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Federal judge insists Chicago mayor testify about police code of silence
Source: Associated Press
Federal judge insists Chicago mayor testify about police code of silence
Associated Press in Chicago
Saturday 21 May 2016 19.53 BST
Attorneys for the city of Chicago have told a federal judge that in an attempt to keep Mayor Rahm Emanuel off the witness stand, they are prepared to admit to a jury that a code of silence exists within the Chicago police department.
But US district judge Gary Feinerman said on Friday he would still ask Emanuel to testify in the case of two whistleblower police officers suing the city, explaining that the mayor’s testimony could offer “much more texture” on the issue.
The lawsuit was brought by two officers who say the department retaliated against them for cooperating with the FBI in an investigation into a narcotics team that was demanding protection money from drug dealers.
Legal experts said it was likely the city would settle rather than allow Emanuel to take the stand in the case, which is set to go to trial on 31 May. But they said the city’s willingness to have lawyers formally acknowledge a code of silence in court was a significant step after years of denials.
Emanuel brought up the code of silence problem in December, in a speech to the city council in the midst of protests and calls for his resignation over the death of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager who was killed by a white officer in a shooting caught on police dashcam video.
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Associated Press in Chicago
Saturday 21 May 2016 19.53 BST
Attorneys for the city of Chicago have told a federal judge that in an attempt to keep Mayor Rahm Emanuel off the witness stand, they are prepared to admit to a jury that a code of silence exists within the Chicago police department.
But US district judge Gary Feinerman said on Friday he would still ask Emanuel to testify in the case of two whistleblower police officers suing the city, explaining that the mayor’s testimony could offer “much more texture” on the issue.
The lawsuit was brought by two officers who say the department retaliated against them for cooperating with the FBI in an investigation into a narcotics team that was demanding protection money from drug dealers.
Legal experts said it was likely the city would settle rather than allow Emanuel to take the stand in the case, which is set to go to trial on 31 May. But they said the city’s willingness to have lawyers formally acknowledge a code of silence in court was a significant step after years of denials.
Emanuel brought up the code of silence problem in December, in a speech to the city council in the midst of protests and calls for his resignation over the death of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager who was killed by a white officer in a shooting caught on police dashcam video.
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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/21/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-police-code-of-silence-testimony
