BIZARRE: 8 - What They Never Told You

Chicago hate crimes doubled in 2022. Authorities warn of neo-Nazi ‘Day of hate’

CHICAGO — Reported hate crimes skyrocketed in Chicago in 2022, nearly doubling from the year before, police data shows.

Chicago Tribune · Feb 25, 2023

Brandon Johnson once said it was a ‘political goal’ to defund police. He’s been less precise running for mayor.

As thousands of Chicagoans took to the streets during 2020′s nationwide racial reckoning on policing, one word captured the fury of that summer: “Defund.”

Chicago Tribune · Feb 24, 2023

Disgraced ex-Chicago police sergeant breaks his decadelong silence

Former Sgt. Ronald Watts pleaded guilty to corruption. Judges have thrown out 226 convictions tied to him. Now he’s lashing back at prosecutors.

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 14, 2023

Despite troubling rise in suicides, CPD falling short on getting help for officers, inspector general finds

“The people in charge really don’t care,” said Carrie Steiner, a former cop turned psychologist. “I think that’s exactly how Chicago police officers feel.”

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 6, 2023

DNC won't ban super PACs in primaries

Right-wing "funds were often used by super PACs to run outrageous and dishonest attack ads," says Bernie Sanders

Salon · Feb 6, 2023

Mayoral challenger Brandon Johnson unveils sweeping plan to fight violent crime

Johnson’s lengthy list includes“training and promoting” 200 new detectives and launching a “comprehensive efficiency audit” to identify savings, such as streamlining the number of “non-sergeant” police supervisors.

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 6, 2023

Chicago cops caught on video attacking man in holding cell each have long records of alleged misconduct

Amid calls to fire Officer Enrique Delgado Fernandez and Sgt. Jerald Williams in the wake of the video release, the Sun-Times has found they’ve faced dozens of investigations into their on-duty conduct.

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 3, 2023

Challenger for FOP president says incumbent has alienated everyone — and hurt rank-and-file cops

Bob Bartlett, a veteran CPD detective, is trying to unseat John Catanzara, the union president who has feuded with Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Like Catanzara, Bartlett is no fan of Lightfoot or CPD Supt. David Brown — but he disagrees with Catanzara’s scorched-earth rhetoric.

Chicago Sun-Times · Feb 2, 2023

Former CPD officer avoided more than $3K in tickets through perjury and forging documents: prosecutors

Jeffrey Kriv was hired as a police officer in 1996 and retired on Jan. 20 — 10 days after he was relieved of his police powers due to the allegations, prosecutors said Tuesday

Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 31, 2023

Chicago cop avoided being fired after arrest in drunken Milwaukee bar fight. He was later hired by a suburban police department

Robert Pet pointed a bullet magazine against a man’s chest and was quickly pummeled by a group of people, one of whom wrestled his gun away, according to a newly released report by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 27, 2023