N. Chicago Gets New Top Cop as Another Alleged Beating Victim Comes Forward

Former Chicago police department assistant Supt. James Jackson on Monday evening was named the interim police chief in North Chicago.

He's the second man to be named to the position since the beginning of the year in a community trying to deal with allegations of police brutality. The former chief, Michael Hosking, quit in early January after just days on the job.

Jackson's confirmation came during a city council meeting that saw another alleged victim state his case.

Paul Smith told those gathered of a July 2010 incident in which an officer allegedly broke his nose. Smith said he was arrested on allegations of public intoxication but was later charged with resisting arrest.

Smith said he only appeared intoxicated because he accidentally took an extra dose of his medication for manic depression. He claims an officer threw him up against the squad car and broke his nose. Video from inside the booking room shows an officer grabbing Smith around the neck and slamming him into a wall.

He said he didn't provoke the officer, but admits he did call the officer a name after the beating.

"Why would they do this to me? Why were they so abusive?" Smith asked aloud. "They are supposed to protect and serve, not beat people up."

Smith claims he's suffered from headaches and back pain since the attack and said he plans to file a civil lawsuit. Smith said he came forward now after hearing about other alleged brutality cases.

"We are looking into the issue. We are taking it up and the officer will be disciplined accordingly," said Mayor Leon Rockingham of Smith's claim.

Since 2006 there have been at least a dozen lawsuits filed against the North Chicago Police Department claiming police brutality and excessive force.

"I'm encouraging more and more people who have been beaten to please come forward," said Gloria Carr, the mother of a man who died after allegedly being being by officers responding to a domestic incident.

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