947|12|20}}
| death_place = Apollo Beach, Florida, U.S.
| death_cause =
| known_for = Police brutality
| occupation = Police commander
| education = University of Missouri
| employer = Chicago Police Department
| title = Detective Commander
| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance = United States of America
| branch = United States Army/United States Army Reserve
| serviceyears = 1966–1972
| rank = Sergeant
| unit = Ninth Military Police Company of the Ninth Infantry Division
| battles = Vietnam War
| awards = Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal (two)
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry}}
}}
Jon Graham Burge (December 20, 1947 – September 19, 2018) was an American police detective and commander in the Chicago Police Department. He was found guilty of lying about "directly participating in or implicitly approving the torture" of at least 118 people in police custody in order to force false confessions.
Burge was a United States Army veteran who served in Asia during the Vietnam War. When he returned to the South Side of Chicago, he began a career as a city police officer, ending it as a commander. Following the shooting of several Chicago law enforcement officers in 1982, the police obtained confessions that contributed to convictions of two people. One filed a civil suit in 1989 against Burge, other officers, and the city, for police torture and cover-up; Burge was acquitted in 1989 because of a hung jury. He was suspended from the Chicago Police Department in 1991 and fired in 1993.
In 2002, a four-year review revealed numerous indictable crimes and other improprieties, but no indictments were made against Burge or his officers, as the statute of limitations for the crimes had expired. In 2003, Governor George Ryan pardoned four of Burge's victims who were on death row and whose convictions were based on coerced confessions.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/10/us/illinois-expected-to-free-4-inmates.html|title=Illinois Expected To Free 4 Inmates|author=Wilgoren, Jodi|access-date=November 17, 2007|date=January 10, 2003|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103112336/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/10/us/illinois-expected-to-free-4-inmates.html|archive-date=November 3, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208044123/http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row|archive-date=February 8, 2008|access-date=October 5, 2007|publisher=CNN|author=Flock, Jeff|date=January 13, 2003|title='Blanket commutation' empties Illinois death row}}
In 2008, Patrick Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for Northern Illinois, charged Burge with obstruction of justice and perjury in relation to testimony in a 2003 civil suit against him for damages for alleged torture. Burge was convicted on all counts on June 28, 2010, and sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison on January 21, 2011. He was released on October 3, 2014.
Early life
Raised in the community area of South Deering on the Southeast Side of Chicago,{{cite news|url=https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/tools-of-torture/|access-date=September 5, 2021|newspaper=Chicago Reader|date=February 4, 2005|title=Tools of Torture|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905090020/https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/tools-of-torture/|archive-date=September 5, 2021|url-status=live}} Burge was the younger son of Floyd and Ethel Ruth ({{nee}} Corriher) Burge. Of Norwegian descent, Floyd was a blue collar worker for a phone company while Ethel was a consultant and fashion writer for the
Chicago Daily News.Conroy, pg. 61. Burge attended Luella Elementary School and Bowen High School where he showed interest in the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). There he was exposed to military drill, weapons, leadership and military history.
He attended the University of Missouri but dropped out after one semester, which ended his draft deferment. He returned to Chicago to work as a stock clerk in the Jewel supermarket chain in 1966.
Military career
In June 1965
, Burge enlisted in the army reserve and began six years of service, including two years of active duty. He spent eight weeks at a military police (MP) school in Georgia. He received some training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he learned interrogation techniques. He volunteered for a tour of duty in the Vietnam War, but instead was assigned as an MP trainer. He served as an MP in South Korea, gathering five letters of appreciation from superiors. On June 18, 1968, Burge volunteered for duty in Vietnam a second time, and was assigned to the Ninth Military Police Company of the Ninth Infantry Division. He reported to division headquarters, where he was assigned to provide security as a sergeant at his division base camp, Đồng Tâm. Burge described his military police service as time spent escorting convoys, providing security for forward support bases, supervising security for the divisional central base camp in Đồng Tâm, and serving a tour as a provost marshal investigator.
During his military service, Burge earned a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and two Army Commendation Medals for valor, for pulling wounded men to safety while under fire. Burge claimed to have no knowledge of or involvement in prisoner interrogation, brutality or torture in Vietnam. Burge was honorably discharged from the Army on August 25, 1969, aged 21.
Police career
{{Infobox police officer
|name = Jon G. Burge
|department = Chicago Police Department
|service = United States
|serviceyears = 1970–1992 (fired February 10, 1993)
|rank = Sworn in as an officer – 1970
Detective – 1972
Sergeant – 1977
Lieutenant – 1981
Commander (Violent crimes) – 1981
Commander (Bomb & arson) – 1986
Detective Commander – 1988{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/7433512/Burge-Final-Ind1|title=Burge Federal Indictment |access-date=August 5, 2009|date=May 13, 2009|work=United States Attorney}}}}
Burge became a police officer in March 1970 at age 22 on the South Side of Chicago. In 20 years of service, he earned 13 commendations and a letter of praise from the Department of Justice. In May 1972, he was promoted to detective and assigned to Area 2 (Pullman Area) Robbery.
From 1981 to 1986, he served as the commander of the Area 2 Violent crimes Unit until he was promoted to commander of the Bomb and Arson Unit in 1986.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36D1AC13FD28C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Burge to head bomb and arson unit|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=August 14, 1986|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804013329/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004|archive-date=August 4, 2009}}
In 1988, Burge became Area 3 (Brighton Park) detective commander.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36DB094C9F2FB&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=51 cops get new jobs in shakeup of Martin staff|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=January 27, 1988|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author1=Casey, Jim|author2=Phillip J. O'Connor|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804013329/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004|archive-date=August 4, 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-01-27-8803250748-story.html|title=City Police Chief Reshuffles Staff|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=January 27, 1988|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Wattley, Philip}}
=Torture=
According to The Guardian, between 1972 and 1991, Burge "either directly participated in or implicitly approved the torture" of at least 118 people in police custody.{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter C |date=March 8, 2019 |title=In Chicago, reparations aren't just an idea. They're the law |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/mar/08/chicago-reparations-won-police-torture-school-curriculum |access-date=March 8, 2019}} Federal prosecutors stated that Burge's use of torture began in 1972.Guarino, Mark (October 2, 2014). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/02/chicago-police-commander-jon-burge-torture-released "Disgraced Chicago police commander accused of torture freed from prison"]. The Guardian.{{cite news|url-status=dead|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB3731E5C31EC46&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Davis urges new review of police brutality cases|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=December 25, 1990|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Spielman, Fran|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212190639/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB3731E5C31EC46&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=February 12, 2015}} Burge was the leader of a group of police officers known variously as the "Midnight Crew", "Burge's Ass-Kickers", or the "A-Team", who abused suspects to coerce confessions. Federal prosecutors stated that the "Midnight Crew" used methods of torture including beating, suffocation, burning, and electrical shock to the genitals, among other methods.
=Response to 1982 police shootings=
The most prominent events related to his abuses occurred in winter 1982. In February 1982, there were several shootings of law enforcement officers on Chicago's South Side: two Cook County Sheriff's Officers were wounded and a rookie Chicago police officer was shot and killed on a CTA bus on February 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/4279-police-officer-james-e-doyle|title=James E. Doyle|publisher=The Officer Down Memorial Page|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617001545/https://www.odmp.org/officer/4279-police-officer-james-e-doyle|archive-date=June 17, 2011|url-status=live}}Conroy, p. 23.
