Compelling Cases Made on Both Sides for Burge Sentencing

The sentencing hearing for former Chicago Police lieutenant Jon Burge enters its second day. Yesterday saw testimony from both victims of Burge's torture practices when he was at Area 2 Headquarters and from colleagues and friends of the man who's come to epitomize police brutality in Chicago.

Anthony Holmes, one of five witnesses called by prosecutors yesterday, testified about how Burge suffocated him with a bag, shocked him and forced him to sign a murder confession in 1973 that locked Holmes up for nearly 30 years.

“He tried to kill me,” Holmes said. He said Burge looked as if he were enjoying himself. “He laughed while he was torturing me.”

Defense attorneys on the other side submitted to Judge Joan Lefkow dozens of letters supporting Burge's character and his commitment to the badge. One of the letters came from William Egan, whose uncle served as the prosecuter who investigated the torture allegations against Burge.

“He was not only a great police officer, but was a decorated Vietnam veteran who received the Bronze Star for his actions in combat,” wrote Egan, the nephew of the late Illinois Appellate Judge Edward J. Egan. “I can say that it was not only an honor to have worked with Jon Burge, but it is a pleasure to still call him a ‘friend.’”

Both sides are hoping to sway Lefkow into imposing either the 15 to 21 months in prison recommended by the federal probation department or a harsher sentence (reported by some media outlets to be 24-30 years) to send a message to Chicago's African American community that police torture is a serious matter. Although Burge was never charged with police brutality, some are hoping a harsh sentence in his perjury and obstruction of justice convictions will show that it will not be tolerated, regardless.

Lefkow could impose a sentence on Burge as early as today.