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Feds Deny Probe of Chicago Police Over Shootings

By Ted Cox | September 5, 2014 11:46am
 U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon says there is no ongoing probe of the Chicago Police over shootings.
U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon says there is no ongoing probe of the Chicago Police over shootings.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

DOWNTOWN — Chicago Police are not being investigated by federal agents over a pattern of shootings, the U.S. attorney has confirmed.

In an unusual statement, U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon announced Thursday: "There is no open pattern-and-practice civil-rights investigation of the Chicago Police Department."

Federal officials usually follow a policy of not confirming or denying open investigations.

The Sun-Times reported earlier this week that an attorney with a reputation for defending police facing charges had warned the Chicago Police union that a federal investigation was underway on "certain police-involved shootings."

Yet Acting Assistant Attorney General Molly Moran stated Thursday in Washington, D.C., there was no such probe, and Fardon confirmed that in Chicago.

"The Chicago Police Department is our front-line partner, along with federal law-enforcement agencies, in our determined efforts to reduce violent crime in Chicago," Fardon added.

Yet he did not say that gave Chicago Police carte blanche, adding, "At the same time, the Department of Justice remains equally vigilant to protect the civil rights of all individuals without fear or favor."

Police across the nation have been under scrutiny following the recent shooting incident in Ferguson, Mo., which sparked weeks of protests.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Supt. Garry McCarthy were put on the defensive by the initial report, coming on the heels of the criminal charges filed against Police Cmdr. Glenn Evans last week. McCarthy previously defended a spate of police shootings over the Fourth of July weekend.