On February 9, 1982, a person on the street grabbed a police officer's weapon, and shot and killed both the officer and his partner.Conroy, pp. 21–22.{{cite web|url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/10075-patrolman-richard-james-obrien|title=Patrolman Richard James O'Brien|publisher=The Officer Down Memorial Page|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612182758/https://www.odmp.org/officer/10075-patrolman-richard-james-obrien|archive-date=June 12, 2008|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.odmp.org/officer/4708-patrolman-william-p-fahey|title=Patrolman William P. Fahey|publisher=The Officer Down Memorial Page|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617001528/https://www.odmp.org/officer/4708-patrolman-william-p-fahey|archive-date=June 17, 2011|url-status=live}} This last incident occurred within Burge's jurisdiction; he was a lieutenant and commanding officer of Area 2.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
Burge was eager to catch those responsible and launched a wide effort to pick up suspects and arrest them. Initial interrogation procedures allegedly included shooting pets of suspects, handcuffing subjects to stationary objects for entire days, and holding guns to the heads of minors. Jesse Jackson, Operation PUSH spokesman; the Chicago Defender; and black Chicago Police officers were outraged. Renault Robinson, president of Chicago's Afro-American Police League characterized the dragnet operation as "sloppy police work, a matter of racism." Jackson complained that the black community was being held under martial law.Conroy, pp. 23–24. The police captured suspects for the killings on February 9 through identification by other suspects. Tyrone Sims identified Donald "Kojak" White as the shooter, and Kojak was linked to Andrew and Jackie Wilson by having committed a burglary with them earlier on the day of the killings.Conroy, p. 24.
=Torture of Andrew Wilson=
Andrew Wilson was arrested on the morning of February 14, 1982, for the murder of the last two police officers. By the end of the day, he was taken by police and admitted to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center with lacerations on various parts of his head, including his face, chest bruises and second-degree thigh burns. More than a dozen of the injuries were documented as caused while Wilson was in police custody.
Both Andrew Wilson and his brother Jackie confessed to involvement in the February 9 fatal shootings of the police officers.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-03-31-8903310244-story.html|title=2 Officers Cleared of Torturing Suspect |newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 19, 2018}} A medical officer who saw Andrew Wilson sent a memo to Richard M. Daley, then Cook County State's Attorney, asking for his case to be investigated on suspicion of police brutality.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/deaf-to-the-screams/Content?oid=912813|title=Deaf to the Screams|newspaper=Chicago Reader|date=July 31, 2003}}
Criminal trials
During a two-week trial in 1983, Andrew Wilson was convicted of the killings and given a death penalty sentence. His brother, Jackie, was convicted as an accomplice and given a life sentence.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF640A79C01FD89&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Judge's Error Means New Trial in Killing of Cops|access-date=August 4, 2008|date=December 21, 1985|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Mount, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF640A79C01FD89&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} Both appealed their convictions. In 1985, Jackie Wilson's conviction was overturned by the Illinois Appellate Court because his right to remain silent had not been properly explained by the police.
As Andrew Wilson had been given a death sentence, his case was not reviewable on the same grounds by the Appellate Court, and it went directly to the Illinois Supreme Court. In April 1987, the Supreme Court overturned Andrew's conviction with a ruling that his confession had been coerced involuntarily from him while under duress. It ordered a new trial.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF68411CF68622C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Verdict Overturned in Killing of 2 Cops|access-date=August 4, 2008|date=April 3, 1987|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Tybor, Joseph R.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF68411CF68622C&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
In October 1987, the appellate court further ruled that Jackie Wilson should have been tried separately from his brother. He was convicted as an accomplice at his second trial. The court also ruled that evidence against Andrew Wilson, regarding other matters for which the police wanted him, was incorrectly admitted at his trial on murder charges.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36D8A9CCCDFFE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=2nd brother wins new trial in cop killings|access-date=August 4, 2008|date=October 1, 1987|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Cose, Larry|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB36D8A9CCCDFFE&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
His case was remanded to the lower court for retrial. Andrew Wilson was convicted at his second trial in June 1988.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF7DFEF86911DF7&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Man Is Found Guilty 2D Time in Cop Killings|access-date=August 4, 2008|date=June 21, 1988|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author1=Seigel, Jessica|author2=Matt O'Connor|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF7DFEF86911DF7&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} After five days of deliberation, the jury was unable to agree on Wilson's eligibility for the death penalty; ten women were in favor of imposing this sentence and two men opposed it.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF7E026AAA16658&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cop Killer Spared Death As 2 on Jury Hold Out|access-date=August 4, 2008|date=June 28, 1988|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author1=Seigel, Jessica|author2=Matt O'Connor|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF7E026AAA16658&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} The following month Andrew Wilson was sentenced to life imprisonment.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF7E0904CB0662F&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Andrew Wilson Gets Life Sentence in Killing of Cops|access-date=August 4, 2008|date=July 13, 1988|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=O'Connor, Matt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF7E0904CB0662F&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
Wilson's civil suit against officers and city
In 1989, seven years after his arrest in 1982, Andrew Wilson filed a civil suit against four detectives (including Burge), a former police superintendent, and the City of Chicago. He said that he had been beaten, suffocated with a plastic bag, burned (by cigarette and radiator), and treated with electric shock by police officers when interrogated about the February 1982 murders; he also had been the victim of the pattern of a police and city cover-up.Conroy, pp. 60–61.
Jury selection for the civil trial began on February 15, 1989.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-02-15-8903050601-story.html|title=Police Brutality Suit Heads To Trial|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=February 15, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Grady, William}} The original six-person jury (as was customary for civil trials in Illinois) consisted of two women and four men. By ethnicity it was made up of three African Americans, one Latino, and two whites.
When Burge took the stand on March 13, 1989, he denied that he injured Andrew Wilson during questioning and denied any knowledge of any such activity by other officers.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36E431C6B2E61&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cop denies beating, torture|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=March 14, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Drell, Adrienne|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB36E431C6B2E61&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-03-14-8903260794-story.html|title=Police Officer Denies Torturing of Suspect|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=March 14, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Mills, Marja}}
Wilson's legal team, led by G. Flint Taylor of the People's Law Office, received anonymous letters during the trial from a person claiming to be an officer who worked with Burge. This person alleged that the Wilson case was part of a larger pattern of police torture of African-American suspects, which was sanctioned by Burge.{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Sharon|title=2 decades of abuse charges, finally a sentencing in police scandal that haunted city|url=http://www.streetgangs.com/news/012711_police_violence_scandal#sthash.8QdueHJ6.zlFMMGZ5.dpbs|website=Streetgangs.com|publisher=The Associated Press|access-date=July 28, 2015|ref=Streetgangs.com}} U.S. District Judge Brian Barnett Duff did not permit the jury to hear this anonymous evidence.{{cite news|last1=Conroy|first1=John|title=House of Screams|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/house-of-screams/Content?oid=875107|access-date=July 28, 2015|work=Reader|publisher=Sun-Times Media LLC|date=January 25, 1990|ref=Reader}}
Gradually, the cases of the other officers named in Wilson's suit were resolved. On March 15, 1989, Sergeant Thomas McKenna was acquitted of brutality,{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF786850DE8312A&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Judge Clears Police Officer in Rights Suit|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=March 16, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF786850DE8312A&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} and on March 30, 1989, detectives John Yucaitis and Patrick O'Hara were each acquitted of charges by a unanimous jury;{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36E492D1AB140&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=2 cops cleared of brutality – no verdict on 3rd|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=March 31, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Drell, Adrienne}} however, the jury was at an impasse regarding Burge.
