A Chicago police officer has pleaded guilty to felony charges linked to sexual misconduct involving female colleagues, marking a significant moment in a troubling narrative surrounding allegations of improper behavior within the department.
Eric Tabb, 35, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, receiving a sentence of 30 months probation under a plea agreement. The charges against Tabb were reduced, and he is mandated to enroll in a sex offender program.
The investigation into Tabb’s actions was spotlighted by a collaboration between the Invisible Institute and ProPublica, which revealed that allegations of sexual misconduct against Chicago police officers are frequently mishandled.
Tabb, who was arrested in December 2023 and subsequently fired, joins a concerning list of officers accused of sexual violence; he is one of 14 officers with a history of such allegations in the past decade. The investigation revealed that five out of 17 women in Tabb’s police academy class reported similar experiences of inappropriate sexual contact.
During a court hearing presided over by Cook County Judge James B. Novy, both victims, who are also police officers, shared statements that conveyed the profound impact Tabb’s actions had on their lives. One victim expressed the sense of betrayal and violation felt by the women who had once placed their trust in him.
“The women I speak for today, including myself, were women that trusted Eric Tabb, spending eight months with him forming that trust in a police academy. As of today, there is hope that all us women affected can put this in the past,” she stated, reading from her prepared remarks.
Judge Novy noted that his approval of the plea deal was influenced by the need for the victims to find closure. “The only reason I went along with this deal is because of the victims,” he emphasized, warning Tabb that any deviation from the terms of his probation could result in prison time. “I’m going to keep a close eye on this. Everyone wants closure. They want to put this behind them.”
Tabb’s charges stemmed from two significant incidents. The first occurred during a birthday celebration in August 2023 at a bar in Wrigleyville, where Tabb allegedly approached a fellow female recruit, whispered explicit propositions, and engaged in unwanted physical contact by touching her breast, buttocks, and crotch before attempting to kiss her. This led to him being charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
The second incident took place in December 2023 inside a police precinct after a roll call, where Tabb reportedly touched the groin area of another probationary officer numerous times when she stood up to adjust her duty belt, highlighting a disturbing pattern of behavior.
In a related hearing, prosecutors sought to introduce evidence of two additional uncharged incidents that illustrated this pattern of misconduct. Witnesses recounted Tabb inappropriately touching another female recruit at a so-called ‘star party’ following the recruits’ graduation.
Alexus Byrd-Maxey was the first recruit to report Tabb after they began their training, but her claims did not become part of the formal prosecution case. In March 2023, she recounted an incident where Tabb allegedly pressed against her, prompting her to repeatedly attempt to lodge a complaint against him. However, she claimed her attempts were fruitless.
Investigative files reveal that Tabb dismissed Byrd-Maxey’s allegations, claiming she overreacted and had merely misunderstood his intentions. Despite her assertions of inappropriate contact, she faced false accusations and was subsequently let go from the academy, adding another layer of injustice to this troubling narrative.
Byrd-Maxey’s mother, Jauntaunne Byrd-Horne, was present in court during Tabb’s hearing and shared the news of the plea agreement with her daughter, who expressed her disappointment and frustration over the outcome.
“He’s been given grace, time and time again. They let him be a free man,” Byrd-Maxey reflected, expressing a sense of ongoing injustice.
This case underscores a significant issue within the Chicago Police Department, where systemic failures have allowed numerous officers to evade accountability for sexual misconduct. The department’s previous reassurances of taking all allegations seriously contrast sharply with the documented instances of downplayed or ignored complaints, fueling concerns about the treatment of female officers within the force.
As the repercussions of Tabb’s actions continue to reverberate, the broader implications of this case raise critical questions about the culture of policing and the urgency for systemic reform to protect those who serve and uphold the law.
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/2025/06/10/former-chicago-cop-eric-tabb-pleads-guilty-to-aggravated-battery
