Top cop defends 120 day suspension for officer accused of fraternizing with Proud Boys not telling brass

Top cop defends 120 day suspension for officer accused of fraternizing with Proud Boys not telling brass

Top cop defends 120-day suspension for officer accused of fraternizing with Proud Boys not telling brass HEAD TOPICS

Top cop defends 120-day suspension for officer accused of fraternizing with Proud Boys not telling brass

10/22/2022 6:01:00 PM

CPD Supt David Brown said CPD has zero tolerance for sworn officers joining or associating with hate groups But given what can be proved he said a 120-day suspension is as far as he legally can go

Source

Chicago Sun-Times

The head of the Chicago Police Department on Friday offered an impassioned defense of his decision not to fire an officer for fraternizing with members of the far right Proud Boys and failing to tell police brass that he had come under FBI scrutiny. CPD Supt David Brown said CPD has zero tolerance for sworn officers joining or associating with hate groups But given what can be proved he said a 120-day suspension is as far as he legally can go At a City Council budget hearing, CPD Supt. David Brown stressed the department has “zero tolerance” for sworn officers “being members of” or “associating with” hate groups and, if he could prove that’s what happened, it would justify firing Officer Robert Bakker — though he didn’t mention Bakker by name. “We were unable to prove by a preponderance of evidence — which is the legal standard of proof — that this officer was a member of or was associated with Proud Boys or any other hate group.”Brown replied that “if we were to get the evidence, we could open that investigation back up and sustain those allegations by a preponderance and move toward [firing]. In my opinion, it’s supportive of separation and termination. It is. But we were not able to prove by a preponderance of evidence that he was a member of or associated with Proud Boys.” Read more:
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As the country with the largest number of nuclear weapons, Russia has repeatedly cautioned the West that any attack on its territory could trigger a nuclear ... Read more >> you had to drop your paywall. you have to give your paper away for free now. you're not legitimate any more. nobody believes or listens to you. Anyone feel comfortable calling the police and there being a chance of a neo-nazi arriving on the scene? Right now they need the cop’s votes so they can stay in power! Once they get the vote and re-elected they will start firing cops right and left. I'd me more worried about the Sinaloa & New Generation Cartels that are operating openly in Lightfoot's Chicago. Who's getting paid off so they can funnel fentanyl into our neighborhoods? Of course they defend him. He's their rank and file. Scumbag white supremacist organization. Embattled CPD Supt. David Brown takes his turn on City Council hot seat“I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years. It feels like 10,” Brown tells alderpersons at a City Council budget hearing. Off-duty CPD officer involved in shootout during attempted armed robbery in Calumet Heights: policeChicago police said an off-duty officer was involved in an exchange of gunfire in Calumet Heights Thursday evening during an attempted armed robbery. Anjanette Young Ordinance: alderwoman to seek vote on CPD search warrant reformsYoung, an innocent social worker, was handcuffed naked as officers swarmed her home in a botched raid in 2019. Off-duty CPD officer strikes carjacking suspect in shootout on South SideWe are told the officer was getting something out of her white Tesla when the car approached and someone inside tried to carjack her. 🙏🏼 Chicago's top cop takes his turn on City Council hot seat: 'We are doing everything we can'With Chicagoans on edge and a political target on his back, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown tried Friday to convince a skeptical City Council that “significant progress” is being made in the war on violent crime. Phony progress like phony crime statistics? How do you trust a guy that the rank and file don’t. Dude is a clown The war inside of you has to be controlled first, it starts there! As Cook County Aims to Crackdown on Carjacking, Suspects Attempt to Rob, Carjack Off-Duty CPD OfficerThe incident came hours after the Cook County Sherriff announced a crackdown on vehicular hijackings. Chicago Police Supt.Chicago Police Supt.The incident happened near East 88th Street and South Constance Avenue.00:37 CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's been nearly two years since the CBS 2 Investigators first broke the story of the botched raid on Anjanette Young's home, and the Chicago City Council is still trying to figure things out. David Brown speaks during a news conference at CPD headquarters in June. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file photo The head of the Chicago Police Department on Friday offered an impassioned defense of his decision not to fire an officer for fraternizing with members of the far right Proud Boys and failing to tell police brass that he had come under FBI scrutiny. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file With Chicagoans on edge and a political target on his back, Chicago Police Supt. At a City Council budget hearing, CPD Supt. the off-duty officer was near their car, a white Tesla, when at least three suspects approached and demanded their vehicle and property. David Brown stressed the department has “zero tolerance” for sworn officers “being members of” or “associating with” hate groups and, if he could prove that’s what happened, it would justify firing Officer Robert Bakker — though he didn’t mention Bakker by name. If ever there was a difficult time for Brown to be on the hot seat at City Council budget hearings, this was it. Given what can be proved, however, Brown said a 120-day suspension was as far as he could legally go.  She was handcuffed naked as officers swarmed her home with guns drawn. “I’ve been Black a long time. Wrigleyville residents and businesses demanding more police after five attempted kidnappings and armed robberies over a single weekend. CPD said a possible suspect was dropped off at Trinity Hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. I would not tolerate an officer being a member of or being associated with a hate group,” Brown said. “We were unable to prove by a preponderance of evidence — which is the legal standard of proof — that this officer was a member of or was associated with Proud Boys or any other hate group. in part because riders don’t feel safe.” What could be proved is that Bakker “failed to notify us that he had talked with federal authorities, and some other minor violations,” Brown said, adding that “120 days is a high level of discipline for what we were able to prove by a preponderance of evidence. The officer involved will be placed on routine administrative duty for 30 days.” Black Caucus Chair Jason Ervin (28th) acknowledged a 120-day suspension is no slap on the wrist, but nevertheless asked Brown if the case is closed. “I’ve been here for two-and-a-half years.9 million in damages. Brown replied that “if we were to get the evidence, we could open that investigation back up and sustain those allegations by a preponderance and move toward [firing]. In my opinion, it’s supportive of separation and termination. Brown’s opening statement was more like an opening argument. Related Topics. It is. But we were not able to prove by a preponderance of evidence that he was a member of or associated with Proud Boys. “Your opening statement doesn’t remind me of the city I live in every day.” Ald. Young's case already has  spurred key search warrant reforms  and policy changes within the Chicago Police Department, but Hadden and her allies want to go further by requiring other changes through city ordinances that can only be changed by City Council votes, not through CPD internal policies that can be changed by unilaterally by the mayor or police superintendent. Jason Ervin (28th) speaks during a Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall in September.. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file photo Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) asked what the “preponderance of evidence” standard requires. The violence spreads everywhere. “It’s a legal definition or proof that, more likely than not, it happened,” the superintendent said. CPD’s general counsel Dana O’Malley added, “The superintendent is correct. Harry Osterman (48th) said. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has said she"was completely and totally appalled" by what happened to Young, nonetheless has opposed the reforms sought in the Anjanette Young Ordinance. It’s been defined as 50% plus one. The legal definition is more likely true than not. … Communities that have had excessive violence continue to have excessive violence.” Internal Affairs Chief Yolanda Talley added the suspension “would not have been more than five days for what we were able to prove.” “We brought him in for a second interview and he just felt so bad that he was accused of this, he mediated for 120 days.. We didn’t offer him 120 days."I think we have a very good policy. He came in and spoke to us and said, ‘I’ll take 120 days,’” Talley said. Communities like mine that have had hard-fought safety over decades have had increased violence,” said Osterman. “The Proud Boys is not identified as an FBI hate group. If the Proud Boys were identified as an FBI hate group, this investigation would have looked totally different. Harry Osterman (48th) speaks during a Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall in July.” Bakker’s suspension followed a lengthy internal investigation. He agreed not to contest the allegations against him, according to the Office of the Inspector General’s most recent quarterly report. Debra Silverstein (50th) amplified the argument. Bakker wasn’t named in the report, but  , an extremist group now at the center of the sprawling criminal inquiry into the riot at the U.S. “I’m angry. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. And I’m grieving with the families. The investigation was sparked after  Vice reported on Bakker’s ties  in May 2020. The initial reporting centered on leaked chat logs showing Bakker communicating and organizing meetings with members of the Proud Boys, which has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Canadian government. “My community is asking for more visibility. Bakker previously told the Sun-Times he was never a member of the group, but didn’t deny taking part in a Proud Boys Telegram channel. In the chat logs, Bakker spoke harshly of a rainbow-colored police emblem the police department posted on social media to celebrate the LGBTQ community. … We’re on the North Side. “I’m not wearing any rainbow bull - - - -,” he said. Next Up In . We need to have police.
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