Duff ordered a retrial for Burge, former Police Supt. Richard J. Brzeczek, and the City of Chicago on two other outstanding charges (conspiracy and whether the City of Chicago's policy toward police brutality contributed to Wilson's injuries).{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36E4A5193B969&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Jurors think a retrial useless for cop killer|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=April 3, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Drell, Adrienne|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB36E4A5193B969&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF786A5B36C1B98&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cop Killer's Attorneys, Judge at Odds Over Start of New Trial|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=April 11, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Grady, William}} Burge was acquitted of these charges in a second trial, which began on June 9, 1989, and lasted nine weeks.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF786A623FDC1D1&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cop Killer Gets Rights Trial Delayed|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=April 12, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF786A623FDC1D1&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB36E7044354D72&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=3 cops win in killer's brutality suit|access-date=July 14, 2008|date=August 9, 1989|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Drell, Adrienne|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB36E7044354D72&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
File:Electric cattle prod.jpg against suspects.]] In the verdict of the civil case, jurors found that Chicago police officers employed a policy of using excessive force on black suspects.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB3733207569A92&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Davis charges cop cover-up|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=January 31, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Long, Ray|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084208/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB3733207569A92&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=May 18, 2015}}
Increasing reports of torture and new civil suits
The first lengthy report of torture by the Chicago police was published beginning in January 1990 in the alternative weekly Chicago Reader.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/house-of-screams/Content?oid=875107|access-date=January 27, 2014|newspaper=Chicago Reader|date=January 26, 1990|author=John Conroy|title=Police Torture in Chicago: House of Screams}} Through that year, as additional material was published by the Chicago Tribune, civil activists and victims of Burge pushed for disciplinary action against the officer.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-05-13-9002080503-story.html|title=Brutality Alleged on Southwest Side|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=May 13, 1990|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF82E203AB497FE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Chicagoland|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=August 1, 1990|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084204/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF82E203AB497FE&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=May 18, 2015}}
Danny K. Davis, who was running for Chicago mayor in the Democratic primary scheduled for February 26, 1991, made police brutality and excessive force an issue in the campaign. He sought an independent citizens' review of the police department. On January 28, 1991, Amnesty International called for an investigation into police torture in Chicago.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/09500HB0765ham001.htm|access-date=October 2, 2007|publisher=Illinois General Assembly|date=March 27, 2007|title=Amendment to House Bill 765|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308021926/http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/09500HB0765ham001.htm|archive-date=March 8, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB373318AFE5AC3&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Group wants police commander fired|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=January 29, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Long, Ray}} When the city's mayor, Richard M. Daley, seemed reluctant to initiate an investigation, his opponent Davis questioned whether there was a police and city coverup.
Eventually, after pressure by citizens' organizations and anti-brutality organizations, the police department resumed an internal investigation.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB3737E0B975DC3&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Strategy hinted for hearing on police brutality charges|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 26, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB3737E0B975DC3&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
In 1991, Gregory Banks filed a civil suit for $16 million in damages against Burge, three colleagues, and the City of Chicago for condoning brutality and torture. He said that he had falsely confessed in 1983 to murder after he was tortured by officers: they placed a plastic bag over his head, put a gun in his mouth, and performed other acts. He claimed officers abused eleven other suspects, using such measures as electro-shock. The suit was brought by the People's Law Office attorneys who had represented Andrew Wilson in the 1989 police brutality case.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB37372C79B26D6&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=$16 million suit alleges torture by city cops|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=October 11, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Rossi, Rosalind|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB37372C79B26D6&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} The suit described 23 incidents against black and Hispanic suspects between 1972 and 1985.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-10-11-9104010828-story.html|title=Lawsuit Charges Police Brutality|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=October 11, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune}} Banks' suit named Sergeant Peter Dignan as one of the officers involved in the abuses. In 1995, Dignan was promoted for meritorious service, even though the City of Chicago had settled out of court with Banks on his suit.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB422184A0F5C10&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Daley Won't Block Controversial Cop's Promotion|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=March 19, 1995|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB422184A0F5C10&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
In 1993, Marcus Wiggins filed a third suit against Burge and the city, saying that he had been subjected at the age of 13 to electric shock during interrogation and forced into a coerced confession.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB4211807EE8E92&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cop Accused in Torture Suit – Shock Treatment Used to Get Confession, Youth Says|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=January 14, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Seibel, Tom|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB4211807EE8E92&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-01-14-9303161960-story.html|title=Suit Alleges Cop Torture of Youth|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=January 14, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author1=McMahon, Colin|author2=Christine Hawes|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908044957/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-01-14/news/9303161960_1_jon-burge-chicago-police-board-police-custody|archive-date=September 8, 2016}}
In November 1991, the Chicago Police Department's Office of Professional Standards (OPS), the internal affairs division that investigates complaints of police misconduct,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/police-department-cpd-excessive-force-internal-affairs/Content?oid=10986389|title=A former investigator of police misconduct on the questions she never asked|first=Francine J.|last=Sanders|website=chicagoreader.com|date=September 18, 2013 }} acknowledged an October 25, 1991, request for action against Burge. This was a common precursor to a police dismissal and gave the City of Chicago's Corporation counsel 30 days to consider the report.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB3737995E73F1F&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Probers seek action against cop – Commander accused of excessive force|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 8, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Hausner, Les|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB3737995E73F1F&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-11-08-9104100437-story.html|title=Brutality Charges To Be Reviewed|access-date=September 4, 2021|date=November 8, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Jackson, David}} Burge was suspended for 30 days pending separation, starting on November 8, 1991.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-11-10-9104110164-story.html|title=Questions About Police Torture Persist|access-date=September 4, 2021|date=November 10, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Jackson, David|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313145827/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-11-10/news/9104110164_1_jon-burge-chicago-police-board-tortured|archive-date=March 13, 2016}}
The Chicago Police Board set a November 25 hearing to formalize the firing of Burge and two detectives based on 30 counts of abuse and brutality against Wilson.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB3737AEF962A8B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Police Board sets November 25 dismissal hearing for 3|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 14, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=O'Connor, Phillip J.}} The hearing reviewed the internal police investigation finding that Burge and Detective John Yucaitis had physically abused Andrew Wilson in 1982, while Detective Patrick O'Hara did nothing to stop them.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FFF08C92DB7DE8F&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=City Hires Attorney in Police Firings|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 19, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026154535/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004|archive-date=October 26, 2008}}
The suspension attracted controversy after the 30-day period ended, and the officers remained suspended without pay. They sued for reinstatement,{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB37383A75ED911&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=3 cops accused of brutality sue to challenge suspensions|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=December 21, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Rossi, Rosalind|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026154535/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004|archive-date=October 26, 2008}} but their claims for reinstatement were initially denied.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-12-27-9104260082-story.html|title=3 Suspended Officers Lose Bid in Court To Win Reinstatement|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=December 27, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune}}
During the hearing, an internal report, which had been suppressed for years, revealed earlier police review findings that criminal suspects were subjected to systematic brutality at the Area 2 detective headquarters for 12 years and that supervisory commanders had knowledge of the abuses.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB37397B46358E7&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Report cites 12 years of S. Side cop brutality|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 8, 1992|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB37397B46358E7&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-02-09-9201120793-story.html|title=Police Study Turns Up Heat on Brutality|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 9, 1992|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|last1=Blau|first1=Robert|last2=Jackson|first2=David}}
During the February 1992 hearings, several alleged victims testified against Burge.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-02-11-9201130462-story.html|title=Burge-Case Panel Hears of Torture|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 11, 1992|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Stein, Sharman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223122706/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-02-11/news/9201130462_1_police-officers-jon-burge-police-board|archive-date=December 23, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-02-20-9201160535-story.html|title=Second Convict Tells of Torture By Burge|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 20, 1992|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|last1=Stein|first1=Sharman}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-02-21-9201160948-story.html|title=3rd Witness Calls Burge A Torturer|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 21, 1992|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Stein, Sharman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920110924/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-02-21/news/9201160948_1_jon-burge-russian-roulette-tortured|archive-date=September 20, 2015}}
The internal hearing concluded in March 1992,{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FFEDEA857C39804&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Burge Case Ruling Seen Far Away|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=March 20, 1992|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FFEDEA857C39804&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} and the Chicago Police Board found Burge guilty of "physically abusing" an accused murderer 11 years earlier; it ordered his firing from the police force on February 10, 1993.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB4211F55642C87&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Burge Fired in Torture Case – Guilty of Abusing '82 Murder Suspect|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 11, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB4211F55642C87&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
