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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Feb. 27, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Chicago police scandal

Abuse widespread, say Black investigators

By J. Hill and R. White in Chicago

A Black community newspaper on the West Side is calling for a class-action lawsuit against the city of Chicago and the Police Department for "violating citizens' rights by allowing police corruption to flourish at the 15^th Police District in a criminal conspiracy."

Seven police officers have been indicted recently for what the corporate media describe as "shaking down drug dealers." The police got caught after rob bing FBI agents posing as drug sellers.

But the Austin Voice says the problem is much broader.

The Voice has been reporting on police corruption in the 15^th District for years, demanding action from the city without result. Reporters Alvin and Melvin Delk, who live in the neighborhood, say the indictments don't begin to expose the police terror that has reigned in the Austin area.

In the name of "police business," they say, countless residents have been abused and beaten.

Duayne Geyren, interviewed by the Delks and by Workers World, says police broke his ribs in a beating, then planted drugs on him and arrested him.

Another source said he witnessed police beating several youths and their father after dragging them out of their home, supposedly to ask if they had seen a killing in the neighborhood. One of the protesting youths was told, "For every word you say, we'll put another bag on you." He was then arrested and charged with possession of drugs.

The Austin Voice reports that police have threatened and robbed people just walking down the street, accusing them of frequenting a "drug spot."

One of the seven indicted cops may be charged with murder in the death of Richard Pack, 19. Pack's family was awarded $100,000 last year after a court found the police used "excessive force" on him. The award doesn't even cover the family's legal expenses.

According to the Voice, Pack, who was paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair because of a heart condition, was dragged from his chair and thrown against a wall. He died five minutes later.

An officer then threatened to plant drugs on any witness who reported the beating.

Talk but no action

Several meetings between community residents and city and police officials have been held over the years, reports the Voice. Programs like "beat meetings" and a voice-mail message system to contact beat officers were set up, supposedly to address community concerns. But no actions were taken to restrain the police terror.

And no one even listened to the voice-mail messages- including one reporting a murder in progress that could have been prevented.

The Austin community, a neighborhood of one- and two-family homes, has been devastated by plant closings over the past 10 years. Some estimate unemployment there at almost 60 percent. Schools, youth programs and community services have deteriorated.

With growing poverty have come drugs to pacify the youths and corrupt police to criminalize them. Instead of jobs, schools, health care and drug-treatment programs for unemployed youths, those in power are building jails and a prison labor system.

Alvin and Melvin Delk will be speaking March 15 at a Workers World forum on Chicago's West Side, along with John Jones of Jersey City, N.J. Jones will talk about the CIA-government drug conspiracy against the African American community.

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