Infamous Police Commander Who Oversaw Torture of Over 100 Prisoners Awaits His Sentence

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alternet.org/rights/149354/infamous_police_commander_who_oversaw_torture_of_over_100_prisoners_awaits_his_sentence

The depressing Jon Burge saga in Chicago reinforces the notion that racial bias is part of the institutional gene pool of the nation's police departments.

December 30, 2010 |

G. Flint Taylor should be basking in the glow of vindication as he awaits the January 20 sentencing of Jon Burge, the retired Chicago police commander convicted for lying about a ring of torturing cops he led.

A federal jury found Burge guilty on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury last June. Taylor and the firm he co-founded, the Chicago-based Peoples Law Office, have represented several of the more than 100 black men victimized by Burge’s torture corps and have been trying to bring the rogue cop to justice for more than 20 years.

“Burges’ conviction was a significant victory for the community, particularly the African-American community,” Taylor says. “It was also an important win for the forces fighting for human rights and racial justice in this country.” However, the lack of attention to other aspects of the torture case frustrates the veteran attorney.

For many years, suspects and activists charged that Burge was operating a “black site” of torture at police district Area 2 on Chicago’s far South Side. In 1993, those charges gained enough credibility to get Burge fired, but that just allowed him to retire on a police pension in Florida.

[formercia]

1. A blast from the Past:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/formercia/223

[NNN0LHI]

2. You have been following this too I see

[formercia]

4. No rest for the wicked.

There isn't a hole deep enough for these assholes to hide in.

[gratuitous]

3. It's taken 20 years

But I hope the mills of justice grind exceeding fine for Mr. Burge. Paying attention, Bushies?

[formercia]

5. The boys are well connected

As long as they have their Sugardaddy, they're pretty well untouchable. I've personally seen them literally get away with Murder.

Like in Argentina, only death can save them.

These evil fucks are just a symptom of a disease.

[customerserviceguy]

6. Do they really give hard sentences

for obstruction of justice and perjury? Why didn't he get charged for some sort of conspiracy in the physical abuse of the prisoners? That seems more likely to be the type of violent crime that gets a significant sentence.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Supposedly the statute of limitations had run out for those crime which I do not buy

They were torturing men into confessing to crimes for which they would be given the death sentence. Which to me amounts to trying to have these men murdered by the police. That was their plan. There is no statute of limitations for murder.

I don't think this case was prosecuted well from the beginning.

Don

[customerserviceguy]

8. Sounds like it

I guess if it's a light sentence that involves any prison time at all, this scumbag might find it to be particularly onerous if he's in the general population. However, the offenses involved may very likely get some sort of house arrest or probation, and a fine. Way too light.