Detectives Yucaitis and O'Hara were given 15-month suspensions without pay and reinstated, which amounted to a penalty equal to time served.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-02-11-9303177820-story.html|title=Police Board Fires Burge For Brutality|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 11, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Stein, Sharman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313211917/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1993-02-11/news/9303177820_1_wilson-case-police-board-jon-burge|archive-date=March 13, 2016}} Upon reinstatement the two detectives were initially demoted,{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB4211F9A5E8089&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cops in Brutality Case Lose Detective Rank|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 12, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB4211F9A5E8089&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} but about one year later, they were reinstated at full-rank with backpay for time served while demoted.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-01-28-9401280017-story.html|title=Demoted Detectives Win Reinstatement|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=January 28, 1994|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune}}
Burge attempted to have the ruling overturned,{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB421269EED3826&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Burge Sues to Overturn His Firing|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=March 13, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Ortiz, Lou|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB421269EED3826&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FFEC805A84646FE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Burge Asks To Regain Police Job And Pay|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=March 13, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FFEC805A84646FE&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} but the suspension and subsequent firing were upheld.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-02-11-9402110187-story.html|title=Cop Firing In Torture Case Upheld|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 11, 1994|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Fegelman, Andrew}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB4218B3B916F02&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Court Backs Cop's Firing for Torture|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 11, 1994|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Lehmann, Daniel J.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB4218B3B916F02&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
Due to the internal hearing, the City of Chicago was simultaneously paying lawyers to defend Burge during an appeal by Wilson and a new civil case by Banks, while employing lawyers to prosecute him on departmental charges.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB3737B918BC977&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Special prosecutor urged in police torture hearing|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 17, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826000131/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB3737B918BC977&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=August 26, 2016}} The City hired outside counsel to prosecute the detectives at the internal hearing. After having spent $750,000 to defend Burge in the Wilson case, the City of Chicago debated whether to follow normal procedures and pay for the defense of its police officers.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB3737E8AF66507&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=City mum on if it'll pay to defend cop in suit|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 29, 1991|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB3737E8AF66507&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
In 1993, Andrew Wilson was granted a new judicial hearing in his civil case against Burge by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB421597A4CA19D&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cop-Killer Gets OK To Seek Damages|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=October 5, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Lehmann, Daniel J.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB421597A4CA19D&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} The ruling was based on the fact that during the 1989 civil suit, the officers' defense had worked to "immerse the jury in the sordid details of Wilson's crimes" and did not respond to a suspect's "right to be free from torture and the correlative right to present his claim of torture to a jury that has not been whipped into a frenzy of hatred".{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-10-05-9310050167-story.html|title=Cop Killer's Torture Suit Revived|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=October 5, 1993|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|last1=Crawford|first1=Jan}}
An investigation conducted by Chicago Police Department's Office of Professional Standards (OPS) concluded in 1994 that Burge and his detectives engaged in "methodical" and "systematic" torture, and "The type of abuse described was not limited to the usual beating, but went into such esoteric areas as psychological techniques and planned torture."{{cite news|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1295/is_n7_v58/ai_15533722|title=Torture behind bars: right here in the United States of America|author=Paige Bierma|publisher=progressive.org|date=July 1994|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103125026/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1295/is_n7_v58/ai_15533722|archive-date=November 3, 2007}}
Civil suits by pardoned men
After being pardoned by Governor Ryan, Burge's accusers from death row began to file lawsuits against the city and its officers. Madison Hobley was the first of the four pardoned inmates to file a federal lawsuit in May 2003, represented by civil rights attorney Jon Loevy.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-05-30-0305300237-story.html|title=Man freed from Death Row sues city, alleging torture|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=May 30, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Mills, Steve}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FB7BEC3CDA0818E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Metro Briefs|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=May 30, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FB7BEC3CDA0818E&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} Aaron Patterson followed in June with a lawsuit,{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-06-27-0306270131-story.html|title=Ex-Death Row inmate files $30 million suit|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=June 27, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Mills, Steve|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824051558/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-27/news/0306270131_1_jon-burge-police-officers-torture|archive-date=August 24, 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FC0060257DD03C4&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Freed Death Row inmate files – $30 million suit against Chicago|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=June 27, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Fuller, Janet Rausa|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FC0060257DD03C4&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} and Stanley Howard filed suit in November 2003.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FF330195690B3E3&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Former Death Row inmate files civil rights lawsuit|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 25, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FF330195690B3E3&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-11-25-0311250160-story.html|title=Pardoned convict files suit alleging torture, cover-up|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=November 25, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Mills, Steve}} LeRoy Orange also filed suit.
The four men filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the City of Chicago, Burge, several of Burge's former subordinate police detectives, Cook County, and a few current and former State's Attorneys and assistant state's attorneys of Cook County (the precise list of police officers and prosecutors varied somewhat from plaintiff to plaintiff). Although each case was randomly assigned to a different district judge, the parties all consented to have the four cases consolidated for discovery management before Magistrate Judge Geraldine Soat Brown. In December 2007, a settlement of $19.8 million was reached between the plaintiffs and the so-called "city defendants," consisting of the City of Chicago, Burge, the other former detectives, and Richard M. Daley (former Cook County State's Attorney and Mayor of Chicago at the time of the settlement).{{cite news|url=http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/politics/2007/12/13/hurry-and-wait|date=December 13, 2007|access-date=June 26, 2008|title=Hurry Up and Wait|newspaper=Chicago Reader|author=Mick Dumke|archive-date=December 18, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218210317/http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/politics/2007/12/13/hurry-and-wait/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank-.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11DF7E1CB99B7B78&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&-req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|date=January 4, 2008|access-date=July 14, 2008|title=Burge victims close to payday – Hurdles to settlement cleared|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Spielman, Fran|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504220155/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank-.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=11DF7E1CB99B7B78&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&-req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=May 4, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/us/10brfs-TORTURESETTL_BRF.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Illinois: Torture Settlement Is Approved|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=January 10, 2008|work=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/08/us/08chicago.html?fta=y|title=Settlement for Torture of 4 Men by Police|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=December 8, 2007|work=The New York Times|author1=Davey, Monica|author2=Catrin Einhorn}}
Special investigations
File:Richardmdaley.jpg was the Cook County State's Attorney during the Burge trials.]]
The Chicago Police Department had conducted an investigation of Burge through its Office of Professional Standards (OPS). Known as the Goldston Report (September 28, 1990) for its lead investigator, this internal report determined that "the preponderance of evidence is that abuse did occur and that it was systematic."{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F364DA6FB3D79FD&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|access-date=January 29, 2009|title=Judge orders torture probe – For years, cop accused of beatings, abuse|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=April 25, 2002|author=Sadovi, Carlos}}
The report, never publicly released, "listed the names of fifty alleged victims of torture and brutality, the names of detectives who had been involved, and stated: 'Particular command members were aware of the systematic abuse and perpetuated it either by actively participating in same or failing to take any action to bring it to an end'."[https://www.hrw.org/legacy/reports98/police/uspo53.htm#P1608_399283 "Chicago: Torture", Shielded from Justice: Police Brutality and Accountability in the United States], Human Rights Watch, June 1998; accessed January 14, 2017
In 2002, the Cook County Bar association, the Justice Coalition of Chicago and others petitioned for a review of the allegations against Burge.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-jon-burge-chicago-police-torture-timeline-20180919-htmlstory.html|title=Jon Burge and the Legacy of the Chicago Police Department|date=September 19, 2018|work=Chicago Tribune}} Edward Egan, a former prosecutor, Illinois Appellate Court jurist was appointed as a Special State's Attorney ("special prosecutor") to investigate allegations dating back to 1973.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-jon-burge-archives-20060720-story.html|title=Report: Cops Used Torture|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 19, 2018|last1=Sadovi|first1=Carlos|last2=Secter|first2=Bob|date=July 20, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517162812/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-07-20/news/0607200264_1_burge-and-detectives-jon-burge-richard-brzeczek|archive-date=May 17, 2013}} He hired an assistant, several lawyers, and retired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. Former prosecutor Robert D. Boyle was also appointed as a special prosecutor.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F364DA6F7496177&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|access-date=January 29, 2009|title=Special prosecutor to probe cop torture|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=April 25, 2002|author=Sadovi, Carlos}}
In 2003, former Chief of the Special Prosecution Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Gordon B. Nash Jr., was appointed as an additional special prosecutor.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F9C5FE686B7B917&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|access-date=January 29, 2009|title=Cop torture probe gets boost from ex-prosecutor|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=March 12, 2003}}
A total of 60 cases were ordered to be reviewed. A special prosecutor was hired because Cook County State's Attorney, Richard Devine, had a conflict of interest stemming from his tenure at the law firm of Phelan, Pope & John, which had defended Burge in two federal suits. Criminal Courts Judge Paul P. Biebel Jr. presided over the determination of the need of a review to determine the propriety of criminal charges and the appointment of the special prosecutor.
