Judges Support Chicago Police Board in Two Key Disciplinary Cases

Chicago: Recently, the Illinois Appellate Court has been looking into police discipline in the city. Meanwhile, Cook County judges have backed the Chicago Police Board in two important cases.

In one case, Judge Michael Mullen ruled against Superintendent Larry Snelling, who wanted to discipline Officer James Hunt. Hunt had been cleared by the board for his actions during the chaotic protests following George Floyd’s death in 2020.

This was a big deal since it was the first time in years that the police chief challenged the board’s decision. Snelling argued that the board’s findings were wrong and didn’t match the evidence.

In another case, Judge David Atkins upheld the board’s decision to fire Sergeant Alex Wolinski. This was related to a botched raid in 2019 at social worker Anjanette Young’s home, where officers entered based on incorrect information.

The Chicago Police Department and the city’s Law Department didn’t comment on these rulings, and Wolinski’s attorney didn’t respond to requests for information.

Hunt is currently working in the South Chicago District. His attorney, Jim McKay, defended him, saying Hunt did nothing wrong during the protests. He pointed out that the alleged victim in the case even identified another officer as the one at fault.

The police board found Hunt not guilty of all charges in October 2023. He was accused of breaking rules during an arrest where a woman hit a police officer with her car. The board noted that while Hunt’s actions weren’t perfect, they were justified given the chaotic situation.

Hunt joined the police force in 2013 and has faced other investigations in the past. In Wolinski’s case, the raid on Young’s home was a serious mistake, with body-camera footage showing the officers handcuffing her while she was naked and insisting they were in the wrong place.

While less severe misconduct cases are still being handled internally, the more serious ones have slowed down recently. This is due to a new union contract that gives officers a choice between public hearings or private arbitration for their cases. So far, only a few officers have opted for public hearings.

The contract also prevents the police chief from firing officers without a process, which Snelling believes complicates matters.