The Chicago Tribune’s Editorial Board published an insightful editorial about the Glenn Evans trial:
Editorial: Acquitting a Chicago police commander
Had Evans been wearing a body camera, the case would have been easier to resolve. The department is greatly expanding the use of those devices next year, and for good reason: They protect citizens from bad cops and good cops from false claims.
If the trial failed to prove Evans’ guilt, it succeeded in exposing the failings of the Independent Police Review Authority, which has responsibility for investigating allegations of misconduct by Chicago cops. It is known for moving slowly and rarely finding police officers at fault.
Despite Evans’ high position, former chief administrator Scott Ando admitted he didn’t review the case before it was referred to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. Ando asked staffers to learn whether Evans was left-handed, but no one did.
An investigator said Jackson told her Evans could have gotten a Taser without checking it out, but Jackson testified that she would never have allowed that to happen — and the investigator didn’t write up her report of the interview until 15 months later. The investigator who turned over the DNA taken from the gun didn’t know that all of it would be used up in testing, leaving none for any additional tests.
Had IPRA done its job better, the information available to the judge would have been more complete. The agency obviously needs an overhaul. Mayor Rahm Emanuel replaced Ando. The U.S. Department of Justice is undertaking a review of the Police Department’s handling of deadly force cases, such as the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, which led to a murder charge against a Chicago officer.
If that cop is convicted, citizens will expect the department and the city to defer to the outcome. The acquittal of Evans deserves the same respect.
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