Chicago Pays $5.5 Million to Victims of Police Torture Racket

Between 1972 and 1991, Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge led a group of rogue detectives known as “The Midnight Crew.” Their job was to gain confessions through torture using electric shocks, beatings, and mock Russian roulette; tactics he no doubt learned during his previous career as an MP in the US Army during the Vietnam War.

Estimates vary as to how many people were tortured during his time as a police officer, with at least 120 cases being confirmed.

He was eventually fired in 1993, and the city has since paid out $100 million in settlements. An additional $5.5 million was approved on Wednesday by the city council, and was negotiated between the city, the victim’s lawyers, and Amnesty International. The ordinance also requires the city to provide psychological counseling and job placement for the victims.

Due to the statute of limitations of these crimes, Jon Burge was never convicted in court, though he was eventually sentenced to four and half years in prison for perjury, after lying about his torture tactics during several civil lawsuits. He was released from federal prison in October of 2014, after serving less than 4 years behind bars.

By all accounts, he is still receiving his $4,000 a month pension.

Joshua Krause is a reporter, writer and researcher at The Daily Sheeple, where this article first appeared. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and is a freelance writer and author. You can follow Joshua’s reports at Facebook or on his personal Twitter. Joshua’s website is Strange Danger.