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7 Chicago Officers Face Firing Over Laquan McDonald Cover-Up
The New York Times ^ | 18 Aug 2016 | Mitch Smith

Posted on 08/18/2016 9:32:34 AM PDT by Theoria

Chicago’s police superintendent called for the firing of seven officers for their response to a colleague’s fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald in 2014, a case that incited widespread protests here and led to accusations of a cover-up.

The decision by Superintendent Eddie Johnson, announced Thursday morning by a Police Department spokesman, comes nearly two years after Officer Jason Van Dyke fired 16 shots at Mr. McDonald, who was 17 and African-American.

Mr. McDonald’s death roiled the city, laying bare longstanding tensions between the police and black Chicagoans. The case has led to increased scrutiny and skepticism of the department, including a Justice Department investigation into Chicago police practices and the firing of the previous police superintendent last year as protests intensified.

Superintendent Johnson’s call to fire the officers broadens the political and departmental fallout, which includes pressure on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to provide more transparency and overhaul the police disciplinary system to break down an entrenched “code of silence” among officers and build public trust.

The seven officers recommended for firing were accused of making false reports.

Officer Van Dyke, the only officer who fired his gun that night, has been charged with murder and is awaiting trial. His account of the shooting, which was corroborated by other officers at the scene, was contradicted by dashboard camera video of the shooting that was released in November under public pressure. Though the teenager had a knife, he seemed to be veering away from the police when Officer Van Dyke shot him, and the gunfire continued after Mr. McDonald collapsed to the ground.

Superintendent Johnson stripped the police status of the seven officers he recommended firing. But he cannot terminate them unilaterally.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: chicago; illinois; laquanmcdonald; police; shooting; union

1 posted on 08/18/2016 9:32:34 AM PDT by Theoria
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To: Theoria

Police misconduct, or police response to thug misconduct? Not murder. The cover-up is misconduct and should be prosecuted as such.


2 posted on 08/18/2016 9:36:55 AM PDT by JimRed (Is it 1776 yet? TERM LIMITS, now and forever! Build the Wall, NOW!)
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To: Theoria

They will fire only the ones they can buy off to include a vow not to expose other corruption in the Chi PD.

If you’ve ever noticed how the dems never fire anyone near the top, it is for that reason. They know too much. Sometimes they kill them, but they never fire them.


3 posted on 08/18/2016 9:39:13 AM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great -- until it happens to YOU.)
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To: JimRed

Mr. McDonald’s death..

yeah. Cause that is what he was called by his fellow law firm employees, Mr. McDonald /s

Times tries to present him as more than the animal he was


4 posted on 08/18/2016 9:40:07 AM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: Theoria

To bad they can’t fire all the thugs who are killing all the other blacks.


5 posted on 08/18/2016 9:40:56 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: Theoria

The net effect of politicians attacking cops? Many more murders in S. Chicago.

Any cop, black or white, will be extremely unmotivated to get out of their patrol car when called to violent crimes in Lawndale, Auburn, Englewood neighborhoods of Chicago.


6 posted on 08/18/2016 9:47:39 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: PGR88

The Mayor coverup?


7 posted on 08/18/2016 10:00:16 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: PGR88
'The net effect of politicians attacking cops? Many more murders in S. Chicago.'

Sure, but it shouldn't prevent the prosecution of police who lie or abuse their given powers.

8 posted on 08/18/2016 10:02:39 AM PDT by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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To: All

Maybe if he had been studying instead of causing mayhem with a knife in his hands he would still be alive.


9 posted on 08/18/2016 10:08:56 AM PDT by Maverick68 (p)
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To: Theoria

False statements and reports are not defensible. Cops protecting themselves from thugs is defensible.


10 posted on 08/18/2016 10:17:47 AM PDT by Uncle Sam 911
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To: Migraine
If you’ve ever noticed how the dems never fire anyone near the top, it is for that reason. They know too much. Sometimes they kill them, but they never fire them.

I think that's why obammy supports the beast. She's got the goods on him.

11 posted on 08/18/2016 10:57:46 AM PDT by TangoLimaSierra (It's gonna be bloody.)
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To: TangoLimaSierra

Yes. And that’s why Lowest Learner is still free to move about the country on salary/pension from IRS. And there are others, too numerous to mention.


12 posted on 08/18/2016 4:19:51 PM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great -- until it happens to YOU.)
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To: TangoLimaSierra

He has the goods on her and she has the goods on him. It is a Mexican stand off.


13 posted on 08/18/2016 4:28:04 PM PDT by sport
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