who have been so thoroughly discredited that prosecutors cannot put them on the witness stand in a criminal trial. The list includes officers who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection, lied under oath and had connections with white supremacist groups.No credible union would protect officers who cannot be trusted with the core law enforcement responsibility of telling the truth under oath in a court of law. Remarkably, many of these officers remain on the force.
In Chicago, and across the country, police unions have stockpiled massive political power that they wield to push special interests and protect dangerous officers. This concentration of power can hinder racial justice efforts and jeopardize lives, particularly those of Black people.It’s been almost three years since the modern movement for police accountability was sparked by the brutal murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers.
, police unions have too often become impervious to change as they push an agenda that makes justice less dependable and hinders progress toward a more equitable system.To be clear, it takes a lot for an officer to wind up on the “Do Not Call” list. Just weeks ago, the Illinois Supreme Courtbrought by Wayne Washington, who spent more than a dozen years in prison for a crime he did not commit.