I and many others have called for a special prosecutor in the murder trial of Chicago Police officer, Jason Van Dyke in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald, a teenager. On Thursday, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office formally indicted Van Dyke on six counts of first-degree murder and one count of official misconduct.
The excessiveness of these charges showcases the lack of seriousness on behalf the prosecutor’s office. In addition, it proves why we need a special prosecutor to bring the correct charges to convict Van Dyke of murder.
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It has been nearly 35 years since an on-duty Chicago police officer was charged with first-degree murder. In Cleveland, police officer, Michael Brelo was acquitted for his role in the 2012 fatal shooting of two unarmed people in a car. The prosecutor’s office in that case brought improper charges and the judge did not convict.
We have witnessed throughout history that the judicial system in this country and city does not side with what is righteous. Often, the courts do not reach righteous verdicts when it comes to black lives.
I know better than anyone that emotions are running high and we would like to see change within the city. We witness daily protests that call for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and outrage at the corrupt police department. We must unify in the reforms that we are asking for in the aftermath of Laquan’s death.
If Rahm were to resign, Chicago would only move from one chaos to another chaos. That is not the best strategy to ask the mayor to step down. We have at this time a critical point to bargain for real change.
Chicago is at a boiling point. In order for us to move forward we must do so with one aim.
It appears as though Rahm’s primary goals are to rehabilitate the image of Chicago around the world and in our nation. He wants to redeem himself with the voters and reform the Chicago Police Department. If I am correct in these three pursuits and if penitence is the motivation then I believe the entire city will benefit.
Rahm is probably the only person in our city, right now, who can handle this with good results. As mayor he has the ability and power to reinstitute and reform police authority with the Fraternal Order of Police and the Independent Police Review Authority.
The FOP and IPRA are the two main culprits that stand in the way of an excellent police force. They have to be confronted with new methods of policing and Rahm is uniquely situated to make it happen. One thing that I know about Rahm is he’s a man determined to get pleasing results, but may not always use pleasing methods.
I believe that Chicago can be the model for large police forces across in the nation and Rahm can make that happen with pleasing results.
Bobby Rush, U.S. representative, Chicago
Correction
In a Friday editorial, the Sun-Times used incorrectly reported data on the percentage of Hispanic teachers in Chicago Public Schools for 2014. The correct number for that year is 15.9 percent.
Competence first
The only factor that should come into play when it comes to the personnel on the Chicago Board of Education or personnel at CPS as a whole is competence. Where their ancestors came from should not be of any consideration.
CPS is a mess. Bring in the best that can be found.
Gerald Shinn, Pilsen
Take out the earplugs
For the first nine months of this year, almost 3 million aircraft noise complaints have been filed by the citizenry with Chicago’s Department of Aviation. Yet CDA continues to drag its heels and refuses to pursue any real solutions for the unfortunate folks being bombarded with roaring aircraft noise both day and night. It’s time for the CDA to take the earplugs out of their ears and listen to the common sense solutions being presented such anti-noise groups such as FAiR.Lee J. Regner, Park Ridge
