African American North Chicago Police Officers Angry About Racist Police Academy Brochure

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 26, 2013 11:20PM

African American members of the North Chicago Police Department are incensed about a handout distributed to participants of the North Chicago Police Academy that featured demeaning stereotypes of blacks and cops, the latest public relations black eye to the beleaguered suburban police force.

The four officers, with a combined 90 years of experience, are even more pissed that police chief James Jackson suggested the handout was produced by an African American officer. Officer Ron Montgomery said the brochure “set us back 60 years.”

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to say, ‘Look, the city already has racial problems, why add to it?’ — knowing good and well that this was something that would fuel the fire,” Montgomery said.

Fellow officer, Lt. Curtis Brame, said Jackson’s “blanket statement” smeared all black officers in the department by association.

“We have longevity, we have respect in this community,” Brame said. “I got calls asking if I had anything to do with it. No, I didn’t. I’m sure other officers got calls, too.”

Jackson took full responsibility for the incident, which didn’t satisfy some members of North Chicago’s City Council. 3rd Ward Ald. Valerie DeVost called for a reprimand, possibly including firing the officer or officers responsible for producing the brochure.