City Council Rejects $2M Settlement in Police Shooting

Clip: 7/19/2023 | 3m 21sVideo has Closed Captions

Chicago City Council debated a number of police misconduct settlements.

Members of the Chicago City Council were split on whether to settle a lawsuit for $2 million stemming from a fatal police shooting.

07/19/2023 | Rating NR

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>>> THE FINANCIAL COST OF POLICE MISCONDUCT TAKES CENTER STAGE, WITH ALDER PEOPLE REJECTING THE RECOMMENDATION TO PAY $2 MILLION TO THE FAMILY OF A MAN SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS IN 2014.

THEY DID AGREE TO SETTLE THREE OTHER CASES FOR $6.5 MILLION.

THERE WAS A DISAPPOINTING EXCHANGE IN THE MEETING.

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE TRY SOME OF THESE CASES IN COURT ?

I CANNOT SIT HERE ANY LONGER AND HERE, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND YOU PAY FOR IT.

IT IS MY MONEY, MY TAX DOLLARS.

IT IS YOUR TAX DOLLARS, IT IS YOUR CONSTITUENT'S TAX DOLLARS.

ALL I AM ASKING FOR YOU TO DO IS DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE ON BOTH SIDES.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE COMMENTS BY THE ALDERMEN.

ALL OF US HAVE THE ABILITY TO SIT DOWN, AND GO THROUGH THE EVIDENCE AND MAKE A DECISION, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE HERE IS ACTING IN ANY WAY THAT IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE CITY.

>> WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW.

TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>> Reporter: THE CITY COUNCIL TOLD US THAT THEIR LAWYERS WILL BE , THE JURY WILL COME BACK WITH A JURY OF LESS THAN $2 MILLION , THE ENTIRE THING WILL COST LESS THAN $2 MILLION.

IN THE PAST, THAT HAS BEEN A GAMBLE THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT WANTED TO TAKE.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID TODAY.

>> IN THE MONTHS SINCE THE MAYOR HAS TAKEN OFFICE, THE CITY HAS SPENT $16.5 MILLION .

IS THIS WHY THE DEBATE HAS BOILED OVER?

>> Reporter: IT IS PART OF THE MORE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS, THE CITY COUNCIL SEEMS VERY EAGER TO SETTLE THESE CASES.

HOWEVER, IF YOU TALK TO SOMEONE LIKE ANDRE VASQUEZ, OR MAYOR JOHNSON, THEY MAY SETTLE THIS FOR EVEN LARGER VERDICTS IF IT GOES TO TRIAL, THERE IS A WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF POLICE MISCONDUCT.

>> YOU HAVE ASKED WHAT HE COULD DO TO REDUCE THE FINANCIAL TALL .

>> Reporter: HE REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.

THE CONSENT DECREE REQUIRES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO NOT VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF BLACK AND LATINO CITIZENS IN CHICAGO.

THIS IS THE MOST VISIBLE PULL THAT CHICAGO POLICE MISCONDUCT TAKES ON THE CITY'S FINANCES.

IT HAS COST TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPLY WITH THAT ORDER.

THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY END