In October 2021, Lakisha German, a legal gun owner without a license to carry publicly, found herself in a troubling situation with Chicago police officers at a bus stop on the Far South Side. After revealing her gun tucked inside her fanny pack, the officers took the weapon and let her go, making a suspicious comment that prompted German to file a complaint.
An investigation led by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, with assistance from the FBI, concluded that the officers involved had engaged in a pattern of misconduct. Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling has moved to fire the officers, identified as Daniel Fair, Jeffery Morrow, Kevin Taylor, and Rupert Collins, who are accused of lying about the source of guns they recovered and stealing drugs and cash.
German, while supporting the police, insisted on the importance of accountability in this case and highlighted the need to prevent the abuse of power. The officers involved have been stripped of their police powers amid ongoing investigations into their actions, including allegations of grabbing weapons without making arrests and filing false information in reports and court testimonies.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding ethical standards within law enforcement and ensuring officers are held accountable for their actions. German’s experience sheds light on the potential consequences of misconduct and the impact it can have on public trust in law enforcement.
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