Two Chicago Police Shootings Have Been Declared Unjustified By IPRA

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jul 22, 2016 3:40PM

Photo by Aaron Cynic/Chicagoist

The Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) ruled on Thursday that two separate police shootings were unjustified.

In one case, in 2013, East Hazel Crest man Ryan Rogers was fatally shot by police during an investigation of a cell phone theft ring Rogers was suspected of being involved in. Police explained that the shooting occurred because an officer was pinned under the SUV Rogers was driving. However, IPRA ruled that one of the four shots police fired at Rogers was unjustified; Rogers was already driving away, they ruled, when that shot was fired. The city's Finance Committee in May approved a $1 million settlement involving the incident.

In the second case, in 2015, Antwon Golatte was shot and wounded by a pair of officers after allegedly fleeing from a drug deal. Again, the agency determined the officers were out of harm’s way when they fired.

The rulings come two days after the City Council awarded $4.72 million in police-misconduct settlements.

As the Tribune points out, the IPRA, under the direction of Sharon Fairey, has ruled against police with greater frequency than it did under her predecessor, Scott Ando. And the agency called for strict revisions to the department's use-of-force policy earlier this month.

However, the IPRA still faces staunch criticism: Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced plans in May to disband the agency, following the recommendation of an accountability task force, and amid ongoing investigations into police abuse by the Department of Justice. Activists have called for a civilian-elected board to replace the IPRA.