Laquan McDonald Shooting: Discipline Delayed For Suspended Chicago Cops

CHICAGO, IL — Four suspended Chicago police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald can return to work after the Chicago Police Board on Monday voted to delay disciplinary hearings for them, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson had suspended the officers without pay and recommended they be fired for allegedly signing reports that falsely characterized the 2014 shooting that killed the 17-year-old, the report added.

Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting of the 17-year-old McDonald on Oct. 20, 2014, during an incident on the South Side. Initial police reports claimed the teen was swinging a knife and lunging at Van Dyke before the officer opened fire. But a police dashboard camera that told a different story. In the video, McDonald is not seen as aggressively moving toward Van Dyke, and instead, he's seen walking away from Van Dyke when he is shot 16 times. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The four suspended officers — Van Dyke is not one of them — allegedly signed reports that stated a knife-wielding McDonald advanced toward police before he was shot, the Sun-Times reports. Although they can return to work, the officers will remain on administrative duty, the report stated. Van Dyke continues his suspension without pay and has not attempted to be reinstated, the report added.

Both Van Dyke's lawyer and the special prosecutor on the case were in favor of the disciplinary delay, arguing that any statements made during an internal investigation could damage Van Dyke's case, the report stated. Chicago police officers are required to answer questions in an internal investigation under the threat of firing, the report added.

Patch Coverage of the Laquan McDonald Shooting

5 Perspectives on '16 Shots: The Death of Laquan McDonald': A ward of the state, shot dead on a Chicago street. A teen who loved his teachers. A mayor who won't lead. Questions no one will answer.

Laquan McDonald Shooting: How Did Chicago Mark the Tragedy 2 Years Later?: Rallies and memorials were held throughout the day Thursday to commemorate the teen's life.

Drop Murder Case, Chicago Cop Accused Of Fatally Shooting Laquan McDonald Asks Judge: Lawyers for Jason Van Dyke, the police officer accused of shooting the teen 16 times in 2014, filed a motion to dismiss Tuesday.

Cop in Laquan McDonald Shooting Sacrificed To 'Angry Mob' By Prosecutors: Lawyer: The attorneys for Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke filed a 2nd motion to have the murder against their client dropped.

Chicago Cop Accused Of Killing Teen Faces New Charges: Officer Jason Van Dyke now faces 16 counts of aggravated battery stemming from the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old in 2014.

Jason Van Dyke Must Attend Hearings: Judge: But the judge presiding over Officer Jason Van Dyke's murder trial vowed to beef up security at the courthouse so defendant was safe.

The Chicago Police Board was asked to postpone its work so the officers’ statements during the internal investigations can’t be used during the criminal trial. Officers must answer questions from internal investigators or face being fired.Van Dyke’s attorney, as well as a special prosecutor investigating the behavior of other officers on the scene, wanted to have disciplinary proceedings put on hold because statements they were required to make during the internal investigation could surface and potentially have a negative impact on Van Dyke’s criminal case.

In pleading their case, the suspended officers told the Chicago Police Board that a disciplinary delay shouldn't keep them out of work and they should be reinstated, the Sun-Times reports.

More via the Chicagot Sun-Times

Screen shot from Chicago police dashboard camera video showing the shooting for Laquan McDonald. (Image via Patch archive)

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