Radio Active  

Chicago Police officers under former Cmdr. Jon Burge were guilty of torturing confessions out of suspects in the ’70s and ’80s, but the statute of limitations bars their prosecution, a report by a special prosecutor “regrettably” concluded. “It is our judgment that the evidence in those cases would be sufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” the report said, but added that “regrettably” there is no way to “avoid the effect of the statute of limitations.” Not all the accused officers were guilty of abuse but Burge was, said the report by the special prosecutor, retired Appellate Justice Edward J. Egan and his deputy, Robert D. Boyle. “It necessarily follows that a number of officers serving under his command recognized that if their commander could abuse persons with impunity, so could they,” said the report, which concluded a four-year, $7 million investigation. Allegations have swirled for years that detectives under Burge’s command beat suspects, used electric shock on them, played mock Russian roulette and started to smother at least one man with a typewriter cover to illicit confessions. Several alleged victims have filed civil lawsuits and the allegations have drawn attention from human rights groups. In May of 2006, a United Nations anti-torture panel said the Chicago investigation needs to go further than it has and that the United States should ensure that law enforcement officials who mistreat suspects are punished. Hear first hand testimony at Cook County Board Hearing.