Burge witness: Torture charges 'unprecedented'

By Annie Sweeney

The sentencing hearing for former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge recessed for the day after a University of Chicago professor testified that torture allegations against Burge are unlike any other police misconduct in the city's history.

“This is an unprecedented instance,’’ said Adam Green, who specializes in African-American history. “What happened at Area 2 is really a singular chapter.’’

Green said abuse by police strikes at entire communities, but a sense of worth and respect can be restored if the misconduct is addressed.

Earlier today, one of Burge's alleged victims took the stand and asked Burge, “Why would you do this? … You were supposed to be the law.”

Before a packed courtroom, Anthony Holmes told how he still dreams he is inside the now infamous room at the Area 2 station on the South Side where Burge allegedly used electric shock and suffocation to coerce confessions from suspects.

Holmes, saying it was difficult for him to testify about the abuse, took a deep breath before he started. He said his wrongful imprisonment shattered family relationships and caused constant fear of police and re-arrest.

Reading prepared remarks in a low voice, Holmes recounted what Burge allegedly did to him.

“Jon Burge shocked me and he suffocated me and forced me to confess,’’ he said. “ … He tried to kill me and it leaves a growing, hurting feeling.’’

A community activist and a former detective who worked in the same detective division where Burge is alleged to have abused and tortured suspects also testified.

Burge, wearing a dark blue suit, was slightly animated during testimony from Sammy Lacey, the former detective.

Lacey, who is African-American, talked of being passed over for homicide assignments and said he had heard “scuttlebutt’’ about the tactics Burge and others on a midnight shift used against suspects.

Lacey said they were referred to as the “A team.’’ When asked why, he replied, “They were the a-kicking team.’’

Burge’s sentencing hearing began at 10 a.m. with some 80 people lined up outside in the hallway hoping to get for a seat in U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow’s courtroom. An overflow room was set up to accommodate the crowd.

On Friday, Burge’s attorneys are expected to present testimony on his behalf and U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow could impose sentence after that.