Chicago taxpayers paid $164.3 million to resolve lawsuits involving 200 Chicago police officers whose alleged misconduct led to multiple payouts from 2019 to 2023, according to an analysis by WTTW News. The city spent $384.2 million in total to settle lawsuits alleging misconduct by approximately 1,300 officers, including false arrest and excessive force, during this period under a federal consent decree aimed at stopping civil rights violations.
Cases involving repeat-offender officers accounted for nearly 43% of the total cost of misconduct settlements. In 2023 alone, $34.4 million was spent resolving lawsuits involving officers with repeated misconduct claims, making up 40% of the total cost for that year.
A spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Law indicated that a new legal case management system, expected to launch in March, is still not operational. Kristen Cabanban from the Law Department stated, “Implementation is being phased and overseen by (the Department of Technology and Innovation). I don’t expect us to have all the kinks ironed out until later this year.”
The analysis revealed that the city’s legal reports do not include the full names of all officers, relying on badge numbers and case documents for identification. The consent decree, which began in February 2019, mandates these reports to inform the public about lawsuits alleging civil rights violations by police officers.
Despite repeated calls from Inspector General Deborah Witzburg to systematically track settled lawsuits and their costs, city officials still need to implement such measures. The Department of Justice had previously urged city officials to track settlements and identify frequently sued officers to reduce both costs and misconduct.
One notable case involved Sgt. Jerald Williams, named in five lawsuits over five years, resulting in nearly $1.4 million in settlements. Williams, involved in high-profile incidents, including a 2019 altercation captured on video, was found to have violated CPD’s use of force policy but was later promoted.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s 2017 probe highlighted the lack of accountability and a “code of silence” within the CPD. Despite promises to implement an early warning system to flag officers with multiple complaints, the system remains in a pilot phase in only one district.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has stated that fulfilling the consent decree’s terms is a “top priority,” committing to more rapid progress than previous administrations. However, significant changes have yet to materialize.
Link: WTTW
Kommentit