4 cops suspended for week over dashcam failures at Laquan McDonald shooting
When officers of the Chicago Police Department are involved in covering up a crime, why is their “punishment” to be allowed to retire, or even be fired, without any criminal charges ever filed? The reason is that the police are not here “to serve and protect” the people, but to operate as a paramilitary force to protect drug trafficking and other rackets that go all the way to the top of the U.S. power structure. For example, when a tactical squad operating in the 15th District greatly reduced drug trafficking and won ma... Read more
After Trump criticism on Chicago violence, Emanuel touts police smarts
Trump and Emanuel are ignoring a number of key factors behind the violence and offering only greater surveillance and militarization of the police as a remedy. This makes them part of the collusion between the Justice Department, FBI, US Attorney for the Northern Illinois District, Mayor’s Office, and the Chicago Police Department in enabling drug trafficking in the city, particularly in minority neighborhoods. The case of the Austin Seven is a perfect example: officers who were effective in removing drug trafficking were framed and impri... Read more
Austin Seven Officer Jimmy Young Tells His Story
Officer Jimmy Young served 8 years for crimes he did not commit. Jimmy Young (JY) is a former officer with the Chicago Police Department working in the Austin (15th) District, where he was set up and framed as part of the Austin Seven events. Bob Bows (BB) is a writer. His work has appeared in various national magazines, including Variety, local newspapers, including the Denver Post, on public television (Colorado Public Television and Rocky Mountain PBS), on public radio (KUVO-FM), and on the web, including http://www.austinseveninnocenceproj... Read more
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
On December 20, 1996, seven Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers from the West Side of Chicago, located in the Austin District, and who thus became known as the “Austin Seven,” plus one civilian were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly stealing and extorting $65,000 from undercover FBI agents posing as drug dealers. (See the details and history of this case here.) The Trial of the Austin Seven The CPD, the Mayor’s Office (Richard M. Daley, at the time of the alleged crimes), as well as the U.S. Attorney for Northern Illino... Read more