Officers Called to Testify Before Grand Jury in Laqaun McDonald Case

Nearly two dozen employees of the Chicago Police Department have been called to testify before a grand jury over the Laquan McDonald shooting, according to documents.

Officers first started testifying in June and had been appearing as recently as two days before Christmas, according to documents from a Chicago Tribune Freedom of Information Act request released to NBC Chicago.

According to the documents, not all of the 23 subpoenaed officers are on active duty.

It should be noted that just because an individual has been summoned to testify before a grand jury does not necessarily mean they are under investigation.

"The United States Department of Justice is investigating the circumstances around Mr. McDonalds death and we eagerly await the results of that investigation," Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told NBC Chicago. "Should any officer or employee of this department be found guilty of lying or purposely misrepresenting any facts, they will face immediate discipline ranging from termination to prosecution."

Officer Jason Van Dyke pleaded not guilty to six counts of first-degree murder and one count of official misconduct in late December over the Oct. 2014 fatal shooting.

Van Dyke was charged hours before video of McDonald’s shooting death went public, sparking weeks of demonstrations and unrest in Chicago.

The case has been widely publicized, with even Mayor Rahm Emanuel blasting the Chicago officer.

Emanuel previously told reporters, "Van Dyke violated both the standards of professionalism that come with being a police officer but also basic moral standards that bind our community together."

Protestors have also targeted the mayor himself, calling for him to resign from office. 
 
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is conducting a probe into Chicago police to see if the department has engaged in a pattern or practice of violating the civil rights of residents.

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