The Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee has narrowly rejected a proposed $1.25 million settlement related to a civil rights lawsuit over the fatal police shooting of Dexter Reed during a traffic stop last year.
Reed had reportedly shot first at police, prompting outrage among committee members regarding a large payout for someone who had attacked officers, even hitting one. Though Reed’s death in a subsequent hail of police bullets was a deeply tragic event, many on the committee found it troubling to agree to a substantial compensation in this case.
Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, expressed discontent that the city lawyers’ agreed upon cash settlement was not dispensed, leading the case to likely be resolved in a trial instead.
“I couldn’t imagine what was going on in the young man’s head. He shouldn’t have had a gun. He shouldn’t have did what he did. But, if somebody would have walked up on my car over in that neighborhood. I don’t know how I would have reacted, I’m just being real with you,” Burnett stated during the hearing.
“The community has a lot of shooting and killing and gangbanging that goes on.”
While Burnett rightly acknowledged that carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle can lead to dire situations, his subsequent comments suggested a justification for Reed’s actions. It could be inferred from his remarks that someone surprised in their car might feel justified in pulling the trigger, thus setting a dangerous precedent for self-defense standards.
Though it seems Ald. Burnett aimed to contextualize Reed’s actions within the high-crime environment of Humboldt Park, this line of argument risks normalizing violent responses to perceived threats in any neighborhood, not just those identified as high-crime.
Importantly, the entire incident was recorded on body cameras from multiple angles. Reasonable observers can see that Reed was aware police were approaching and requested him to roll down his windows, putting the focus of the debate on the legality of the police stop and whether their response was in line with protocol.
Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) added to the discussion by speculating, “I’m sure if Mr. Reed was here, he’d say, ‘if I’d have known that it was an officer.’” This opinion, while entitled, lacks substantiated evidence and is yet to be proven in trial.
There’s a recognized understanding that Ald. Burnett didn’t imply that he would act violently toward police under similar circumstances. However, the message conveyed during discussions about a potential cash payout should focus on accountability and reform rather than hypothetical justifications for a young man’s tragic decision to fire upon law enforcement.
The overarching dilemma remains whether the city should proceed to trial in a case that could incur more legal fees than the initial settlement offer, with the potential for a jury to award a sum greater than the proposed payout.
Defense attorneys are adept at using these situations to their advantage, as it is their right and responsibility to advocate for their clients. Yet, sometimes principles can outweigh financial implications.
Settlements have implications that extend beyond the immediate case and influence public perception and the conduct of law enforcement in future incidents. For police officers, a settlement can imply guilt, regardless of the legal wording attached to it. Consequently, this undermines the trust between the community and law enforcement, which can lead to adverse outcomes in policing.
This potential for a damaging cycle is exemplified by the tragic fate of Dexter Reed, who found himself in a life-threatening situation due to his own actions.
Many aldermen viewed this case as a critical turning point worth presenting before a jury, offering Reed’s family a chance for their voices to be heard in court, even as the broader implications of settlements and police accountability remain deeply contested in the city of Chicago.
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