Updated: Wife Of Cop Accused Of Murder Set Up A GoFundMe For Bond Money

By Kate Shepherd in News on Nov 24, 2015 6:29PM

Updated: 1:00 p.m.: Officer Jason Van Dyke was ordered held without bail at a bond hearing this afternoon.

The wife of Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer charged with first degree murder in the death of Laquan McDonald, set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for her husband's bond.

On the page "JVD Bond Fund," which appears to have been taken down this morning, Tiffany Van Dyke does not mention her husband by name but describes him as a 15-year veteran of the police force "fighting for his freedom and justice," according to the Tribune.

She asked for donations with a goal of raising $80,000 so he can be home for the holidays. She had received over $10,000 from more than 200 donors by the time the page was removed.

"He is a highly decorated and respected officer," she wrote. "He was in a shooting that has been covered extensively by the media and we ask for your patience for all the facts to come out in the trial. We want him to be home with his family as we go through this judicial process."

Since 2001,18 misconduct complaints have been filed against him, including allegations of racial slurs and excessive force, according to the New York Times. He was never disciplined, like many other Chicago police officers who have faced numerous civilian complaints.

Several comments from people who donated voiced support for the Chicago Police Department. The Fraternal Order of Police union, which has stood by Jason Van Dyke, linked to the page on their Twitter account:

Negative comments were starting to appear shortly before the page was taken down.