by: the Common Constitutionalist
Between 1972 and 1991, Chicago police Commander Jon Burge apparently oversaw the torturing of black crime suspects. In 1993 a Police Department review board ruled Burge’s officers had tortured suspects. Neither he, nor any of his officers were ever convicted in criminal court, although Burge was found to have perjured himself in 2010 during a civil trial and was sentenced to 4 1/2 years.
One such torture case was recounted by the victim, Darrell Cannon, who was tortured into confessing to murder. The police, he claimed, used an electric cattle prod on his nether region. He also claims to have had a shotgun shoved in his mouth, as they thrice pulled the trigger. Obviously, the gun was empty, but he didn’t know that.
He subsequently confessed, was convicted and spent 24 years in prison, only to be exonerated and released at the age of 64. Apparently over 100 victims have come forward to make similar claims.
Okay, if what has been claimed is true – even a fraction of what has been asserted – there should be no statute of limitations on the police brutality. But unfortunately there is, it’s long since expired and there’s nothing that can be done about that.
For those, like Cannon, who were wronged, they should be individually compensated by the city, and handsomely. But that’s not the way it works when you inject racial politics into the mix. read more