Jon Burge, the former Chicago police commander who was suspected of abusing and torturing criminal suspects, was found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice on Monday. Burge was informally accused of torture through rumors in the police department and formally in Chicago courthouses for over 30 years. He was even fired in 1993 by the department because of the torture allegations. Now, Burge will begin to serve his first jail sentence for his actions later this year.

The 5 week trial brought several witnesses to the stand. Victims who testified against Burge shared testimonies of Burge using electric devices with alligator clips to shock their genitals and other body parts, radiators to burn them, and many more torture tactics.

When Burge was questioned on the stand, he denied ever harming the witnesses or any other suspects that were in his custody. Burge claimed he always treated suspects in the nicest possible way and testified, “I’m not that stupid,” when torture tactics such as Russian roulette were mentioned.

After a 3-day deliberation, the jury announced that they found the 62-year-old retiree guilty of lying under oath about knowledge and participation of abuse of suspects. This decision is a monumental 1 for the city of Chicago that many predict will have a major impact on current human rights violations and police-civilian relations.

Reports from past years show that several inmates had been brutalized while in police custody when Burge was in the department, deteriorating the trust civilians held for police.

Alderman Ed Smith noted after the trial, “A lot of really good police officers go out every day to protect the citizens of Chicago. The few bad apples that have caused pain to the city of Chicago, that has to be stopped.”

With this goal in mind, former Illinois Governor George Ryan released 4 men from death row because confessions of their crimes were extracted using torture. In 2009, the city settled the men’s wrongful conviction suits with a $20 million settlement.

“It was a wonderful victory for the African-American community and all people here in Chicago who have fought so long and so hard for justice,” said Flint Taylor, an attorney who represented many of Burge’s victims.

Burge will be free until he is sentenced on November 5. He could face up to 45 years in prison.

Source: [K!dult]