Tragic to say, it's not an exception in America's own little police state. Before you read further, please get the whole story, courtesy of Huffington Post, by opening this link in a new window: http://huff.to/jbCiW0.
Admittedly, I love almost everything about Chicago. I found former Mayor Richard M. Daley likable, sometimes amusing, sometimes outrageous. Some of his policies I appreciated as a resident of enormously. Some others, sorry to say, I found despicable, especially his tolerance of commonplace abuses of police power.
It does not speak well of America that a monster like former Chicago Police Captain Jon Burge is still drawing a pension, after being convicted of a felony related to torturing innocent suspects into false confessions. It does not speak well of America that the head of Chicago Fraternal Order of Police could announce, openly, that he was, in effect, putting out a contract on a young black man who had dared to complain about an unwarrented and merciless beating by officers. It does not speak well of America that victims of police brutality in Chicago have reason to fear for their freedom, perhaps even their lives, if they seek justice.
It is not only bad officers (and I like to believe they are in the minority) who are to blame. It is not only the mayor's office. Let's hope that the new mayor, Rahm Emamnuel, makes some changes. If he fails to remember the principles of his party, perhaps he'll at least remember the principles of his religion. The city council has been disgustingly silent on this problem. Afraid to piss of "hizzoner"? Or maybe the aldermen know that speaking up against those who supposedly serve and protect would get their wards blitzed with tickets. As the Huffington Post article makes patently clear, the Illinois State Legislature bears much of the blame.How about the governor? Pat Quinn is the first one in a couple of decades without blood on his hands. He's shown some character by signing the death penalty ban. Maybe, just maybe, he'll even be willing to take on the Chicago police.
That would be a true service to the people of Illinois, and Chicago, and America.