Black on black crime: Chicago PD commander acquitted of forcing his gun down suspect's throat. Is this case a miscarriage of justice?

2015-12-14T15:36:43-05:00

The U.S. Justice Department announced last week it was opening a civil rights investigation of the [Chicago] police department. And Mayor Rahm Emanuel, under a barrage of criticism, announced a number of measures to shore up accountability, including firing [Chicago PD Chief] McCarthy. Commander Evans' case received widespread media attention because of the city's struggles to get its violent crime rate down and what the case says about police accountability. A University of Chicago study found that [Chicago PD Commander] Evans was the subject of at least 45 excessive-force complaints over a 20-year period ending in 2008. And he was held up by critics as an example of the department's willingness to condone or at least ignore the brutal behavior of its officers.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/12/14/chicago-cop-accused-jamming-gun-down-suspect-throat-acquitted/?intcmp=hpbt3

Chicago police commander accused of jamming gun down suspect's throat acquitted

A judge has acquitted a Chicago police commander accused of shoving his gun down a suspect's throat and pressing a stun gun to the man's groin.

Response by SGT David T. made Dec 14 at 2015 3:48 PM

2015-12-14T15:48:26-05:00

There are 3 sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth which is usually somewhere in between. We also need to remember that an acquittal does not mean he didn't do what he was accused of only that the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty. The problem with cases like this is folks jump to conclusions before all of the facts are known. The fact is none of us were there, so none of us know what actually happened. Even the 45 complaints don't actually mean anything unless they are substantiated by facts. People can complain all they want, but unless there is proof of wrongdoing, the complaints are meaningless.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 14 at 2015 4:41 PM

2015-12-14T16:41:13-05:00

Sounds more like cronyism than racism. The civilian version, if you will, of a naked, drunk Admiral getting a slap on the wrist...at best.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 14 at 2015 6:07 PM

2015-12-14T18:07:52-05:00

"[Cook County Judge Diane] Cannon said she didn't find Williams' testimony believable, saying he changed his story repeatedly and that the presence of his DNA on Evans' service pistol didn't mean Evans' was guilty. She said it was reasonable to think it got on the gun during a tussle during his arrest.

‘His testimony was ... unreasonable, improbable and contrary to human experience,’ she said of Williams."

The charges sound severe if true, but the judge said that the perp's story kept changing and that he wasn't believable.

The police commander should not be convicted simply because of other lurid cases currently in the news.

Remember that the "Hands up, don't shoot" charge was proven to be a lie.

Response by BG David Fleming III made Dec 14 at 2015 6:30 PM

2015-12-14T18:30:01-05:00

This is why body cameras are important! It protects honest law enforcement officers if needless acquisition.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Dec 14 at 2015 7:00 PM

2015-12-14T19:00:18-05:00

First, the previous 45 complaints are irrelevant. However, DNA on the officer's weapon is intriguing. Let's say the suspect's DNA was discovered on the parts of the firearm that would be exposed during normal holstering. No problem: The Commander's story holds water. However, should the DNA be found, say, in the inside of the barrel... Well, now we have something to talk about. Either way, the rules of civil litigation are much more "loose" than that of criminal litigation. If I was in Vegas, I'd go put $20 on the accused. Odds are he gets paid a handsome settlement by the good people of Chicago --regardless of who's guilty.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 14 at 2015 9:30 PM

2015-12-14T21:30:12-05:00

The most restrictive gun laws in the country plus one of the most corrupt police departments in the country equals George Orwell's 1984.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 15 at 2015 4:39 AM

2015-12-15T04:39:55-05:00

Pretty Sad and Disgusting.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Dec 15 at 2015 6:20 AM

2015-12-15T06:20:17-05:00

But I thought only white cops were bad **just a little sarcasm**