Personal Injury Law

Chicago Police Brutality: Should Law Enforcement Officers Be Allowed to Fire Guns At Felony Suspects Driving Off in Motor Vehicles

City Hall has not approved a new police that would allow Chicago police officers to shoot weapons at felony suspects during police pursuits. The new rule allowing the use of deadly force was supposed to go into effect on August 3, but now Mayor Daley says that the rule has yet to be implemented and a review process of policy is currently taking place.

Late last month, Police Committee Chairman Isaac Carothers presented an ordinance requiring that the City Council approve this change or any change involving police officers? use of force. He noted that the city has spent millions of dollars over cases involving police brutality, including false arrest, wrongful imprisonment, and excessive force.

In 1999, Chicago police shot to death two civilians in motor vehicles within less than 24-hours. Both of them were unarmed. On June 4, 1999, 26-year-old La Tanya Haggerty was shot and killed by police while police were pursuing a car driven by Raymond Smith that she was a passenger in. Chicago police officials had not authorized the pursuit. The case cost the city $18 million.

Hours later, police fatally shot 22-year-old Robert Russ, a Northwestern University senior and football player during a traffic stop. Police had pursued him for three miles. That case involving excessive force cost the city of Chicago more than $9.5 million.

Chicago Police Brutality
Excessive force initiated by Chicago police officers has long been an issue of concern. In 2007, the University of Chicago issued a report called ?The Chicago Department?s Broken System? noted that Chicago cops are named in more police brutality complaints per police officer than the national average. The report also found that the Chicago Police Department is a lot less likely to pursue police brutality cases compared to other police forces.

At that time, the national average for excessive use of police force among large police departments was 9.5 for every 100 full-time cops. Chicago has 13,500 full-time police officers. From 1999 ? 2004, there were 1,774 Chicago police brutality complaints a year filed against Chicago cops. From 2001 to 2006, under 5% of the department was accountable for nearly 50% of the complaints.

Police need City Council's OK to change rules for using deadly force, Chicago Sun-Times, July 29, 2009

Chicago Police Abuse Cases Exceed Average, NY TImes, November 15, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Chicago Police Department

Police Brutality

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on August 06, 2009 (boomark / email).