Daley Heckler Sentenced To Three Years In Prison

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 11, 2012 2:15PM

Janusz Kopycinski, who swore at Richard M. Daley as the former Elective Majesty was ending his extended victory lap last May, was sentenced to three years in prison Friday for aggravated battery to a police officer stemming from the incident.

Kopycinski was among a crowd surrounding Daley as he left City Hall for the final time as Mayor last May when he shouted "Fuck the Mayor!" He was asked by others in the crowd to calm down, then hurled profanities and spat at, among others, a police officer. When asked to provide identification, Kopycinski ran and police gave chase. One officer was grazed by a CTA bus and injured, which led to the aggravated battery to a police officer charge; he also faced three counts of resisting arrest, two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of reckless conduct.

Kopycinski, who also has a 2007 arrest for battery to a police officer on his record, told Cook County Judge Thomas Gainer he meant no harm during the incident. One gets the feeling that, had Kopycinski only provided his ID, he'd be free to continue saying "Fuck the Mayor!" today. A lot of us have wanted to shout that at Daley (and now Rahm Emanuel). The conviction and sentencing highlights that even the slightest resistance—even running away from a cop—can be considered battery to one.