During the written phase of the investigation, Burge and eight other officers pleaded the Fifth Amendment.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=103F2ED93542CBDE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|access-date=July 16, 2008|date=July 13, 2004|title=Burge, 8 others take Fifth on police torture – Current and former cops questioned for upcoming lawsuit|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Korecki, Natasha|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518083633/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=103F2ED93542CBDE&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=May 18, 2015}} On September 1, 2004, Burge was served with a subpoena to testify before a grand jury in an ongoing criminal investigation of police torture while in town for depositions on civil lawsuits at his attorney's office. Burge pleaded the Fifth Amendment to virtually every question during a 4-hour civil case deposition. He answered only questions about his name, his boat's name (Vigilante), and his $30,000 annual pension.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=104FA82EC8D75ED5&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|access-date=January 29, 2009|title=Subpoena catches up with Burge|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=September 2, 2004|author=Korecki, Natasha}} The City of Chicago continues to be bound by court order to pay Burge's legal fees. Eventually, three police officers were granted immunity in order to further the investigation into Burge.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-12-02-0512030006-story.html|access-date=July 16, 2008|date=December 2, 2005|title=3 cops get immunity in torture case|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=live|author1=Mills, Steve|author2=Maurice Possley|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023155944/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-12-02/news/0512030006_1_jon-burge-torture-chicago-police-board|archive-date=October 23, 2015}}
The incident prompted the city to request the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to allot the torture victims an hour-long hearing at their October 2005 session.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10CE39771213CEC0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|access-date=January 29, 2009|title=Global agency asked to probe police torture|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=August 30, 2005|author=Sweeney, Annie}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/us/national-briefing-midwest-illinois-police-torture-accusations.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529195007/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/us/national-briefing-midwest-illinois-police-torture-accusations.html|archive-date=May 29, 2015|title=Midwest: Illinois: Police Torture Accusations|author=Ruethling, Gretchen|access-date=November 17, 2007|date=August 30, 2005|work=The New York Times}}
On May 19, 2006, the court ruled that the city had to release the special report on torture accusations, as there was a compelling public interest in the material.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/20/us/20chicago.html|title= Judge Rules Report on Police in Chicago Should Be Released|author=Davey, Monica|access-date=November 17, 2007|date=May 20, 2006|publisher=The New York Times Company}} Previous police investigations had not been publicly released. On June 20, 2006, the Illinois Supreme Court unblocked the release of the special report by Egan, which took 4 years and cost $17 million.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1126464848CA9C40&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|access-date=January 29, 2009|title=Court clears way for report on cop abuse|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=June 21, 2006|author=Pallasch, Abdon M.}} In the end the group evaluated 148 cases. The investigation revealed that in three of the cases, prosecutors could have proved, beyond a reasonable doubt in court, that torture by the police had occurred; five former officers including Burge were involved.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/20/us/20chicago.html|title= Inquiry Finds Police Abuse, but Says Law Bars Trials|author=Rudoren, Judi|access-date=November 17, 2007|date=July 20, 2006|publisher=The New York Times Company}} Half of the claims were deemed credible, but because the timing of the cases exceeded the statute of limitations for police abuse of suspects, no indictments were made.
Daley and all law enforcement officials who had been deposed were excluded from the report. Among the final costs were $6.2 million for the investigation and $7 million to hire outside counsel for Burge and his cohort.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1130D9834394FA18&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|access-date=January 29, 2009|title=Burge report doesn't tell whole story|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=July 23, 2006|author=Marin, Carol}} Egan explained his report to the public with legal theories and federal jurisdiction issues.{{cite web|url=https://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1120&context=jsj|title=How and Why A Code of Silence Between State's Attorneys and Police Officers Resulted in Unprosecuted Torture|publisher=DePaul University|access-date=September 19, 2018}}
On the same day that the court ruled to release the special report, the 36th session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture issued its "Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee against Torture" report of the United States. The document states:
The Committee is concerned at allegations of impunity of some of the State party's law-enforcement personnel in respect of acts of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The Committee notes the limited investigation and lack of prosecution in respect of the allegations of torture perpetrated in areas 2 and 3 of the Chicago Police Department (art. 12). The State party should promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigate all allegations of acts of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by law-enforcement personnel and bring perpetrators to justice, in order to fulfil its obligations under article 12 of the Convention. The State party should also provide the Committee with information on the ongoing investigations and prosecution relating to the above-mentioned case.[http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/898586b1dc7b4043c1256a450044f331/e2d4f5b2dccc0a4cc12571ee00290ce0/$FILE/G0643225.pdf Conclusions and recommendations of the Committee against Torture: United States of America], unhchr.ch, July 25, 2006.
Burge in Florida
After being fired, Burge moved to Apollo Beach, Florida, a suburb of Tampa. He continued to receive a police pension as entitled under Illinois state law.{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/29/Worldandnation/Torture_allegations_d.shtml|access-date=October 3, 2007|date=August 29, 2004|title=Torture allegations dog ex-police officer|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|author=LaPeter, Leonora}} In 1994, he bought a wood-frame home for $154,000 and a {{convert|22|ft|m|abbr=on}} motorboat. While a police officer, Burge had owned a {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} cabin cruiser named The Vigilante, which he maintained at Burnham Harbor.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB42400CD05C04C&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Cop links 10 capital cases|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=August 11, 2000|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Nicodemus, Charles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB42400CD05C04C&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} Upon retiring at full pension, he ran a fishing business in Florida. The precise amount of his pension is not a matter of public record, but he was eligible for 50% of his approximately $60,000 salary.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB42491A3382EEB&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Former cop accused of torture lies low in Fla.|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=August 20, 2000|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Carpenter, John|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB42491A3382EEB&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
Aftermath: legal changes
In response to the revelations of torture by Chicago police, the state legislature began to consider a bill in 1999 mandating the videotaping of interrogations in homicide cases.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB4240179779BFF&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Forced confessions targeted – Panel favors mandatory police videotaping|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=February 28, 1999|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Adrian, Matt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EB4240179779BFF&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ECNB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EFF03F02B2A25D2&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Legislative panel considers requiring videotaped confessions|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=July 24, 1999|publisher=Newsbank|work=Courier-News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3AECNB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EFF03F02B2A25D2&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} Then-Illinois State Senator Barack Obama pushed the mandated video recording bill through the Illinois State Senate in 2003.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995609-3,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128051843/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995609-3,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 28, 2007|title=Obama's Ascent|access-date=July 19, 2008|date=November 15, 2004|publisher=Time Inc.|magazine=Time|author=Ripley, Amanda}} It was put into effect in 2005, after interrogation rooms had been outfitted and training of officers had been done.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:NWRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1185A1DA831FE188&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Taped interrogations to begin today|access-date=July 16, 2008|date=July 18, 2005|publisher=Newsbank|work=Northwest Herald|author=Wills, Christopher|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ANWRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=1185A1DA831FE188&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
There were numerous legislative reforms passed in 2003 that were related to improving use of the death penalty and preventing wrongful convictions. After Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, vetoed some provisions,{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FCE215BD8DD5270&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Governor OK with death penalty reform—almost – Vetoes provision to oust cops but backs rest of legislation|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=July 30, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=McKinney, Dave|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FCE215BD8DD5270&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FC9E6FA9E239C48&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Blagojevich puts reform on hold|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=July 30, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACTRB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0FC9E6FA9E239C48&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}} the state house voted unanimously 115–0 to pass the package, overriding his veto. Reforms included giving the "Illinois Supreme Court greater power to throw out unjust verdicts, gives defendants more access to evidence, and bars the death penalty in cases based on a single witness. The reforms are among the 80 recommendations made by the Illinois Commission on Capital Punishment, formed in 2000 by former Governor George Ryan to address wrongful convictions and the state's broken death penalty system."[http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/legislative-activity-illinois Legislative Activity: Illinois], Death Penalty Information Center (2017); accessed January 14, 2017.
