CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio 780) -- The Office of the Special Prosecutor on Tuesday released the transcript of Mayor Richard Daley’s sworn statement given as part of the recently concluded investigation of Chicago Police torture.The transcript revealed new details about what Daley knew and what actions he took when allegations of police torture first surfaced while he was Cook County State’s Attorney.
Daley gave his sworn statement to the special prosecutors just six weeks ago on June 12 near the end of the four year long investigation into police torture. Questions posed to Daley covered the period when Daley served as Cook County State’s Attorney during the 1980’s and focused on the case involving accused cop killer Andrew Wilson. The special prosecutors concluded that Wilson was one of the men tortured by detectives led by the infamous commander Jon Burge.
Daley told investigators he could not recall many of the details about the Wilson case now, more than two decades later. Asked specifically about a 1982 letter mailed from then-police superintendent Richard Brzeczek informing Daley that Wilson may have been tortured, the mayor told the special prosecutors he probably did receive the letter and said it likely would have also been automatically forwarded to his first assistant state’s attorney, who at the time was Richard Devine. Devine is the current Cook County State’s Attorney.
“Do you actually remember receiving this in the mail,” asked Special Prosecutor Robert Boyle. Daley responded, “I would have to receive it, so I would have to say…” The answer was cut short by Chicago Corporation Counsel Mara Georges, who was representing the mayor. Georges interjected, “Just if you remember.” Daley then went on to answer, “I don’t remember, today.” Daley responded repeatedly with “I don’t remember or I don’t recall” during the questioning. According to the special prosecutor’s report, Chicago Police tortured dozens of black suspects during the 1970s and 1980s to coerce confessions from the men. The 300-page report said detectives beat, kicked and shocked the suspects, nearly all of whom were black. Prosecutors Robert Boyle and Edward Egan said their investigation found evidence of police abuse involving half of the 148 cases they reviewed but said the cases were too old or too weak to sustain prosecutions.
The special prosecutors accused former Chicago Police Superintendent Richard Brzeczek of dereliction of duty and cited former Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney William Kunkle for failing to purse an investigation into allegations of torture. Kunkle now serves as a Cook County Circuit Court Judge. About Daley’s involvement, Boyle said it was unlikely Daley knew the full extent of the torture. The report said Daley’s only mistake was relying on the judgment of others who had been delegated responsibilities by Daley.
During their questioning of Daley, the special prosecutors asked about Kunkle’s actions but also focused on Daley’s first assistant, Devine.
“Do you remember who got it,” asked Boyle about the 1982 Brzeczek letter. Daley answered, “It would be myself, it would be the first deputy, maybe chief, maybe criminal.” Egan then interjected, “You say first deputy. Is that Devine?” Daley responded, “At the time it was.”
Attorneys who represent some of the men who were allegedly tortured said Daley and his fellow prosecutors at the time deserved as much blame as Brzeczek for failing to investigate and prosecute Burge and other alleged police torturers. Daley will likely be added as a defendant in several of the civil lawsuits involving the victims.
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