Personal Injury Law

Former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge Denies Torture Allegations

Testifying under oath today, former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge denied that he abused any suspects. The allegations of Chicago police torture have followed him around for decades and he is on trial for two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury related to a 2003 civil lawsuit.

Illinois statute of limitations prevent prosecutors from charging Burge with any torture allegations. He has long been accused of involvement in the torture of hundreds of poor, black prisoners, as well as the routine abuse and coercion of suspects that allegedly resulted in confessions, wrong convictions, and death sentences. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

For example, one suspect, Andrew Wilson, claimed that Burge and other detectives shocked him while he was against a radiator, causing him sustain burn injuries to his chest, face, and right leg. Wilson, who died in 2007 while serving a life prison sentence for the murders of Chicago cops Richard O?Brien and William Fahey, also accused Burge of calling the abuse ?fun time.?

Burge admits that the takedown of Wilson was not a gentle one but that he ordered detectives to treat the suspect with ?kid gloves.? He says that he never personally participated in the interview of Wilson or Wilson?s brother Jackie, who was also arrested for the cop slayings. He also says that he never heard any unusual sounds or screams coming from the interview room and that he didn?t notice any injuries on Wilson except for a wound that the suspect sustained when police knocked him to the ground so he could be handcuffed.

Burge claims that it wasn?t until a complaint was filed that he found out about Burge?s allegations. He admits that he laughed when he found out about Wilson?s alleged injuries and says that the wounds were superficial and not significant.

Repeated denials -- and sobs -- as Burge finally takes stand, Chicago Breaking News, June 17, 2010

Jon Burge denies torturing suspects, Chicago Sun-Times, June 17, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Police, City of Chicago

Police Brutality and Misconduct, The New York Times

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on June 18, 2010 (boomark / email).