What are police supposed to do when a state’s attorney refuses to prosecute criminals? This is the very question plaguing officers in the Chicago PD trying to deal with State’s Attorney for Cook County, Kim Foxx.
As we have seen in many parts of the country being run and governed by Leftist ideologues, criminals are increasingly able to get away with murder. Sometimes literally.
“Yet again, the Chicago Police Department finds itself at loggerheads with State’s Attorney Kim Foxx about charging a criminal with a crime. First, it was low-level crimes that Foxx declined to prosecute. Then it was celebrity nonsense, with the Jussie Smollett hate-crime hoax. Next, it was the murder of a little girl. And now, it’s a deadly gang shootout.“
The final case listed above occurred in Chicago around the last week of September. Five men engaged in a gang-land shootout. All five were arrested, all released without charges.
Why?
This is what Kim Foxx had to say on her reasoning:
“We reviewed the evidence that was presented to us in consultation with the detectives and they agreed we were unable to approve charges based on the evidence presented. However, as always, as additional evidence is gathered we stand ready to bring charges when appropriate.“
The shootout was captured on police camera, according to The New York Post.
Even embattled mayor, who is no friend of the Chicago PD, slammed Foxx’s office for the decision, according to The Chicago Sun-Times:
“It’s complicated, for sure, but we really urge the state’s attorney herself to get personally involved, look at the evidence. And I believe that there are charges that can be brought at a minimum against the individuals who initiated the gunfire. We can’t live in a world where there’s no accountability.“
Chicago PD Alderman, Chris Taliaferro reacted to the State’s Attorney’s office, calling it, “very horrific.”
So, what can police do in Chicago if Foxx continues to refuse prosecuting egregious crimes?
The City-Journal notes several tactics they have attempted or could attempt:
“Most major felony charges require the approval of prosecutors. In Broughton’s case, the Chicago PD used an “emergency override” procedure to arrest and charge the suspect without prosecutor approval. But Foxx would not let that stand.“
…
“The next option for police is to find another prosecutor. This approach worked in the Jussie Smollett debacle. After Foxx’s office dismissed the charges, an outraged judge appointed a special prosecutor to take over the case.“
…
“A time-honored approach for police dealing with a recalcitrant prosecutor is to take the case to the media and the public“
These options are good and have some success, but sadly some attorneys in this country are simply acting above the law and their communities are suffering for it. The City-Journal article goes on to list possible solutions the police in Chicago have at their disposal. The most immediate options are not positive, “stop policing” or “quit.” Anything short of the Illinois Attorney General or the Department of Justice getting involved (both highly unlikely) will unfortunately leave Kim Foxx to her own devices.
The City-Journal closes with the following:
“The big losers in the case of CPD v. Kim Foxx will be the people of Chicago, who will be left with no police, a non-prosecuting prosecutor, and more dead children.“
We couldn’t agree more.
Image Credit: Photo by Matt Bero on Unsplash
Mayor Lori Lightfoot cannot escape the ramifications of her decisions. She is reminded of them each weekend when dozens are shot in her city. But at least her failure is forcing her to backtrack.
