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The article states that our office has not prosecuted police. We have indicted three Cook County sheriff’s deputies for murdering a defendant in the Bridgeview lockup. We have charged three other sheriff’s deputies for shooting at a black couple in the southern suburbs. We have just charged a sheriff’s deputy with murder in the death of Michael Chambers. Earlier this year, we charged four Chicago police officers in connection with a scheme to shake down Polish immigrants. We tried Chicago police officer Gregory Becker for killing a homeless man. The list is long, but suffice it to state that we indict police officers where there is evidence that they have violated the law.
The article mentions in passing that these charges have not been pursued by any other prosecutors. Mr. Conroy apparently first came across these allegations in 1990 in federal court while covering the civil trial of a man who claimed he was tortured by four police officers. Conroy states that it was “common knowledge” at the Dirksen Federal Building that these prisoners were tortured. No fewer than six U.S. attorneys served in the 20 years that have transpired since these offenses allegedly occurred. Not one of these highly respected and honest federal prosecutors, both Republican and Democrat, have found enough there to charge. “Common knowledge” is not the same as evidence that can be used at trial.
The article mentions many of the defense attorneys who represent the death row inmates. They are zealous and vigorous advocates, many well respected by their peers in the legal community. But if this office were to pursue rape or armed robbery charges in cases where the statute of limitations has run on these crimes, those attorneys would be rightfully outraged that we were investigating allegations that, even if true, could not be the basis for prosecution and that we were acting outside the law.
Cook County state’s attorney’s office
Contrary to Mr. Gorman’s assertion, I did not report that the existence of a torture ring at Area Two was common knowledge in 1990 at the Dirksen Building. I say that it is now common knowledge. As was clear in my article, the phrase “common knowledge” comes from a 1999 decision by U.S. District Court judge Milton Shadur.
