Chicago Police head retires amid scandal

**Ducky** · 04-02-07, 12:55 PM

By MEGAN REICHGOTT, Associated Press Writer 11 minutes ago

CHICAGO - Chicago's police superintendent announced Monday he was retiring early as his department tries to deal with two highly publicized videotaped beatings involving off-duty police officers.
Last month, prosecutors filed felony charges against one officer accused of beating a female bartender, and six other officers were removed from street duty after they were accused of assaulting four businessmen in a bar.
Superintendent Philip J. Cline said in announcing his retirement that he would stay on until the city found a replacement. He said he told Mayor Richard M. Daley of his intention Monday morning.
"Mayor Daley has given me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead the best police department in the country, and I thank him for that," said Cline, 57.
To the city's police officers, he said: "I encourage all of them to rise above any controversy and stay focused on the mission."
Cline, a Chicago native, began his police career as a cadet in 1968. He took over as superintendent in November 2003 and had been expected to retire later this year.
After the two videotapes surfaced, Cline said he would change the way the department responds to allegations of misconduct, including moving faster to get officers accused of misconduct off the street. His early retirement announcement came as a surprise.
The department was internationally vilified after the bar surveillance footage of an off-duty officer pummeling a female bartender half his size was broadcast worldwide through 24-hour news channels and on YouTube.
The footage showed Anthony Abbate, a 12-year veteran of the force, punching, kicking and throwing 24-year-old bartender Karolina Obrycka to the floor after she reportedly refused to continue serving him drinks. Obrycka suffered bruises to her head, neck, back and lower body, according to her attorney, Terry Ekl.
Police have not released the footage from the other confrontation involving the four businessmen on Dec. 15.
Police had been called to the scene, but a sergeant who was among the officers involved in the fight waved them off, Cline said. He announced last week that the six officers accused of assaulting the men had been taken off street duty.
Cline, a Chicago native, began his police career as a cadet in 1968. He took over as superintendent on Nov. 5, 2003. He had been expected to retire later this year.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070402/...DK.lwBF3Os0NUE

**bird1** · 04-02-07, 01:29 PM

he's been wanting to retire since last year. but i quess all whats happening lately pushed him over the top.

**bird1** · 04-02-07, 02:36 PM

here's his full speech on video

**k-9max** · 04-02-07, 03:25 PM

that would suck retiring over something like this, what a way to remember his last days at the department.
watching video's of "his" guys beating on people cant be the best way to go out.
i just wonder what else went on to provoke these officers to do what they did, sounds like there something else out there joe public aint being told about.

**Norm357** · 04-02-07, 06:04 PM

If he is found to have been involved in the coverup of the beating of the bar tender, I hope he gets life in prison.

**Pedro56** · 04-03-07, 01:16 AM

If who was covering what up?

**bird1** · 04-03-07, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by Norm357

If he is found to have been involved in the coverup of the beating of the bar tender, I hope he gets life in prison.

what cover up? what are talking about?

**Norm357** · 04-03-07, 05:07 AM

Originally Posted by bird1

what cover up? what are talking about?

abc7chicago.com is reporting....

March 23, 2007 (CHICAGO) - A grand jury is investigating whether a Chicago police officer was involved in trying to cover up another officer's alleged beating of a female bartender. The violent attack was caught by a security camera.

Anthony Abbate was arrested Tuesday on an aggravated battery charge. A videotape shows him beating a female bartender at Jesse's Shortstop Inn on West Belmont last month. Abbate was off duty at the time.

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a grand jury is weighing an obstruction-of-justice charge against a second police officer suspected of helping to threaten and bribe the woman to keep silent about the beating.

According to the victim, police officer Anthony Abbate, 38, came after her when she refused to serve him more drinks at Jesse's Shortstop Inn.

"I just refused serving him because he got too stupid and too drunk," said Karolina, 24, who did not wish to use her last name. Karolina has sent quit bartending.

Abbate is out on a $70,000 bond.
At 5'4" tall and 115 pounds, Karolina is half the size of police officer Anthony Abbate, who is 6'1" tall and 250 pounds. Abbate allegedly went behind the bar, threw Karolina to the ground and then repeated punched and kicked her. A security camera caught the attack on tape.

Several officers are under investigation for trying to cover up this beating by the off duty asshole.

**bird1** · 04-03-07, 11:23 AM

ok , this doesn't involve Supt. Phill Cline

**Norm357** · 04-03-07, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by bird1

ok , this doesn't involve Supt. Phill Cline

Ok.

**Copper51** · 04-06-07, 02:52 AM

Is the Chicago rank and file glad to see him go and looking forward to a new guy? Or with a department that large does it even affect the guys on the street? You don't need to answer that since it's a public forum and there may be consequences.