Arrest
Although Burge had been presumed to be protected by a statute of limitations, the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Patrick Fitzgerald, in October 2008 charged Burge with two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/us/22chicago.html|title=Ex-Officer Linked to Brutality Is Arrested|access-date=December 28, 2008|date=October 21, 2008|work=The New York Times|author1=Saulny, Susan|author2=Eric Ferkenhoff}}{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/21/jon-burge-indictment_n_136559.html|title=Jon Burge Indictment|access-date=October 22, 2008|date=October 21, 2008|work=Huffington Post}} Burge was arrested on October 21, 2008, at his home in Apollo Beach by FBI agents.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1853310,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026050310/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1853310,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 26, 2008|title=The World|access-date=December 28, 2008|date=October 23, 2008|publisher=Time Inc.|magazine=Time|author=Barovick, Harriet}}
Under the charges, Burge could have been subject to 40 years in prison for the two obstruction counts and five years on the perjury count.{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1233077,jon-burge-cop-torture-chicago-arrested-102108.article|title=Ex-Chicago cop Burge arrested in torture cases|access-date=October 22, 2008|date=October 21, 2008|publisher=Digital Chicago, Inc.|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Main, Franklin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022174856/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1233077%2Cjon-burge-cop-torture-chicago-arrested-102108.article|archive-date=October 22, 2008|url-status=dead}} The charges were the result of convicted felon Madison Hobley's 2003 civil rights lawsuit alleging police beatings, electric shocks and death threats by Burge and other officers against dozens of criminal suspects.
Burge pleaded not guilty and was released on $250,000 bond.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/166307|title=Long Arm of the Law: A Chicago cop is charged with lying about abuse|access-date=December 28, 2008|date=October 29, 2008|work=Newsweek|author=Johnson, Dirk}} Fitzgerald noted that although Burge was being charged with lying, and not the torture to which the statute of limitations applied, he believed Burge to be guilty of both.
In the October 21 press conference, Fitzgerald stated that Burge had "lied and impeded court proceedings" during his 2003 written testimony. The indictment's perjury count referenced Burge's written testimony given in Madison Hobley's federal civil lawsuit, where he denied committing torture: "I have never used any techniques set forth above as a means of improper coercion of suspects while in detention or during interrogation."United States of America v. Jon Burge, No. 08CR846, https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2008/pr1021_01a.pdf In the indictment, the prosecution stated that Burge understood that he was a participant in and was aware of "such events involving the abuse or torture of people in custody". The trial was set for May 11, 2009. Instead, on April 29, Burge filed a change-of-venue motion, in relation to the lawsuit filed by former Death Row inmate Madison Hobley, and Burge's trial was set for October 29, 2009.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=127EC0C3F51A92F0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Burge : I can't get fair trial in Chicago |access-date=May 17, 2009|date=May 1, 2009|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Main, Frank}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-05-01-0904300877-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017211736/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-05-01/news/0904300877_1_jon-burge-lawyers-chicago-police-cmdr|archive-date=October 17, 2012|title=Burge requests change of venue|access-date=May 17, 2009|date=May 1, 2009|work=Chicago Tribune}}
Also in April, Cortez Brown, an inmate who had sought a new trial with respect to his conviction in two 1990 murders, to which he said he had confessed under physical coercion, had already subpoenaed two Chicago police detectives for his May 18, 2009, hearing. He won the right from a Cook County judge to subpoena Burge. Burge was expected to exercise his 5th Amendment right not to incriminate himself.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-04-30-0904290954-story.html|title=Convicted murderer gets OK on Burge subpoena|access-date=May 17, 2009|date=April 30, 2009|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Walberg, Matthew|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504093439/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-04-30/news/0904290954_1_subpoena-jon-burge-post-conviction-hearing|archive-date=May 4, 2010}} The Florida judge refused to grant the subpoena, given the likelihood that Burge would exercise his 5th Amendment right.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2009-05-13-0905120436-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504093444/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-05-13/news/0905120436_1_subpoena-jon-burge-refuses|archive-date=May 4, 2010|url-status=live|title=Florida judge refuses to grant Burge subpoena|access-date=May 17, 2009|date=May 13, 2009|work=Chicago Tribune}}
On May 6, 2010, jury selection began for the Burge trial for perjury and obstruction of justice.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/05/05/jury-selection-begins-in-jon-burge-torture-trial/|title=Jury selection begins in Jon Burge torture trial: Ex-Chicago police detective charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, after allegedly lying about torture of suspects|access-date=May 21, 2010|date=May 5, 2010|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Walberg, Matthew}} 80 potential jurors were given a 29-page questionnaire to complete. Attorneys had until May 24 to review the questionnaires before final jury selection began. An additional batch of 90 potential jurors was given a questionnaire on May 17.{{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/jon-burge-jurors-20100517|title=90 Potential Jurors in Jon Burge Case Given Questionnaires|access-date=May 21, 2010|date=May 17, 2010|publisher=Fox Television Stations, Inc.}}
The trial heard its first testimony on May 26.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/05/26/federal-trial-of-burge-opens-with-torture-allegations/|title=Federal trial of Burge opens with torture allegations|access-date=June 29, 2010|date=May 26, 2010|work=Chicago Tribune}} Burge testified in his own defense for six hours on June 17 and on subsequent days.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2010-06-17-ct-met-burge-trial-0618-20100617-story.html|title=Feisty, emotional Burge denies torture: Former police commander testifies he's never condoned or witnessed abuse|access-date=June 29, 2010|date=June 17, 2010|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Walberg, Matthew|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628011534/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-06-17/news/ct-met-burge-trial-0618-20100617_1_jon-burge-officers-william-fahey-russian-roulette|archive-date=June 28, 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/us/22brfs-EXOFFICERISQ_BRF.html|title=Illinois: Ex-Officer Is Questioned About Taking Law Into His Own Hands|access-date=June 29, 2010|date=June 22, 2010|page=A18|work=The New York Times}} Closing arguments were heard on June 24,{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/06/24/burge-case-goes-to-the-jury/|title=Burge case goes to the jury: Defense says accusers conspired on torture claims in prison|access-date=June 29, 2010|date=June 24, 2010|work=Chicago Tribune|author1=Walberg, Matthew|author2=William Lee}} and jury deliberations began on June 25.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2010-06-25-ct-met-burge-jury-breaks-20100625-story.html|title=No verdict Friday in Burge trial: Deliberations set to resume Monday in case of ex-cop accused of lying about torture|url-status=live|access-date=June 29, 2010|date=June 25, 2010|work=Chicago Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221145220/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-06-25/news/ct-met-burge-jury-breaks-20100625_1_burge-trial-chicago-police-cmdr-jon-burge|archive-date=December 21, 2012}}
On June 28, Burge was convicted on all three counts: two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/06/burge-jurors-back-for-a-3rd-day.html|title=Burge found guilty of lying about torture|access-date=June 29, 2010|date=June 28, 2010|publisher=chicagobreakingnews.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629185452/http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/06/burge-jurors-back-for-a-3rd-day.html|archive-date=June 29, 2010|url-status=dead}}
