Re: Officials investigate alleged threats in bartender beating

On Mon, 2 Apr 2007 07:49:21 +1000, "JonesieCat" <Long Ago & Far Away>
wrote:


I bet they're going back over this guy's record for allegations of excess.
force and other complaints. I hope he goes to jail for a lonnnnng time.
jc

I haven't been posting on this because I think it actually fits better
in that copwatch newsgroup, but this story has legs. Turns out there
was another barroom beating involving off-duty cops as the alleged
perps which was also swept under the rug last year. Also, when Abate
appeared in court last week, on-duty policemen used their squad cars
to block the media from the courtroom. The latest news is that Cline,
the Superintendent, resigned today.

I'll likely leave further updates for the copwatcher newsgroup, but
here is last week's story about the hoo-rah, from the Chicago
Tribune--

Police officials look to reform disciplinary process

By David Heinzmann
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 27, 2007, 10:16 PM CDT

Chicago Police Supt. Philip Cline said Tuesday he mishandled
allegations against six officers involved in a videotaped bar beating
as he vowed to take cops accused of misconduct off the street quickly
when prosecutors indicate they might bring criminal charges.

The six officers allegedly involved in the Dec. 15 melee at the
Jefferson Tap and Grille have remained on active duty for three months
despite evidence of misconduct captured on video that was viewed by
police officials five days after the incident, Cline said Tuesday
night.

"In hindsight this incident should have been handled differently, and
these officers should have been stripped of their powers sooner,"
Cline said. "The incident has made me realize we need to tighten up
our process to ensure that officers that participate in this type of
behavior do not remain on the street."

From now on, when the Police Department refers accusations against
officers to the Cook County state's attorney's office, police
officials will meet with prosecutors within two days to follow up,
Cline said. If prosecutors say they are pursuing a criminal case
against the officers, Cline said those officers will be stripped of
their police powers immediately.

One alleged victim of the Jefferson Tap beating required
reconstructive surgery on his face and another suffered four broken
ribs, a lawyer for the men has said. During the incident, patrons at
the downtown bar called 911. When patrol officers responded, the
off-duty officers involved allegedly spoke to them and the patrol
officers left without intervening, sources have said.

Cline's announcement came at the end of a topsy-turvy day for the
department, which began with uniformed officers interfering with the
news media at a court hearing for Anthony G. Abbate, the officer
accused in another videotaped bar beating?the Feb. 19 attack on a
female bartender.

In that case, Abbate is accused of beating bartender Karolina Obrycka,
who suffered head, arm and rib injuries, because she refused to serve
him another drink at Jesse's Short Stop Inn on the Northwest Side.

The hearing was held at a branch courtroom at the Grand Central Area
police headquarters, and several on-duty officers used their squad
cars to block media access to the facility, Cline said. Officers also
issued parking tickets to media vehicles parked in the headquarters
lot.

Cline said he had already decided to demote the watch commander?a
captain?who he said told the officers to harass reporters and camera
crews covering the Abbate hearing.

The captain "misused the police resources out there. It was a terrible
lack of judgment and leadership," Cline said.

At the end of a news conference Tuesday night, police spokeswoman
Monique Bond told reporters to bring the parking tickets to her and
she would make sure they were nullified.

Abbate was first charged with misdemeanor battery by the Police
Department. Those charges were dismissed at Tuesday's hearing but the
state's attorney's office had upgraded the charges to felony
aggravated battery.

In recent days, the department has been rocked by one embarrassing
revelation after another.

Cable news networks have repeatedly aired the videotaped beating of
bartender Obrycka's beating. The department also is bracing for
developments in a state's attorney's investigation of a 2005 fatal
police shooting in which new evidence emerged last week that
challenges the department's version of what happened.

"The past two weeks have been disheartening and embarrassing for me,
personally and professionally," Cline said.

The scandals are demoralizing for good officers, as well. "They too
are sickened by the actions of their fellow officers, who have
blemished the reputation of this department," Cline said.

dheinzmann;@tribune.com
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-070327police-reform,1,6445673.story?coll=chi-news-hed

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