Burge Claims Innocence as Protesters Push for Prison

Jon Burge claims he's not guilty of federal charges that he lied about his knowledge of incidents of torture by Chicago police.

Monday morning the 60-year-old former police commander appeared before U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury.  The arraignment came 15 years after Burge was fired on related charges of misconduct in the Chicago Police Department.

Burge, who arrived at the courthouse in "a black luxury sedan," according to the Tribune, drew about 100 protesters to federal plaza.

Some shouted, "Jon Burge should be doing time," the paper said.

The charges against Burge stem from allegations by multiple suspects who claim Burge oversaw and participated in torturous acts during interrogations decades ago.

Two years ago, special prosecutors found that scores of suspects were seriously abused at the violent crimes unit under Burge's command in the 1970s and 80s. But the special commission said it happened so long ago that criminal charges weren't possible.

Now, the former detective and commander of the South Side's Area 2 violent crimes unit is in the sites of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald announced the indictment of Burge last week as part of a broader federal investigation of decades-old claims that Chicago police tortured suspects with beatings, electric shocks and Russian roulette.

There are reportedly dozens of former detectives and other officers expected to be called before a federal grand jury in the months ahead as it digs deeper into a scandal that has haunted Chicago for more than 20 years. And federal prosecutors hint that fresh charges could be on the way.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Chicago

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