On January 21, 2011, Burge was sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2011-01-21-ct-met-burge-sentencing-0122-20110121-story.html|title=Burge given 4 1/2 years in prison: Judge scolds authorities for not putting a stop to alleged torture|access-date=January 27, 2011|date=January 21, 2011|work=Chicago Tribune|last1=Sweeney|first1=Annie|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190111032023/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2011-01-21-ct-met-burge-sentencing-0122-20110121-story.html|archive-date=January 11, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/us/23cncwarren.html|title=Burge Case Ends With a Prison Sentence and No Little Bit of Wondering|access-date=January 27, 2011|date=January 22, 2011|work=The New York Times|author=Warren, James}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2011-01-12-ct-met-burge-20110112-story.html|title=Judge refuses to exit Burge case|url-status=live|access-date=January 27, 2011|date=January 12, 2011|work=Chicago Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918185511/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-12/news/ct-met-burge-20110112_1_calumet-area-headquarters-lefkow-attorney-david-weisman|archive-date=September 18, 2012}} The federal probation office had recommended a 15- to 21-month sentence, while prosecutors had requested as much as 30 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2011-01-20-ct-met-jon-burge-sentencing-20110119-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511160114/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-20/news/ct-met-jon-burge-sentencing-20110119_1_flint-taylor-jon-burge-sentencing-hearing|archive-date=May 11, 2011|title=Burge's sentencing hearing begins today: Former police commander convicted of lying about abuse|access-date=January 27, 2011|date=January 20, 2011|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Sweeney, Annie}} Burge served 90% of his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution Butner Low near Butner, North Carolina. Burge's projected release date was February 14, 2015;{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=Jon&Middle=&LastName=Burge&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0|title=Jon Burge|publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons|access-date=March 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919121052/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=Jon&Middle=&LastName=Burge&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=0&y=0|archive-date=September 19, 2012|url-status=dead}} he was released from prison on October 3, 2014, to serve the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/video/former-chicago-police-commander-released-150032877.html|title=Jon Burge, ex-Chicago cop who ran torture ring, released from prison|access-date=October 5, 2014|date=October 3, 2014|publisher=MSNBC|author=Lee, Trymaine}} Plans to file federal civil lawsuits against Burge, Daley, and others were announced in 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/us/27cncburge.html|title=Verdict in Burge Trial Will Not Bring Issue to a Close|access-date=June 29, 2010|date=June 25, 2010|page=A25A|work=The New York Times|author1=Fretland, Katie|author2=Don Terry}}
City costs for police misconduct
In April 2014, the Better Government Association, a non-partisan watchdog group, reported that the city of Chicago had spent more than $521.3 million in the previous decade on lawsuit settlements, judgments, and legal fees for defenses related to police misconduct.
In 2013, the most expensive year, it paid more than $83.6 million.[http://www.bettergov.org/news/beyond-burge Andrew Schroedter"Beyond Burge"], Better Government Association, April 5, 2014; accessed January 17, 2017.
The city paid a total of $391.5 million in settlements and judgments. More than a quarter, or $110.3 million, was related to 24 wrongful-conviction lawsuits, a dozen of which involved Burge, whose detectives were accused of torturing confessions out of mostly black male suspects over many years. Overall, the city has paid alleged victims of Burge led detectives more than $57 million.
Torture Inquiry Relief Commission
In 2009, the state legislature passed a bill authorizing creation of the Illinois Torture Inquiry Relief Commission (TIRC) to investigate cases of people "in which police torture might have resulted in wrongful convictions". In some cases, allegedly coerced confessions were the only evidence leading to convictions. Its scope is limited to people tortured by Burge or by other officers under his authority, as made explicit in the law and by an appellate court review in March 2016. That month, the court also ruled that the TIRC does have jurisdiction in cases of detectives who once served under Burge, even if the claim was for a later incident.[http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/04/05/torture-commission-can-only-help-victims-whose-torture-stemmed-from-burge Steve Bogira, "Torture Commission can only help victims whose torture stemmed from Burge"], Chicago Reader, April 5, 2016; accessed January 14, 2017.
Beginning in 2011, the TIRC has referred 17 cases to the circuit court for judicial review for potential relief. Three people have been freed based on review of their cases. Individuals may initiate claims to the commission. As of April 2016, 130 other cases have been heard of torture that was not committed by Burge or his subordinates. The city and state are struggling to determine how to treat this high number of torture victims in a just way. The sponsors of the bill tried to amend it in 2014 to expand its scope to all claims of torture by police in Chicago, but were unable to get support in the state house. They will try again.
Culture of violence
{{Main|Richard Zuley}}
In 2011, the Cook County State's Attorney, Anita Alvarez, compelled the Office of Conviction Integrity to review cases of convictions dependent on evidence from homicide detective Richard Zuley of the Chicago Police Department.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-guardian-guantanamo-chicago-detective-met-20150220-story.html|title=Retired Chicago detective focus of British newspaper investigation|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 19, 2018|last1=Meisner|first1=Jason|date=February 20, 2015}} In 2013, Lathierial Boyd, a man whose conviction was dependent on Zuley's evidence, won exoneration and freedom after 23 years in prison due to wrongful conviction; it was found that Zuley had suppressed exculpatory evidence.{{cite web|url=https://wgntv.com/2017/11/20/man-convicted-of-gold-coast-atm-murder-says-he-was-framed/|title=Man convicted of Gold Coast 'ATM murder' says he was framed|date=November 21, 2017 |publisher=WGN|access-date=September 19, 2018}}
Discussing the larger culture of violence that Chicago police had created, journalist Spencer Ackerman in February 2015 reported that Zuley, by then retired from CPD, had served in 2003–2004 with the US Navy Reserve as an interrogator at Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, established by the George W. Bush administration. (Zuley had returned to the CPD after his Navy service.)
In 2003, one of his subjects was the high-profile detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi, for whom the Secretary of Defense had authorized extended interrogation techniques, since classified as torture. Slahi's memoir, Guantanamo Diary, was published in January 2015, and quickly became an international bestseller. He detailed the torture he suffered. Ackerman noted that inmates with claims or suits against Zuley had recounted details that are similar to the physical and psychological abuse against Slahi. Local Chicago publications identified Zuley as a protege of Burge, but Ackerman said that the two officers never served together. Zuley primarily served on the North Side.
City reparations
On April 14, 2015, the Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, announced the creation of a $5.5 million city fund for individuals who could prove that they were victimized by Burge.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/04/14/chicago-to-pay-reparations-jon-burge-police-torture-victims/25766531|title=Chicago to pay reparations to police torture victims|newspaper=USA Today|date=April 14, 2015}}
Burge broke his silence to say he found it hard to believe that Chicago political leadership could "even contemplate giving reparations to human vermin".{{cite news|journal=Chicago Sun-Times|date=April 17, 2015|title=Disgraced Chicago cop Jon Burge breaks silence, condemns $5.5 million reparations fund|last1=Spielman|first1=Fran|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/527850/burge-breaks-silence-condemns-5-5-million-reparations-fund|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419193814/http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/527850/burge-breaks-silence-condemns-5-5-million-reparations-fund|archive-date=April 19, 2015}} The fund was approved by the Chicago City Council on May 6, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/05/06/chicago-city-council-torture-reparations-jon-burge/70885118|title=Chicago City Council approves reparations for police torture victims|work=USA Today|date=May 6, 2015|author=Madhani, Aamer}}
In approving the reparations, Chicago became the first municipal government to approve compensating victims who have valid claims of police torture.{{cite news|last1=Mills|first1=Steve|title=Burge reparations deal a product of long negotiations|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-burge-torture-reparations-lawyer-met-20150505-story.html|access-date=July 28, 2015|work=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tribune Publishing|date=May 6, 2015|ref=Mills}} Under the terms, about 60 living victims would each be eligible to receive up to $100,000. The living survivors and their immediate families, and the immediate families of the deceased torture victims, would also be given access to services, including psychological counseling and free tuition to the City Colleges of Chicago. Additionally, the city approved building a public memorial to the deceased victims{{cite news|last1=Ackerman|first1=Spencer|last2=Stafford|first2=Zach|title=Victims of Chicago police savagery hope reparations fund is 'beacon' for world|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/07/chicago-police-brutality-reparations|access-date=July 28, 2015|work=The Guardian|date=May 7, 2015|ref=Guardian}} and established a requirement that students in the eighth and tenth grades attending Chicago Public Schools learn about the Burge legacy.
