It cost the city of Chicago $20 Million for torturing 4 African Americans back in the 80’s. An investigation was conducted last year and found that a vast number of African American male suspects were tortured into confessing by former police chief John Burge.
All four men spent time on Death Row before then-Gov. George Ryan freed them. Ald. Ed Smith (28th) thanked Ryan and said the torture cases put “a black eye on the city of Chicago and the people who live here, so I hope it never happens again.
Fired in 1993, Burge now lives in Florida and collects a city pension. For years, he has denied any wrongdoing. In a 2004 deposition, he repeatedly invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination.
The State Of . . . Chicago’s memory is short. Who was the State’s attorney in those days who helped convict these men. No other than the mayor of Chicago for the last 22-something years–Richard M. Daley. And if he ran again today, he’d win in a landslide.
Filed under: Law
