Mihalopoulos: Devil’s in details in police accountability measure

In this era of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray and Eric Garner, anything to increase police accountability should be embraced.

Chicago is a town that has seen the likes of disgraced Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge among countless corrupt-cop scandals over the decades.

So it seemed only lawyers who represent officers accused of misconduct registered immediate concern over Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s City Council measure to give subpoena power to Chicago police brass conducting internal-affairs investigations.

Aides to Emanuel introduced the ordinance on July 29, setting up a vote as soon as next month, after the council returns from its summer hiatus.

Adam Collins, a spokesman for the city, said the ordinance would “make sure Internal Affairs has the ability to fully and efficiently investigate police misconduct.”

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