At the May Council meeting, as more than a dozen Burge survivors looked on, Mayor Emanuel offered an official apology on behalf of the City of Chicago, and the aldermen stood and applauded.{{cite news|last1=Davey|first1=Monica|last2=Smith|first2=Mitch|title=Chicago to Pay $5 Million to Victims of Police Abuse|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/us/chicago-to-pay-5-million-to-victims-of-police-abuse.html|access-date=July 28, 2015|work=New York Times|date=May 6, 2015|ref=NYTimes}} G. Flint Taylor, an attorney with the People's Law Office and part of the legal team that negotiated the deal, said in an interview that the "non-financial reparations make it truly historic".{{cite web|last1=Davis|first1=Ken|title=Chicago Newsroom|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1oJcuanoow| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211116/V1oJcuanoow| archive-date=November 16, 2021 | url-status=live|website=YouTube.com|date=May 7, 2015 |publisher=Chicago Access Network Television|access-date=July 28, 2015|ref=CAN TV}}{{cbignore}} Taylor predicted that the reparations will be a "beacon for other cities here and across the world for dealing with racist police brutality."
Death
Burge, who never married, died at age 70 on September 19, 2018, at his home in Apollo Beach, Florida.{{cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/former-chicago-police-department-commander-jon-burge-torture-cases-died-obituary/|access-date=September 19, 2018|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=September 19, 2018|title=Former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge, tied to torture cases, has died}}{{cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/jon-burge-disgraced-former-cpd-commander-has-died/4286060/|title=Jon Burge, disgraced former CPD commander, dead at 70|publisher=ABC Chicago|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://news.wttw.com/2018/09/19/jon-burge-disgraced-former-police-commander-dies-70|title=Jon Burge, Disgraced Former Police Commander, Dies at 70|date=September 19, 2018|access-date=September 20, 2018|publisher=WTTW-TV}} He had been previously treated for prostate cancer.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/jon-burge-alleged-ringleader-of-police-torture-in-chicago-dies-at-70/2018/09/20/734aef12-bcd5-11e8-b7d2-0773aa1e33da_story.html|title=Jon Burge, alleged ringleader of police torture in Chicago, dies at 70|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 21, 2018|access-date=September 21, 2018}}
In response to his death, Reverend Jesse Jackson said: "As a person, may his soul rest in peace. As a policeman, he did a lot of harm to a lot of people ... We pray for his family, because that's the appropriate thing to do."{{cite web|url=https://mic.com/articles/191417/jon-burge-dead-chicago-commander-torture-black-people#.sS19P3wl5|title=Jon Burge, former Chicago Police commander who routinely tortured Black people, dies|date=September 19, 2018|publisher=Mic}}
Representation in other media
The Burge case has been chronicled in various formats in the mass media.
- The book Unspeakable Acts, Ordinary People (2001, {{ISBN|0-520-23039-6}}) by John Conroy, a reporter for the Chicago Reader who covered the events, includes four chapters on Burge's story.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-04-16-0004160472-story.html|title=A Disturbing Inquiry into Torture and Human Nature|access-date=July 15, 2008|date=April 16, 2000|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Goodman, Jill Laurie}}
- The 1994 Public Broadcasting Service documentary film, entitled The End of the Nightstick and co-produced with Peter Kuttner, analyzed the torture charges against Burge.{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EF2E5EBB88CA585&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Family sharpens filmmakers' focus|access-date=August 1, 2008|date=September 23, 2001|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Houlihan, Mary|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121234250/http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Fiw.newsbank.com%3ANewsBank%3ACSTB&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=0EF2E5EBB88CA585&svc_dat=InfoWeb%3Aaggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|archive-date=January 21, 2016}}
- The television show Untouchable: Power Corrupts (2015 episode "Burge"){{cite news |title=Evil With Power: Id's New Series Untouchable: Power Corrupts Delves Into The Dark Underbelly Of Authority |url=https://press.discovery.com/us/id/press-releases/2015/evil-power-ids-new-series-untouchable-power-c-3590/ |access-date=September 19, 2018 |work=Discovery Press Web |language=en}}
- The television series The Good Fight refers to Burge in episode 3 of season 4.
Citations
{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/18/guantanamo-torture-chicago-police-brutality|title=Guantánamo torturer led brutal Chicago regime of shackling and confession|newspaper=The Guardian|author=Spencer Ackerman|date=February 18, 2015|location=Chicago, IL|access-date=March 4, 2015|quote=Chicago has long had an institutional problem with police torture. An infamous former police commander, Jon Burge, used to administer electric shocks to Chicagoans taken into his station, and hit them over the head with telephone books. On Friday, Burge was released from home monitoring, the conclusion of a four and a half-year federal sentence – not for torture, but for perjury.|author-link=Spencer Ackerman}}{{cite news|url=http://colorlines.com/archives/2015/02/the_long_reach_of_police_torture_from_chicago_to_guantanamo.html|title=The Long Reach of Police Torture: From Chicago to Guantánamo|publisher=Colorlines|author=Cate Murphy|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=March 4, 2015|quote=This month, disgraced Chicago police commander Jon Burge walked free with his pension after serving 4 1/2 years for lying under oath. Burge is accused of torturing or overseeing the torture of more than 100 African-American men on the city's South and Westsides throughout the 1970s and 1980s.}}{{cite news|url=http://cltv.com/2015/02/19/former-chicago-detective-tortured-gitmo-detainee-investigator|title=Former Chicago detective tortured Gitmo detainee: investigator|publisher=CLTV|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=March 4, 2015|quote=According to London's Guardian newspaper, there is evidence that former Chicago police detective Richard Zuley – one of commander Jon Burge's men – tortured a detainee at Gimto during an interrogation in 2002.|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402180706/http://cltv.com/2015/02/19/former-chicago-detective-tortured-gitmo-detainee-investigator/|url-status=dead}}}}
General and cited references
- Conroy, John, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NM_y3jOKzx8C&q=Unspeakable+Acts,+Ordinary+People&pg=PA24 Unspeakable Acts, Ordinary People: The Dynamics of Torture]; {{ISBN|0-520-23039-6}}, University of California Press, 2001.
External links
- [https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/police-torture-in-chicago-jon-burge-scandal-articles-by-john-conroy/Content?oid=1210030 Police Torture in Chicago: An archive of articles by John Conroy on police torture, Jon Burge, and related issues], Chicago Reader; accessed June 6, 2018.
- {{ChicagoTribuneKeyword}}
- [https://www.thechicagosyndicate.com/search/label/Jon%20Burge Jon Burge article archive] at [https://www.thechicagosyndicate.com/ The Chicago Syndicate]
- [https://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/24/trial_begins_for_ex_chicago_police Trial Begins for Ex-Chicago Police Lt. Accused of Torturing More than 100 African American Men] – video report by Democracy Now!
- [https://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/29/jury_convicts_chicago_police_commander_jon Video: Jury Convicts Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge of Lying About Torture]
- [https://cwc.law.northwestern.edu/official-misconduct/ Official Misconduct], law.northwestern.edu; accessed January 10, 2024.
{{Chicago}}
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{{Chicago Police Department}}
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