Why is Burge still being paid?

CHICAGO--Around 25 protesters held a spirited rally July 29 in front of the police board pension office to send a message that former police Lt. Jon Burge--who led a ring of torturers while a commander in the 1970s and '80s--should no longer receive his $3,768-a-month check from the city.

Burge was found guilty last month of perjury and obstruction of justice charges related to the torture of African American suspects. Shocking as it may sound, under Illinois law, unless the police board votes to cut off these payments, Burge could continue receiving them while he is in prison.

"It's a black eye to the taxpayers," said Mark Clements, a police torture victim who spent 28 years wrongfully convicted after signing a coerced confession in 1981. "Why are we paying money to this man who tortured nearly 200 African American and Latino men? This has to stop."

The Jail Jon Burge Coalition, which organized the July 29 protest, delivered a letter to police board members earlier in July demanding that Burge's pension be terminated.

"This is just ridiculous that this man is getting a pension," said Tomika Erby, a member of the coalition. "He's being paid with public money. The police are supposed to serve and protect, but instead, they're torturing citizens in our community. That's why there is such a massive amount of disrespect toward the police. We're spending over $3,700 a month to this torturer."

Following the protest, a delegation of 15 people met with officials and police board members, who said that Burge was entitled to his pension at least until his sentencing on November 5. Following that date, the police board will hold a public hearing to decide whether or not to terminate his pension, the officials said.

When protesters voiced their anger with the board's inaction so far, an official responded by saying, "We are sure you all hope he doesn't get a nickel, but this is the process we have to go through." Activists were told that some of us would be allowed to speak at the public police hearing, and that Burge--or, more likely, his attorney--would also get a chance to make his case. The eight police board members would then vote, officials said--right after the hearing, with protesters present.

After the meeting, activists made their way to the elevators to discover that they had been mysteriously shut down. Disabled family members had to wait until they were "turned back on," while others made the trek down 16 flights of stairs. None of the activists thought the elevator mishap was a coincidence.

A group of about 10 family members of Javan Deloney were at the protest, wearing T-shirts with Javan's picture on the front. Javan is one of 22 Burge torture victims who remain incarcerated, having never been granted a new hearing. Javan said that he signed a false confession after being tortured by detectives working under Burge.

Javan's mother, who is in a wheelchair, attended the demonstration, "I just want to finally see some justice come our way," she said. "My son has been locked up for 19 years, I just want my son to come home."

Activists are planning another demonstration on the day of the police board's public hearing, and they are starting a postcard campaign to deliver messages urging police board members to do the right thing and stop paying Burge's pension.