There’s a hearing in state court for a white Chicago police officer charged in a black teenager’s shooting death. It also strongly suggests that the city must have known just how incriminating the footage was, and that its release would all but guarantee a murder charge against Van Dyke.
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Among other things, the investigation will examine whether there are patterns of racial disparity in the Police Department’s use of force.
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the investigation on December 7 amid protests over the release of a video of the shooting of Laquan McDonald.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual says he will personally meet with U.S. Department of Justice agents Thursday who are launching a civil rights probe of the city’s police department. Following the release of the video of Chicago Police Department officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times, many in the city have been calling for him to resign his post. “It is in our self-interest as a city that they’re here”, Emanuel said.
The mayor’s support for the broader federal investigation into his Police Department is a turnabout after Emanuel earlier this month called such a probe “misguided”.
Emanuel has responded to the criticism by firing his handpicked police superintendent, Garry McCarthy, and replacing the head of the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates police misconduct.
Justice Department officials also met this week with community members and organizations, as well as union representatives, the Justice Department said in a statement. Prosecutors say Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times as the teen walked away from police carrying a small knife. “They’re still doing business as usual”, Retired Chicago Police Officer Richard Wooten said.
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Officer Van Dyke has been free on bail after posting $1.5 million shortly after the initial charge was brought, and he is expected back in court on Friday to plead not guilty to the seven-count indictment, local media reported.
